Regier, William Edward (1882-1950)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Oct 26 p. 4

Birth date: 1882 Nov 20

text of obituary:

. . .

— Dr. W. E. Regier, well-known Whitewater physician, passed away at his home there on Tuesday at the age of 67. Funeral services will be held at the Emmaus Mennonite church Friday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. Rev. Walter H. Dyck officiating. Dr. Regier was born at Elbing on Nov. 20, 1882, the son of a pioneer Mennonite couple, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob W. Regier. He practiced medicine at Elbing and Harper before going to Whitewater in 1913. His wife. Rachel, two daughters and two sons survive.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Nov 16 p. 6

text of obituary:

WILLIAM E. REGIER

William E. Regier, son of Rev and Mrs. J. W. Regier, was born on a farm near Elbing, Kansas, November 20, 1882, and died Oct 24, 1950.

At the age of three he contracted pneumonia and became so ill that the family doctor in Peabody, Dr. Loose, brought Mrs. Regier and the child into his own home where closer attention could be given. The unselfish interest shown by the doctor no doubt saved the boy's life and this friendship was probably a factor in his later decision to become a doctor himself.

He attended public school district No. 85 where under the fine Christian leadership of Rev. G. N Harms he spent the happiest days of his school life. He attended the Bethel College academy and then entered the University Medical College of Kansas City, Missouri, graduating in 1907. He served his internship in University hospital, Kansas City, Missouri. He began his practice of medicine in Elbing, Kansas. Later he moved to Harper and then to Whitewater where he practised the remainder of his life.

On June 4, 1900, he was baptised upon confession of faith in Christ by Rev. C H. Regier and became a member of the Zion Mennonite church of Elbing, Kansas. When he moved to Whitewater he transferred his membership to the Emmaus Mennonite church.

On December 26, 1907, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth C. Schmutz of Newton. Having no children, on May 23, 1919, the couple adopted two little girls to brighten their home and complete the family circle. Much happiness resulted from the adoption until the family circle was broken by the passing of the mother on November 18, 1940.

This left father’s life lonely and empty. After a severe illness he visited relatives on the West Coast. Then on April 18, 1942, the vacancy in his life was filled by his marriage to Miss Rachel Burkhalter, a graduate nurse, of Berne, Indiana. Besides being a faithful companion, she was a great source of strength enabling him to carry on his practice when his health began to fail. As he became more and more helpless her devotion and care was untiring. This, together with his great faith allowed him to live a normal life even though badly handicapped by his illness.

In addition to a busy life as a doctor his work did not crowd out his interest in his church or anything that advanced the work of the Kingdom of God. He attended church services regularly to the last. He was concerned for the spiritual welfare of his loved ones and prayed much for them. He enjoyed his five grandchildren and loved them dearly.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Rachel Regier, two daughters, Hester, Mrs. E. L. Claassen of Walton, Kansas, and Elizabeth, Mrs. A. D. Rice of La Junta, Colorado, five grandchildren, one sister Helen, Mrs. A. J. Richert of Los Angeles, who was unable to be present and two brothers John and Henry of Elbing, Kansas, and a host of relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held Friday afternoon, Oct. 27, at the Emmaus Mennonite church. Hundreds of friends and former patients of this pioneer doctor paid their last respects. Rev. H. J. Dyck of Elbing spoke at the service in the home on Psa. 16:11 and Psa. 17:15. At the Emmaus church, Dr. Howard G. Nyce of Pretty Prairie gave a meditation on Job 1:21, and Rev Walter H. Dyck spoke on Isaiah 43:1-3. The Thiessen male quartet sang “God’s Way Is the Best Way” at the home, and “Come Ye Disconsolate" and "Fade, Fade Each Earthly Joy" at the church. At the cemetery they sang "Under His Wings" and "Leb Wohl, Ich geh Zur Ruh" Rev. J. H. Langenwalter gave the committal and prayer.

The Mennonite obituary: 1951 Feb 20 p. 131