Regier, Jacob J. (1886-1963)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1963 May 23 p. 5

Birth date: 1886 Oct 10

text of obituary:

. . .

● Jacob J. Regier, 76, died Wednesday evening, May 15, at Bethel Deaconess Hospital after a year and a half of failing health. Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at the First Mennonite Church, of which he was a member, with Rev. Arnold Epp officiating. Mr. Regier, a son of the late Rev. Bernhard and Louise Regier, farmed in the Whitewater area for many years, moving in 1941 to Newton where he engaged in the real estate business. Survivors include his widow, the former Helene Harder; two daughters, Elfriede of Beatrice, Neb. and Mrs. Leonard (Helen) Hanes of Edinburg, Texas; three sons, Alvin T. of the home, Rev. Wilbert A. of Omaha, Neb. and Rev. Jacob J. Jr. of Hutchinson; one sister, two brothers, 11 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1963 Jun 13 p. 8

text of obituary:

JACOB J. REGIER

Jacob J. Regier, son of Rev. Bernhard and Louise Busenitz Regier, was born Oct. 10, 1886 at Newton, Kan., and departed this life on May 15, 1963, at the age of 76 years.

Early in life he confessed his faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and was baptized upon the confession of his faith and received as a member of the First Mennonite Church.

On Oct. 24, 1907, he was united in marriage to Helene Harder. Their home was blessed with five children.

He spent his lifetime farming in the Whitewater community until retirement in 1941 when he moved to Newton.

Surviving are his widow; two daughters, Elfriede of Beatrice, Neb., and Helen and husband Rev. Leonard Hanes of Edinburg, Texas; three sons, Alvin of the home, Rev. Wilburt Regier and wife Ruth of Omaha, Neb., and Rev. Jacob Regier, Jr. and wife Betty of Hutchinson, Kan.; plus grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Our family circle has been broken for the first time. Because he was someone to plan with and hope with and sometimes to disagree with, our relationship became a growing experience in which we never stopped reaching out to each other in appreciation and love.

A drastic change came for him when he had lung cancer Oct. 6, 1961. Although he remained a respiratory cripple he made a remarkable recovery in that he returned to us eight days after surgery. But in the last five or six months he went through a process of detachment from his life here on earth. One day not long ago the weekly family letter was missing in our mail—this and many other small and simple acts of his concern were given up until just recently he said to his family, “This world has nothing to offer me anymore, not even air to breathe.”

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Mercies, and the God of all comfort: Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”