Preheim, Samuel P. (1881-1952)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1952 Jun 19 p. 9

Birth date: 1881 Mar 5

text of obituary:

REV. SAMUEL P. PREHEIM

Rev. Samuel P. Preheim son of Peter and Barbara Strauss Preheim, was born on March 5, 1881, on a farm near Freeman, S. Dak., where he grew to manhood. Early in life, he attended neighborhood revival meetings and there accepted Christ as his personal Saviour. After receiving catechetical instruction, he was baptized on his confession of faith by Elder Jos. J. Kaufman in 1898, and joined the Salem-Zion Mennonite church near Freeman, S. Dak.

He received his elementary education in the neighborhood rural schools. As an industrious young man desiring a Christian education, he attended Preparatory Bible School at Mt. Lake, Minn. under the direction of Pres. J. J. Balzer. It was here that he consecrated his life to the full-time service for his Lord. He then took a three year course at Bethel College and completed his preparation at Moody Bible Institute, graduating in December 1909.

On June 6, 1909, he was married to Emma Florence Wittrig at the Emmanuel church, Noble, Iowa. To this union were born seven sons and one daughter.

He was ordained as minister and elder in the Salem church, Freeman, S. Dak. by Rev. H. A. Bachman, then principal of Freeman College, and Rev. Chr. Hege, then pastor of the Salem church, in the spring of 1910. Thereupon he was sent as evangelist through the churches of the Northern District Conference. Later he served as pastor of the Allentown and Upper Milford churches in Pennsylvania, Salem church in Dalton, O., Congregational church at Beemer, Neb. and Salem church, Wisner, Neb.

In 1920 they moved to Freeman, S. D. and established the family home there. For several years he served as evangelist for the Western District Conference and later was pastor of the Bethany church of Freeman.

He established a furniture store in Freeman which he operated until 1938, after which he traveled several years in the interest of the General Conference and Freeman College. In 1942, in order to be near their children, they moved to Los Angeles, Cal., where he and his wife joined the Immanuel Mennonite church. Here he worked in a furniture warehouse until retirement age.

He seemed to be in good health, until Monday May 26 when he suffered a slight heart attack. His condition gradually improved until Friday evening, when he suffered another severe heart attack, and passed away 11 p.m. May 30, 1952. He was conscious to the end, and died in the arms of his wife, with the message "Meet me in Heaven."

He is survived by his widow, and the following children: Frederick and wife of Chico, Arnold and wife of Westminister, James and wife of LaHabra, Milton and wife of Upland, William and wife of Bieber, Albert and wife of Anaheim, Elizabeth and husband, Dr. Stevan and wife of Whittier, all of California. Also surviving are 23 grandchildren; four brothers, John, Jacob, Peter and Henry; two sisters, Anna, Mrs. Jacob G. Graber and Frances, Mrs. C. B. Lehman, all of near Freeman, S. Dak; and a host of other relatives and friends. Among these are the children attending the recreation center in their neighborhood, with whom he spent some time each day the past few years. These are of various nationalities, but all know him as "Uncle Sam” and deeply mourn his passing.

The funeral services were held Wednesday, June 4, at 2 p. m. in the Immanuel Mennonite church, Los Angeles, in charge of the local pastor, Rev. Alfred Regier, assisted by Rev. Dirks. His widow and all his children, also a sister, Mrs. C B. Lehman, and a brother Peter were in attendance. Interment was made in Hills of Rest Cemetery, Los Angeles.

During his lifetime, he composed many poems. The last afternoon of his earthly life, he completed several, one of them bidding his friends and family farewell with the following words.

The time has come to say goodbye,
My chariot is leaving for the sky;
I say farewell to all my own
And to my friends, to every one
There is a schedule by which we live
And also one by which we leave
I clearly hear my Master say
Lay all things down and come today!

The Mennonite obituary: 1952 Jul 15 p. 446