Kaethler, Wilhelm (1921-2000)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2001 Jan 19 p. 29

Birth date: 1921 Feb 03

text of obituary:

WILHELM KAETHLER

Wilhelm Kaethler passed away Nov. 26. He was born Feb. 3, 1921 in Nikolaifeld, Russia. His parents fled to Paraguay with 9 children. The oldest daughter had to stay back and died of starvation with her small boy in a concentration camp. The youngest daughter died while they were living in tents in the Chaco. At 12, he gave his life to the Lord; he was baptized in 1939 and joined the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church . He finished high school at 17. He then helped his father on the farm. He attended Bible school in 1940, and then taught grade school 1940-44. He studied at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan. and Goshen (Ind.) College and earned an M.D. at Western Reserve University, Ohio. In March 1952, after 9 years of waiting to complete his studies, he married Frieda in Hillsboro, Kan. In 1953 they moved back to Paraguay, where their first daughter died. He worked for a time in Filadelfia. They moved to Asuncion, where he wrote 33 exams in Spanish at the School of Medicine so he could practise medicine in Paraguay. He served in various Mennonite settlements in Paraguay, in Asuncion and at the mission at Km 81. In 1977 he finished a specialty in general surgery in Germany. He worked in the medical field full-time until age 75 , He also served in his church and the community in various ways. He was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis and ascites. With medical care and a strict diet, God added 5 years to his life, He did part-time medical work up to September 1999. He kept working on the yard and in the garden until October 2000. He had a warm heart for mission. He is remembered as a loving, caring husband, father and grandfather who had a fruitful life and experienced God's grace in illness. He is mourned by Frieda; son Wilfried; daughter Wilma Neufeld; 7 grandchildren; and 1 brother.