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Krehbiel, Heinrich Peter (1862-1940)
Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1940 Dec 17 p. 14
Birth date: 1862
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1940 Dec 4 p. 1
text of obituary:
Rev. H. P. Krehbiel
Called Away Monday
Morning, At His Home
FORMER REVIEW EDITOR AND
PRESIDENT OF HERALD PUBL.
CO. PASSES AT AGE OF 78
Rev. Henry P. Krehbiel, former editor of the Mennonite Weekly Review and president of the Herald Publishing Co., died at his home at 330 West Sixth street in Newton at 6:30 Monday morning. He reached the age of 78 years.
Although not in good health for a number of years, his passing nevertheless came quite unexpectedly. As late as last Friday he was still able to sit up in his room and pass the time by reading, from which he usually derived much pleasure.
Rev. Krehbiel lived in Newton for the past 40 years, taking active part in the affairs of the community. For years he made his regular Sunday trips to Burrton where he was pastor of the Burrton Mennonite church.
Born in Summerfield, Ill., in 1862, he devoted much of his life to a diversity of interests. In his boyhood he came to Kansas with his parents, Rev. and Mrs. Christian Krehbiel. Here he received his early schooling. To prepare himself for teaching he attended Kansas State Normal School and Kansas University, but later decided to take a theological course at Oberlin College in Ohio, from which institution he received the B. D. degree. For five years, from 1905 to 1910, he served in an Ohio pastorate, after which he again returned to Kansas.
His work in the district and General Conference included membership in several conference boards and committees. A subject which claimed his special interest and on which he has written extensively, was world peace and international goodwill. He is also the author of a two-volume history of the Mennonite General Conference.
After having been in the publishing business for a number of years, he organized the Herald Publishing Co. in 1920. Of this company he was president and later also editor of the German and English publications, Der Herold and Mennonite Weekly Review.
On November 21, 1886, he was married to Mathilda Kruse of Halstead, Kansas. To them was born one daughter, Elva, now Mrs. E. E. Leisy of Dallas, Texas.
In 1927 and 1928 he and his wife spent nearly one year visiting in Europe, touring around the world and visiting Mennonite mission stations en route.
His first wife died in 1931, and in 1935 he married Katie A. Friesen, who now survives him. He is survived also by his daughter, his son-in-law, three grandchildren and by several brothers and sisters.
Funeral services have been announced for Thursday afternoon, to be held at 2:30 o’clock at the First Mennonite church. Interment will be in the Halstead Mausoleum.
The Herald Publishing Co. will be closed Thursday afternoon during the hours of the funeral.
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1940 Dec 11 p. 5
text of obituary:
. . .
— A large group of relatives, friends, and Newton Business men attended the funeral of Rev. H. P. Krehbiel at the First Mennonite church Thursday afternoon. Rev. J. N. Smucker of the Bethel College congregation spoke words of comfort to the bereaved. Others participating in the service were Rev. J. E. Entz, Rev. J. J. Regier Jr. of Burrton, and Rev. A. J. Dyck of Hoffnungsau. Members of the Burrton church served as pallbearers. Dr. and Mrs. E. E. Leisy, children of Rev. Krehbiel, returned to their home at Dallas, Texas, this week.
The Mennonite obituary: 1940 Dec 31 p. 12
text of obituary:
HENRY PETER KREHBIEL was born April 13, 1862, in Summerfield, Illinois, the third son of Rev. Christian and Susanna Ruth Krehbiel. At the age of 13 he was baptized in the Mennonite faith as a member of the Summerfield church. At the age of 16 he came to Kansas with his older brother John and broke prairies around Halstead. He attended the State Normal and State University and taught school some, but soon engaged in the hardware business in Halstead, Kans. On Nov. 21, 1887, he married Miss Tillie Kruse, to which union two children were born, Elva, now Mrs. E. E. Leisy of Dallas, Texas, and Ariel who died in infancy.
In 1892 Mr. Krehbiel felt the call to the ministry, and with his family went to Oberlin Seminary, Ohio, where he graduated in 1897, serving in the meantime churches at Wadsworth and Canton, O., he also edited a paper, became active in the Middle District Conference and helped establish Bluffton College. By 1900 he returned to Kansas to organize and manage the Western Book and Publishing Company which published the “Volksblatt” and later “der Herold.” Later his brother C. E. joined him in this enterprise, and in 1920 he founded the Herald Publishing Company which he served as president until 1935.
In 1906 he organized the Burrton Mennonite church and served as its pastor for thirty years. He held many posts of responsibility in the Mennonite church to which he gave his untiring devotion. He was secretary of the Middle District Conference and of the Home Mission Board of the General Conference; chairman of the Peace committee, a member of the Bethel College Board of directors, of the Mennonite Historical committee, and established the Mennonite Settlers Aid society. He completed volumes I and II of a History of the Mennonite General Conference.
The subject of peace was dear to his heart. In 1937 he published “War, Peace, Amity," a book in which he stressed his belief that the world would attain peace only through Christian love. His research for a study of the denominations historically espousing peace took him and his wife in 1927 on a journey around the world. He was instrumental in bringing about an organization of the historic peace churches, and at his death was a member of the Western District Peace committee.
Rev. Krehbiel delighted in helping others. He was a member of the Leisy Orphan and Children’s Aid society and of the Mennonite Charite. He secured aid for Mennonite refugees in Harbin, China, and in Mexico. During the World War he worked unceasingly for liberty of conscience, making numerous trips to Washnigton [sic], D. C. and to boys interned in camps. He helped organize missions in Chicago, in Los Angeles and in Hutchinson, Kansas. He had a wide vision and an unwavering Christian faith.
Five years after the death of his wife in 1931, Rev. Krehbiel on Nov. 26, 1936, married Miss Katie A. Friesen, who survives. He passed away on Dec. 2, 1940, having attained the age of 78 years, 7 months, and 19 days. Funeral services were conducted Thursday afternoon, Dec. 5, at the First Mennonite Church, with the Revs. J. N. Smucker, J. E. Entz, A. J. Dyck and J. J. Regier in charge.