Gingerich, John W. (1898-1986)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 8 Jan 1987 p. 11

Birth date: 1898

text of obituary:

JOHN W. GINGERICH

John W. Gingerich was born April 8, 1898, to Henry F. and Anna M. Yoder Gingerich in Iowa County, Iowa. He died at Pleasantview Home, Kalona, on Dec; 13, 1986, at the age of 88.

He accepted Christ as his personal Savior and was baptized on Aug. 30, 1914, at the Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church, Kalona, where he was a faithful member all his life.

On Sept. 4, 1932, he was married to Maude (Swartzendruber) Bender. They lived on their Iowa County farm until 1951, when they moved to Frytown, where he did woodworking and saw filing.

He was active in the neighborhood and his church. He served many years as teacher, superintendent and Bible study leader.

He was interested in church history and served for many years as conference historian for the Iowa-Nebraska Mennonite Conference. He was instrumental in organizing the archives at the Mennonite Historical Society of Iowa, of which he was a life member. In 1973, he was appointed archivist, a position he held for seven years. He was assistant archivist until 1983.

He was interested in the church here and worldwide. He attended many Mennonite conferences and mission meetings in different parts of the U.S. and Canada.

For 15 years he conducted Sunday school at The University Hospital in Iowa City. He also made monthly visits to the men's reformatory at Anamosa and to the prison at Ft. Madison.

His survivors include his wife, Maude; two sons, Harold R. Bender of Wellman and Daniel E. Bender of Kalona; two daughters, Beulah (Mrs. Marvin) Miller and Marianna (Mrs. Alvin J.) Miller, both of Kalona; 20 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Mary A. Gingerich of Kalona. He was preceded in death by a grandson, one brother, Joseph, and two sisters, Vera Schrock and Edna M. Gingerich.

He is also survived by Leroy Baker, who came to stay with him and his wife and was cared for as a member of the family.

Funeral services were held Dec. 15, 1986, at Lower Deer Creek Mennonite church. Burial was in the nearby cemetery.