Holdeman, Walter (1895-1941)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1941 Jul 2 p. 5

Birth date: 1895 Jul 18

text of obituary:

Walter Holdeman

Walter Holdeman, son of Jonas and Anna (Blosser) Holdeman, was born July 18, 1895, and passed away June 12, 1941 at 1:30 P. M., of heart failure and complications, in the Axtell Christian Hospital, Newton, Kansas.

He was married in 1922 to Miss Gertie Hepler, a life-time acquaintance. To this union five children were born.

Walter was of a kind and peaceable disposition and perhaps the tribute of one of his fellow patients while at the State Sanitarium because of tuberculosis tells his makeup in the most splendid way. the statement reads: "Tonight as the magic carpet flits in and out of the rooms and wards of the many deserving patients here, it finally darts into pavilion 4 and settles at the feet of Walter Holdeman. A friend and fellow patient, who yet in his thirties has seen his part of trouble and disappointments. He is the father of four children, the oldest 8, one of which is tubercular and is now in the Wesley hospital in Wichita. In his stay of almost three years here, it is said that he never caused the least worry or anxiety to the doctor or nurses, who have administered to his welfare; one who seeks no notoriety or praise, but in content to remain in the back ground, doing whatever he can at all times to help bear the cross that at times seems so heavy for most of us."

Although his years in the state Sanitarium seemed to completely arrest his ailment, yet it left him weak and he never fully recovered from its effects. During the last year he has been noticeably failing in health and for the last two weeks of his life was bedfast.

He leaves to mourn his early departure, his bereaved wife; two sons, Glen 16, and Earl, 12; one daughter, Thelma, 11; Two daughters, Mary Alice and Wilma preceded him. He also leaves three sisters, Mrs. Hattie Onstott, Mrs. Florence Boeckner and Mrs. Noah Wiggers; and two brothers, Roy and Ralph, with a host of relatives and friends.

The family commits him into the hands and care of our loving Heavenly Father, who doeth all things well. Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon June 14, at the meridian Church, near Hesston. The Rev. E. F. Wiggers officiated. The remains were laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery.

Pallbearers were six of his nephews, Archie, Lee, Joe and Alfred Holdeman and Byron and Elmer Blosser.