Just, John L. (1882-1962)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1962 Jul 19 p. 7

Birth date: 1882 May 20

text of obituary:

Retired Business Man Dies at Reedley, Cal.

Reedley, Calif. — Funeral services for John L. Just, 80, co-founder of a number of business enterprises in this central California region, were conducted at the Reedley Mennonite Brethren Church on July 9. He died July 6 after a long illness.

A native of Kansas, Mr. Just and his wife homesteaded in the Cherokee Strip in Oklahoma Territory some 50 years ago. Later he had a mercantile business in Gray, Okla.

Coming to Reedley from Liberal, Kan. in 1918, he opened a furniture store here and also engaged in farming. In association with others, he founded the Alta Chevrolet, Just Furniture Co., and the Dinuba Home and Auto Supply, all in Dinuba, the Just Chevrolet Co. of Delano, and the Nickel Chevrolet Co. of Wasco.

He was a charter member of the Mennonite Brethren church at Balko, Okla., later transferred his membership to the Reedley M. B. church.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1962 Jul 26 p. 8

text of obituary:

JOHN L. JUST

John L. Just, son of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Just, was born May 20, 1882, on a farm in Marion County, Kan. As a child, he moved with his parents to Fairview, Okla. Here he attended the elementary school and worked on the farm, assuming at the age of 14 the responsibility of transporting grain to the nearest railroad, 40 miles away at Enid. At the age of 19 he accepted the Lord as his personal Savior and united with the Fairview Mennonite Brethren Church.

On March 24, 1904, he was united to Anna Krause in holy matrimony. This marriage, which lasted 59 years, three months and 12 days was blessed with two daughters, Clara and Elma. About a year after their marriage, they moved to Balko, Okla. and homesteaded. Here he was a charter member of the First Mennonite Brethren Church.

Along with his farm work he opened the Plainview Mercantile Co. in Grey, Okla. In 1923 the Justs moved to Reedley, Calif. where another store was opened. Following this venture, Mr. Just was able to open the Alta Chev. Co. in Dinuba in 1931, the N. & K. Chev. in Shafter ib 1936, and Just Chev. Co. in Delano, Calif. Besides these he also established the Just Furniture Co. and opened the Firestone store in Dinuba. God continued to bless and he was able to continue much to the work of the kingdom. During the war years he supported some 28 families in Europe and gave substantially to the cause of Christian education.

A highlight of his life came in 1950 when he and his wife and grandson, Eugene Duerksen, visited all the families in Europe who had been helped. Mr. and Mrs. Just commemorated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1954.

In recent years he was plagued with diabetes, bringing about a light stroke nine years ago. The Lord saw fit to climax his life through seven years of suffering which were spent in bed as an invalid. During the last years of his suffering he found the best of care in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Abe Jost.

Friday morning, July 6, 1962, he left this world to meet his maker. He reached the age of 80 years, one month and 16 days.

Those who remain to mourn his passing are his wife, Mrs. Anna Just of Reedley,; two daughter, Clara, Mrs. Sam Groening, Fresno, Calif., and Elma, Mrs. Roy Snellman, Dinuba, Calif.; two sons-in-law, two grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Anna Kraber, Perryton, Texas, and Mrs. Elizabeth Kornelsen, Fairview, Okla.; one brother, Peter M. Just, Fairview, Okla., and many other friends and relatives.

The memorial service was held in the Reedley Mennonite Brethren Church with Rev. Dan Friesen and Rev. Henry L. Janzen officiating. — The Family.