Rahn, Peter G. (1881-1958)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Jul 17 p. 1

Birth date: 1881 Jan 20

text of obituary:

PROMINENT MOUNTAIN LAKE FARMER CALLED AWAY IN DEATH

Mt. Lake, Minn. — Funeral services were held here Wednesday, July 9, at the Bethel church for Peter G. Rahn, 77, for many years a prominent farmer and turkey raiser of this community.

Mr. Rahn died Sunday morning, July 6, as result of a heart condition and bronchial pneumonia. Although ill for some time, he was able to be up and around until a short time before his death.

Funeral services were in charge of Rev. A. H. Schultz.

The deceased is survived by Mrs. Rahn, with whom he shared life together for 54 years, and the following children: Mrs. Emil C. Rupp and husband, Mrs. John Gruhlke and husband, Peter P. and wife of Bingham Lake and Rev. Ben P. and wife of Inman, Kans., also by one daughter-in-law, Mrs. Esther Rahn, Mt. Lake.

---

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Jul 24 p. 8

text of obituary:

PETER G. RAHN

Peter G. Rahn, son of Rev. Gerhard and Anna (Thiessen) Rahn, was born Jan.20, 1881, in Sparrau, South Russia, where he spent his early childhood until the age of eight years.

In 1889 his parents migrated with their family to America. Their intentions were to settle in Kansas, where they spent about two months near Inman. For some reason they decided to continue on to Minnesota, where they purchased land and moved onto a farm southwest of Butterfield. Here he spent his youthful days and grew to young manhood. He was the oldest child in the family. With his father being a minister of the Gospel, he was called upon to assume considerable responsibility of the farm work at home,

On June 19, 1902 he was baptized upon the confession of his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour by Elder Gerhard Neufeld and became a member of the First Mennonite church. Later upon marriage he became a member of the Bergfelder Mennonite church, now known as the Gospel Mennonite church in Mountain Lake.

On January 17, 1901 he was joined in holy matrimony with Gertrude Pankratz, with whom he was able to share life together for over 54 years. Seven children were born to this union, of whom three preceded him in death: Henry in 1917 at the age of eight, Olga during infancy in 1918, and Willard at the age of 27 in 1947.

In 1954 father and mother were able to commemorate their golden wedding anniversary.

Father was an active, energetic and progressive man. This trait had been dominant even from his youth on. One of his chief interests besides farming was steam engines and railroad locomotives. During his younger days he owned and operated a steam threshing outfit.

He enjoyed farming and devoted his entire interest to this activity. During the early years we farmed in the Butterfield community, later moving on to a farm northeast of Mountain Lake.

In 1918 he purchased the present farm, which was a bare piece of land. Buildings were erected and it has been the family home to the present time. Shortly after purchasing the farm the depression came, but father was able to manage his enterprize [sic enterprise] so that the family could win the financial struggle and make a livelihood. In his farming career he specialized in diversified farming, raising certified seed grain, livestock and especially turkeys. He was one of the pioneer turkey raisers in the state.

He also took interest and devoted considerable time and energy to community affairs, serving on the school board in district 62 for 33 years and on the local township board for many years. He was a charter board member of the Southern Minnesota Turkey Cooperative Inc. of Madelia, Minn. and also a board member of the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association. He relinquished the former position last year because of ill health.

Our husband and father enjoyed good health until a few years ago. Several times he had several accidents in which his life was spared by the grace of God.

About two and one half years ago he suffered a heart attack from which he never completely recovered. During the last few years he also underwent several major surgeries. His health slowly continued to fail and at several occasions he needed hospitalization.

On Saturday, July 5, he did not feel too well and by afternoon it became necessary to take him to the hospital. His physical condition rapidly turned for the worse, but he remained conscious until he quietly departed to his eternal reward at 2:15 a. m. Sunday, July 6, 1958, reaching the age of 77 years, five months and 16 days.

He leaves to mourn his departure his beloved widow Gertrude; two daughters, Marie, Mrs. Emil C. Rupp and her husband, Lorena, Mrs. John Gruhlke and her husband, all of Mountain Lake; two sons, Peter. and his wife of Bingham Lake, Minn., and Ben P. and his wife of Inman, Kan.; one daughter-in-law, Mrs. Esther Rahn of Mountain Lake; 18 grandchildren, his step-mother, Mrs. Helena Rahn of Mountain Lake; four sisters and five brothers and his many relatives and friends. — Mother, Children and Grandchildren.