Horsch, Rudolf (1889-1971)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1971 Dec 2 p. 14

Birth date: 1889 Jun 19

text of obituary:

RUDOLF HORSCH SR.

Rudolf Horsch was born on June 19, 1889 to Heinrich and Lisette Funk Horsch in Hemmersheim, Bavaria (Bayern), Germany. Here he received his elementary and secondary training. His mother died when he was but 11 years old and his father died six years later. Uncle Heinrich Landes accepted him into his family until he came to the United States in 1911 at the age of 22. He came to Aberdeen, Idaho because two of his sisters were already living here.

Before coming to the U.S. he had been engaged to Lisel Rullman. She joined him the following year and were married March 9, 1912 in the Emmanuel Mennonite Church, also known as the Homestead Church, by Christian Hege.

He was baptized upon confession of faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior in 1904 by Rev. Christian Husinger. Herre in the U.S. they attended the Emmanuel Mennonite Church and in February of 1930 joined the First Mennonite Church of Aberdeen. Mr. Horsch was an active Christian regular in church attendance and served as a Sunday school teacher for many years and as deacon for eight years. His faithful witness was reflected in his simple, honest, consistent life.

Farming was the means of earning a livelihood which they sought on homestead land. Economically this proved to be unsuccessful. They then purchased land southeast of Aberdeen that could be irrigated. Here they lived until their retirement in 1950 when they moved to Aberdeen.

He enjoyed good health until recently. He was admitted to the Power County Hospital Sept. 23 and went to be with the Lord Oct. 8, 1971, having reached the age of 82 years.

Those remaining to cherish the memory of his life are his wife; their five children and families, Walter and wife, Agnes of American Falls, Idaho, Rudolph and wife Caroline of Rt. 1, Aberdeen, Elizabeth Merrill of Minneapolis, Minn., Paula and husband Carl Cleveland of Boise, Idaho, Albert and wife Shirley of Rt. 1, Aberdeen; 18 grandchildren; 12 step-grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Henry of Reedley, Calif. and Gotthilf of Bavaria Germany; four sisters, Paul Schmutz of Bavaria, Germany, Barbara Lichti of Reedley Calif., Elsie Lesky of Alhambra, Calif., and Frieda Froese of Spokane, Wash. and other relatives and friends. Two sisters and a brother preceded him in death.

The Mennonite obituary: 1971 Nov 2 p. 655