Pauls, Nicolai Henry (1892-1976)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1976 Dec 10 p. 32

Birth date: 1892 Dec 22

text of obituary:

NICOLAI HENRY PAULS

The son of Henry and Katherina (nee Epp) Pauls, Nicolai Henry Pauls was born on December 22, 1892 in Schoenau, Russia. His parents moved to Ufa a year later, where he received his formal education and committed his life to the Lord. After baptism he joined the Mennonite Brethren Church. First World War service in the medical corps ended in 1917 when the Tsarist regime was overthrown, and on March 3 of the following year he married Sara Wiens. God entrusted them with 12 children, three of whom preceded him in death. The Pauls moved to Canada in 1925.

Nicolai Pauls' life was exemplary in his service and commitment to the Lord. His keen love for music was an added dimension in family life and his public ministry.

Although he was a teacher in Russia, language barriers kept him from pursuing this in Canada. The speaking and leadership abilities entrusted to him by God, however, afforded him many opportunities in church work. Beginning in 1927, they farmed in Glenbush Sask., for 29 years. He pastored the church there from its inception until 1956, the year in which they moved to Kelowna, B.C. In 1964 they moved to Clearbrook where they were able to build and enjoy a comfortable home. His failing strength due to Parkinson's disease made it necessary to move into the Menno Home. Here his wife helped care for him until God called him home to glory on October 30.

He leaves to mourn his passing his beloved wife, Sara; four sons and their families, Peter and Martha, Henry and Susie, and Jacob and Mary, all of Saskatchewan, and Nick and Dora of New Guinea; five daughters, Mary (Mrs. George) Pauls, Anna (Mrs. Arthur) Parker, Justina (Mrs. Henry) Bergen, and Helena (Mrs. Rudy) Born of B.C., and Tina (Mrs. George) Konrad of Fresno, California; a son-in-law, Alfred Quiring of Calgary; 43 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a host of relatives and friends.