Krehbiel, Dennis Gene (1939-1954)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1954 Jun 17 p. 9

Birth date: 1939 Dec 6

text of obituary:

DENNIS GENE KREHBIEL

Dennis Gene Krehbiel, son of Menno M. and Olga Schrag Krehbiel, was born on Dec. 6, 1938, at McPherson, Kansas. He received his elementary training in McPerson [sic McPherson] County rural schools. Upon graduation he enrolled at McPherson high school, completing two years of high school work.

He was baptized upon his confession of faith on May 24, 1953, by Rev. Roland R. Goering. He was received into the fellowship of the First Mennonite church of McPherson and took an active part in the work of the church until the time of his departure.

Dennis always had a cheerful smile which won him many friends. Just recently he confided his complete trust in his Lord to one of his close friends.

His interests were many and varied. He loved the farm and was entered in a program of purebred livestock production. He also enjoyed shop work. For his own creative enjoyment he loved music. He was a member of the high school mixed choir, the church choir, and other music organizations.

On May 31 he joind [sic] his fellow vocational agriculture students and Mr. Patton, his instructor, in a trip to Mr. Patton’s farm at Cottonwood Falls. The purpose of the trip was to provide recreation and fellowship for the boys after a year of school work and study. It had become an annual affair which was always greatly appreciated by all boys participating. On Tuesday morning, June 1 five of the group, including Dennis, decided to forego breakfast and try their hand at fishing. While the remainder of the group was at breakfast, these five made their way to the Cottonwood Falls dam. While ascending the dam, a wire support broke and Dennis fell into the whirl pool waters beneath. All attempts to rescue him failed, and his body was not recovered until an hour and a half later. The time of his death is set at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday morning, June 1, 1954.

He leaves to mourn his departure: his parents; two sisters, Karen of the home and Geneva and her husband, Arlo Flickner of Lindsborg; one brother, Clinton of Hersey, Mich.; his grandmothers, Mrs. Jacob A. Krehbiel of McPherson and Mrs. P. J. Schrag of Moundridge; and a host of relatives and friends.

The memorial service was conducted by Rev. Roland R. Goering on Thursday, June 3, 1954 at one o’clock, from the family home, and two o’clock from the First Mennonite church. Music included "Asleep In Jesus’’ sung at the home, "Silently” sung at the church service, and "Bloom Brightly Sweet Roses.” at the committal service by Ervin Krehbiel, J. Hobart Goering, Lloyd Goering, and Reuben Krehbiel; "The Lord’s Prayer,” sung at the church by the McPherson High School mixed chorus, Mrs. James Kohler at the piano.

His resting place, the McPherson cemetery.