Goering, Christian J. (1869-1954)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1954 Dec 16 p. 1

Birth date: 1869 Mar 16

text of obituary:

Pioneer Minister Called Away In Death

REV. C. J. G0ERING, FORMER ELDER OF EDEN CHURCH, DIED DEC. 11

“Eden, you will look long and far.... before you will find one who will hold fast with such vision and faith in God,” said Dr. E. G. Kaufman, president emeritus of Bethel College, at the funeral services for Rev. Christian J. Goering, 85, Tuesday afternoon at the Eden Mennonite church northwest of Moundridge.

Rev Goering, elder of the church from 1902-37 and elder emeritus since then, died Saturday, Dec. 11, at the Bethel Deaconess Hospital in Newton after a long illness due to infirmities of old age.

Besides guiding the affairs of his growing congregation, Rev. Goering was an outstanding leader in the Moundridge community for nearly 40 years. Although his occupation was farming, he took an active part in a number of local business enterprises. He was elected a director of Bethel College in 1934. In 1920, when the Herald Publishing Co. (the company which publishes the Mennonite Weekly Review) was organized, he became a charter member of the company and served on its executive committee until 1952.

Helped Preserve History

Born in Kotasufka, Russia, March 16, 1869, he immigrated to America with his parents, Rev. Jacob D. and Anna Strausz Goering in 1874. He did much to preserve the early history of the Moundridge settlement and sponsored the erection of an historical marker there in 1943.

On March 24, 1901, he was married to Anna P. Graber of Freeman, S. D., who now survives him, together with two sons and three daughters and their families.

Funeral services at the Eden church were in charge of Rev. Peter J. Dyck, the pastor, who was assisted by Rev. P. A. Wedel, pastor of the Alexanderwohl church, and Dr. E. G. Kaufman. The messages by the three ministers were interspersed with special music by the Eden Mennonite men's chorus. Interment was made in the church cemetery.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1954 Dec 30 p. 8

text of obituary:

REV. CHRISTIAN J. GOERING

Christian J. Goering, son of Rev. Jakob and Anna Strausz Goering, was born March 16, 1869, in Kotasufka, Russia. In 1874 he migrated to America , settling in Kansas on a farm two and three fourths miles west of Moundridge. This was his home until retirement from farm work, when the family located in Moundridge in 1936.

During his youth he was a great help in farm work. Since these were pioneer days, life on the farm was vastly different from life as we know it today. Farming was primitive and there were often disappointments and hardships.

In the winter months he had the privilege of attending the country school and German Bible school. He also was a student at Bethel Bible School at Newton. This training was of great value for his later church service.

The parents, believing in church, had him attend services regularly. These services in his early life were held in homes, in school houses, and the “Immigrant Haus” until a church building was erected. On Dec. 30, 1883, he was baptized on the confession of his faith in Jesus Christ by Elder Jacob Stucky, and became a member of the Hoffnungsfeld church. Later when Eden was founded, his membership was transferred to this church.

Early in the life of Rev. Goering, the Eden church was in need of pastors for the ministry. As was custom, a number were elected to serve the church, and in June of 1895 he and Peter Stucky were elected to the ministry, serving with Peter Krehbiel, who had been elected previously. In March 1902 he was ordained as elder of the Eden church and served as elder until November 1937. Since then, he was elder emeritus.

He found his helpmate in the then far north, South Dakota, and on March 24, 1901, he was married to Anna Graber by Rev. Christian Kauffman. Eight children were born into this family, three preceded their father in death. They were Jacob, Elizabeth and Esther (Mrs. Jonas L. Stucky). The five living members are all married and have their own households and with their families were privileged to attend the funeral. They are Linda and husband Paul Kauffman [sic Kaufman]; David and Daniel, the twins, and their wives Claudia and Lorena; Ella and her husband Carl Ritthaler; and Helen [sic Helene] and her husband Orlin Goering.

The life of Christian J. Goering has indeed been rich. It has been a busy career, a life of service. Farming and leading a church requires time and skill. Yet, he found time for community enterprises. He served on the school board, taught German school, served many years on the Bethel College and Herald Publishing Company boards. During his more than forty years as pastor he baptized some 660 persons, married 160 couples, officiated at the the [sic] grave side of many. He preached, consoled and visited. Truly, many have found spiritual blessings through his ministry.

But now, he is at rest. His soul departed in the Bethel Deaconess Hospital Dec. 11, at the age of 85 years, eight months and 25days.

He leaves to mourn his departure his sorrowing wife, Anna; the before mentioned two sons, three daughters, two daughters-in-law, three sons-in-law; 13 grandchildren; one sister; Mrs. P. J. Kauffman [sic Kaufman]; eight sisters-in-law, and many other relatives and friends.

The Mennonite obituary: 1955 Jan 11 p. 32