Goertz, Peter (1886-1976)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1976 June 25 p. 29

Birth date: 1886 June 14

text of obituary:

PETER GOERTZ

Peter Goertz was born in the Crimea, south Russia, on June 14, 1886 to Peter and Katharina (nee Neufeld) Goertz. Upon confession of faith he was baptized and received into the Mennonite Brethren church at New Samara. He was ordained to the ministry in 1913.

That same year he married Maria Franz. They moved to Canada in 1924, settling first in the Crowfoot, Alta., area and later in Lindbrook, Alta. Here they farmed until the passing of his wife in 1956. Mr. Goertz remarried in 1958 to Anna Dyck of Pincher Creek, Alta. After her passing in 1972 he moved to Tabor Manor in St. Catharines, Ont. He resided in St. Catharines until the Lord called him home on May 14.

All his life he was very active in the work of the Lord as a minister, choir director, Bible school and Sunday school teacher and as a travelling minister for Bibelbesprechung. He also composed many songs and hymns.

Funeral services were held at the Tofield (Alta.) Mennonite Brethren Church with George Quiring and Marvin Schmidt officiating.

He is mourned by five sons and five daughters and their spouses: Dave, Erna (Mrs. George) Martens, John, Pete, Mary (Mrs. Frank) Peters, Abe, Anne (Mrs. Aaron) Warkentin, Agatha (Mrs. Henry) Nachtigal, Elsie (Mrs. Rudy) Siemens and Henry; 42 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and many relatives and friends.