Reimer, Arlene Lois (1931-1943)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1943 Jul 22 p. 5

Birth date: 1931 Jun 24

text of obituary:

TWELVE YEAR OLD GIRL DROWNED LAST SUNDAY AT MEDFORD, OKLA.

Medford, Okla. — Twelve year old Arlene Reimer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P. H. Reimer, drowned last Sunday afternoon, July 25, while swimming at a lake near here.

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the local Mennonite church. Her parents, three brothers and two sisters survive.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1943 Aug 5 p. 1

text of obituary:

Group of Children Have Narrow Escape From Drowning

ARLENE REIMER OF MEDFORD, OKLA., LOST HER LIFE SUNDAY, JULY 25

Medford, Okla., July 29. — A 12-year-old girl was drowned and several other children narrowly escaped a similar fate Sunday when they were spilled from a tipping raft at a pond on the Ben Bergen farm one mile north and three miles east of Medford.

Arlene Lois Reimer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P. H. Reimer, who live a mile west of the Bergen farm, was the victim.

Her body was recovered 45 minutes after her disappearance in the eight foot deep water. Attempts to revive her proved futile.

The tragedy occurred about 4 p.m. Relatives and neighbors had gathered at the Bergen home for a farewell in honor of Eugene Bergen, who is leaving soon for active service with the armed forces.

A group of children were playing at the pond, some of them riding on the raft and some of the older boys swimming.

The Reimer girl and Helen Bergen were on the raft along with several other boys and girls. The two girls were among those thrown into the water as the raft tipped. Neither of the girls was able to swim and in the confusion the Reimer girl drowned.

Helen Bergen was brought to safety by an uncle, George Bergen, who plunged into the water. Immediate efforts were made to dive for the Reimer girl but it was not until 45 minutes alter that the body was recovered by James Lynn, ambulance driver, who was called to the scene.

The Blackwell fire department rushed a pullmotor from Blackwell and first aid was administered unsuccessfully.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1943 Aug 12 p. 3

text of obituary:

ARLENE LOIS REIMER

Arlene Lois Reimer, youngest daughter of Peter H. and Augusta Thimm Reimer, was born June 24, 1931, at the home of her parents on a farm near Medford, Oklahoma, and departed this life Sunday afternoon on July 25, 1943, at the age of 12 years, 1 month and 1 day.

She received her education in the rural school near her home.

So, dear Arlene, you came to dwell in our midst for such a short while, and expression of love and kindness from the heart of God. We knew the gift of love was yours a we watched you grow and gather about you your many playmates whom you loved and cherished with all your heart.

God gave you the gift of song and you served him with this gift. You loved the hymns of the church. How often you would comfort our hearts when you were seated at the piano and would play and sing the beautiful hymns — among your favorites, "Jesus Calls Us," and "Living for Jesus."

Yes, God knows best. You wanted to slip away for a few hours of enjoyment with your friends, not knowing that God had planned a far more enjoyable place for you, where there will be no sorrows and heartaches.

Now as we turn from our musings we realize that we will not see you in that empty chair again. You have slipped away from the land of your journey, home to God's heart.

She leaves to mourn her early departure her deeply bereaved parents, two sisters, Irma of Herrington, Kansas, and Edna, Mrs. Bernard Reimer, of Medford, and three brothers, Milton of Colorado Springs, Lee Earl and Ramon of the home, her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Thimm and a host of other relatives [note: two lines of print reversed in newspaper] and friends.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Donald, and a sister, Maedean.