Goering, John B. (1889-1988)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1988 Sep 22 p. 11

Birth date: 1889 Jul 27

Text of obituary:

JOHN B. GOERING

John B. Goering was born July 27, 1889, to Johann and Freni Krehbiel Goering near Mounrdige, Kan. He was the youngest of eight children.

He attended Peaceful School through the sixth grade, unable to go further because he was needed on the farm.

He was baptized at age 16 upon confession of his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and was received into the membership of Eden Mennonite Church, of which he was a member until 1947.

ON May 5, 1912, he was married to Jessie Schrag. She died April 13, 1936. Relatives and friends helped care for the children.

In August 1936 he moved the family to a farm near Canton, where he set up a dairy and did grain farming. In 1947 the family moved to the Peabody area, where he had a dairy and grain farm and did construction. He transferred his membership to Zion Mennonite Church, Elbing.

He moved to Newton upon his marriage to Anna Schrag Ratzlaff on April 5, 1957. The union proved to be a great blessing to the family.

He transferred his church membership to First Mennonite Church, where he remained a member until his death.

He and his wife enjoyed visiting their children. They were great prayer warriors for them and had much interest in missions. He taught Sunday school for many years. He was a sensitive and caring person.

In 1975, they moved to Bethel Apartments in Newton. His wife died March 6, 1977. In June 1979 he entered Bethel Home for Aged, where he occupied his time with various activities and crafts. The many caps he knitted are cherished by many of the family.

Survivors include 11 sons, Walter of Worth, Ill., Willard and wife Alice of Wichita, Arthur and wife Rosie of Wichita, Daniel and wife Grace of Shawnee, Herbert and wife Dorothea of Independence, Mo., John and wife Orletta of Gresham, Ore, Leonard and wife Delores of Newton, Ralph of Peabody, James and wife Ida Lois of Dayton, Va., Harry and wife Gene of Littleton, Colo., and Larry and wife Hildred of Greenville, N. C.; and four daughters, Elva of Pretty Prairie, Frieda and husband Walter Regier of Elbing, Martha and husband Archer Sundgren of Englewood, Colo., Jessie Joan and husband Anton Epp of Northglenn, Colo.

He is also survived by two stepsons, Arnold and wife Marie Ratzlaff of Buhler and Harry and wife Maxine Ratzlaff of Karlstad, Minn.,; three step-daughters, Wilma and husband Carl Wahlstedt of Barbourville, Ky.; and Martha Ratzlaff and Esther and husband Alvin Harms, all of Newton; a step-daughter-in-law, Irene Ratzlaff of Newton; 45 grandchildren; 65 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by six sisters, a brother, a son, Alvin, a daughter-in-law, Della Goering, a son-in-law, Dan J. Goering, a stepson, Ervin Ratzlaff, one grandson and one great-grandson.