Regier, Ferdinand D. (1901-1947)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1947 Dec 18 p. 5

Birth date: 1901 Aug 20

text of obituary:

— Ferdinand D. Regier, 46, of Moundridge, passed away at Bethel Deaconess hospital on Monday morning, and funeral services are scheduled for Thursday afternoon at the Hopefield church near Inman, of which he was a member. Burial is to be made in the Hebron cemetery east of Buhler. Mr. Regier, who was born at Moundridge and had farmed in that community all of his life, had been ill for nine months. He is survived by his wife, the former Martha Unruh; three sisters, Mary and Anna Regier of Moundridge and Mrs. Clara Kuhlmeier of Canton; and one brother, Paul Regier, also of Moundridge.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1947 Dec 25 p. 3

text of obituary:

FERDINAND D. REGIER

Ferdinand D. Regier, son of Cornelius A. and Mary (Dyck) Regier, was born August 20, 1901, in Harvey county, Kansas. His parents emigrated from South Russia to America in 1874 and settled on the Kansas praries [sic']. Here all of their children were born and reared, and here it was that Ferdinand also was born and where he grew up, and it was on the home place where he and his beloved wife were privileged to live.

Ferdinand attended school in the Paris District School, located only a half mile from their home. He loved the out-of-door life, and it was his love for the farm that made the choce [sic'] of his vocation a very natural one.

In his boyhood days he went to church with his parents at the Hebron church. Later, on Sept. 7, 1930, upon his own confession of faith in Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour from sin, he was baptized by Rev. P. K. Regier and received into the membership of the West Zion church, Moundridge. Here he retained his membership until after his marriage, when he transferred by letter to the Hoffnungsau church, where he remained a faithful member until he departed this life.

He found his life companion in the person of Martha Unruh, and on May 3, 1942, was united with her in holy matrimony. This happy union was one that seemed too short; the days and the few years seemed to be packed with times of happiness and satisfaction. There was the joy of intimate fellowship; the joy of establishing a home together, the many friends with whom rich experiences could be shared; and above all the great joy of working in the church and for the Kingdom of God. Together they would work at tasks that were assigned and at such work as they felt led, to lend the hand that was always willing to do its part.

He loved the church, and he liked to be there whenever it was possible for him to go. Although he was not personally gifted with song, yet he loved music and found rich spiritual treasure in song. Similarly he had a deep appreciation for the Word of God as read and preached from the pulpit, and often he would make his appreciation known by speaking words of encouragement to the minister. In Sunday School too he took a great interest, and every Sunday morning, if his health permitted, he would be in his class to share in the treasures of the lesson discussions.

His health seemed to be good until the summer of 1945, when he suffered from a ruptured appendix. This condition was not realized until several days after the rupture had occurred, and serious illness resulted for a number of days. After a long period of recuperation he became well enough again to resume the full duties of farm work.

It was early in the spring of this year when his health became noticeably poorer, and in May it was necessary for him to be hospitalized for a period of two weeks. His condition was diagnosed as heart ailment, and it was very evident that he would no longer be able to carry on his work at home. He felt very fortunate that he could engage the services of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Goertz, into whose dependable care he could entrust the farming responsibilities. This relieved him greatly, for he could now relax in an attempt to recover from his heart condition. His health, however, did not improve but failed steadily until, on December 9, he was taken again to the Bethel hospital.

It was clear that his condition was critical and that his days were limited; he realized that very fully, and had been aware of it for some weeks, for as early as a week prior to Thanksgiving he had already made arrangements for the time when he should depart this life, and had asked that certain arrangements for his burial be carried out. One of the specific requests was that at the funeral the same trio might sing again the same song, “My God and I,” which they had sung at the wedding. This number was one of his favorite selections.

He expressed himself several times that he was ready to go if that was the will of the Heavenly Father. Even though he would have liked to stay with his dear wife and with relatives and friends here, he was willing and ready to go to meet his Lord. On that question he left no doubt.

On Monday morning, Dec. 15, at 8:15, he quietly breathed his last and went to be with his Lord. Although he had suffered acutely during the last days, yet his death come [sic'] very peaceably and it seemed like a sacred stepping over from this shore to the other shore. He is missed greatly; he happy years of married life seem so short. But God knows best, and with Job we can say, “The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord.”

He leaves to mourn his early departure his beloved wife, Martha; three sisters, Mary D. and Anna D. of Moundridge, and Clara, Mrs. Walter Kuhlmeier, who with her husband and son Robert lives near Canton; one brother, Paul, who with his wife Mary and two children, Jerome and Jene, lives at Moundridge. His parents both preceded him in death, as did also two sisters who died in infancy, and one brother, Gus, who departed this life in November 1936. He leaves a large number of relatives and a host of friends who mourn his early departure. — The bereaved family.