Preheim, Chris (1907-2004)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2004 Jan 26 p. 12

Birth date: 1907

text of obituary:

CHRIS PREHEIM

Chris Preheim, 96, of Freeman, S.D., died Jan. 5, 2004. He was born Oct. 10, 1907, to Peter J. and Anna Mueller Preheim in Turner County. He was the eighth of nine surviving children.

He graduated from Freeman Academy in 1924. His father’s early death in 1922 placed much family and farm responsibility upon him at an early age.

He was baptized Dec. 24, 1922, at Salem Mennonite Church and remained a faithful and supportive member until his death.

He married Celia Graber on Aug. 12, 1932. Together they established a home on his parental farm and raised a family of three children. The Depression of the 1930s strengthened their relationship to God and to each other and developed in them a strength of character and commitment to a life of good stewardship.

He served the church as deacon, assistant Sunday school superintendent and Sunday school teacher. He served as mission treasurer of Northern District Conference for many years. He also served on the boards of Salem Mennonite Home, Freeman Junior College and Freeman Academy. With his wife, Celia, he enjoyed volunteer work through Mennonite Disaster Service and other voluntary service assignments in Mississippi, Illinois and Montana.

He enjoyed reasonably good health all of his life. His health began to decline about two years ago. On Dec. 22 he fell and broke his hip. He died two weeks later.

Survivors include his children, Ardys Becker and her husband, Palmer, of Hesston, Kan., Doyle and his wife, Mary Jo, of Santa Fe, N.M., and Janet Lautzenheiser and her husband, Richard, of Indianapolis, Ind.; three sisters-in-law, Linda Preheim, Leone Graber and Lucille Walter; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Memorial services were held at Salem-Zion Mennonite Church of Freeman. Burial was in Salem Mennonite Church Cemetery.