Neuenschwander, Elmer J. (1882-1959)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1959 Oct 15 p. 1

Birth date: 1882 May 16

text of obituary:

Retired Pastor Called By Death at Berne

SERVICES FOR REV. E. J. NEUENSCHWANDER HELD AT FIRST MENN. CHURCH

Berne, Ind. — Funeral services for Rev. Elmer J. Neuenschwander, 77, retired General Conference minister and native of this community were held Oct. 8 at the First Mennonite church. Dr. Erland Waltner of Elkhart, officiated.

Rev. Neuenschwander, who had been in ill health for several years, died in his sleep early Monday morning, Oct. 5 . He was the father of Rev. Gordon Neuenscwander, pastor of the First Mennonite church here.

Born here May 16, 1882, Rev. Neuenschwander was a graduate of the Naperville, Ill. Theological seminary. He served pastorates in Idaho, South Dakota, Ohio and Kansas before his retirement in 1945.

Surviving are his wife, the former Alina Sprunger; four daughters, two sons, one brother, four sisters and 16 grandchildren.

---

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1959 Nov 12 p. 8

text of obituary:

ELMER J. NEUENSCHWANDER

Rev. Elmer J. Neuenschwander, the son of Christian A. and Anna Stauffer Neuenschwander, was born in Wabash township, Indiana on May 16, 1882, and resided in the Berne community until he entered pastoral work.

In his young manhood he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savious [sic] and Lord and became a member of the First Mennonite church of Berne, being baptized by the late Rev. S. F. Sprunger on April 8, 1898. After some years in the business field he entered Naperville Theological Seminary, Naperville, Ill., for his ministerial training.

His marriage to Miss Alina Sprunger, also of Berne took place on June 14, 1914, and he was ordained to the ministry in July 1914. He served pastorates of the General Conference Mennonite Church at Aberdeen, Idaho; Freeman, South Dakota; Bluffton, Ohio; Moundridge, Kansas and Kingman, Kansas.

Following his retirement from the active ministry, Rev. and Mrs. Neuenschwander returned to reside in Berne and he served as interim pastor in a Methodist circuit here, and for a time he also operated a clock and watch repair shop. Rev. Neuenschwander had been in ailing health for the past several years following a stroke, but had been able to be up and abut most of the time. Monday morning Oct. 5, he suffered a cerebral thrombosis and passed away at his home at 6:00 o'clock. His are was 77 years, four months and 19 days.

Those who survive his homegoing are his wife, Alina; two sons; Rev. Gordon J. of Berne and Elbert P. of Trevose, Pa.; four daughters, Esther (Mrs. Otto Richert) of San Gabriel, Calif., Ann M. of Fort Wayne, Edna (Mrs. Daniel Dyck) of Berne, Evelyn (Mrs. Donald McIntosh) of Hampstead, Maryland; 16 grandchildren; four sisters, Mrs. Ella J. Luginbill, Meta (Mrs T. H. Soldner), and Selma (Mrs. Frank Habegger), all of Berne, and Edna (Mrs. Ross Hartman) of Dickinson, N. D.; one brother, Leon J. of Berne.

In addition to the parents he was preceded in death by a son, Elmer Teman; a daughter, Lois Elaine, in infancy; a granddaughter, Dorcas Dyck, also in infancy; three brothers, Menno A. and Wesley O., and Omer, in infancy; one sister, Lila, also in infancy.

Funeral services were held at the First Mennonite church Thursday Oct. 8, 1959 with Dr. Erland Waltner of Elkhart, Ind. officiating. The body was laid to rest in the M.R.E. cemetery of Berne.

The Mennonite obituary: 1959 Nov 24 p. 738