Reimer, John W. (1861-1952)

Latest revision as of 10:51, 21 September 2017

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1952 Dec 25 p. 10

Birth date: 1861

text of obituary:

Father, grandfather and great-grandfather John W. Reimer was born in the Village Prangenau, South Russia, where he received a meager education. At the age of 13 he emigrated with his parents to America, and they settled on a farm near Steinbach, Manitoba.

In 1881 he was joined in marriage to Elisabeth Toews, with whom he shared joys and sorrows for over 41 years. To this union 12 children were born.

In about 1882 our parents felt their lost condition, and alter repenting and receiving the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior, were baptized and received into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. As a young man father had his shortcomings, which he often acknowledged and confessed. He then renewed his vows to walk closer to his Lord.

Their son Peter, a bright boy, had scarlet fever at the age of three and as a result lost his hearing. This brought deep sorrow to father.

The parents had a nice home and a good living in Canada. In 1916 the family moved to Littlefield, Texas, where they lost nearly all of their temporal possessions. After about a year, they moved back to Steinbach and started anew. At this time, in 1922, his wife died, leaving him very lonely.

In July 1923 he again found a help-meet in Justine Penner, who was a great comfort to him and to us all. In 1929 the parents moved to the U. S., settling on a farm northwest of Inman, Kansas. Here they lived happily for about 10 years, and when his wife’s health began to fail, they moved to Hillsboro, Kans. where Mrs. Isaac Ensz took care of them until Sept. 1, 1942. Then they moved to the Bethesda home, Goessel.

His second wife passed away Aug. 25, 1943. They lived together 20 years, one month and three days.

He was permitted by the Home to have a little workshop of his own on the grounds, where he made many articles. This was a pastime for him, and was greatly appreciated. In the last years, it became difficult for him to swallow food and he grew very weak. After five days in the hospital, where he suffered greatly, the death angel came on Nov. 29, 1952, at 10:50 a.m., and he is now resting under the altar with the blood-washed saints. He reached the age of 91 years, seven months and 19 days.

He leaves to mourn his departure four sons and four daughters, John, Henry and Jacob of Steinbach, Margaret (Mrs. Cor. E. Giesbrecht) of White Mouth, Man., Lizzie (Mrs. John T. Penner) of Swalwell, Alberta, Abraham of Crooked Creek, Alberta, Anna (Mrs. H. A. Ensz) and Katherine (Mrs. David P. Toews) of Inman, Kansas; four sons-in-law, four daughters-in-law, 66 grandchildren, 76 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Jacob and Abraham of Swalwell, Alberta.

Three brothers, four sisters, four children (three who died in infancy and Peter, killed by a train at the age of 20), one daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren preceded him in death.

Funeral services were held Dec 3 at 10:00 a.m. at the Bethesda home where Min. J. T. Wiebe spoke words of comfort, and at 2:00 p.m. at the Zion church near Inman where Min. A. R. Toews and Min. John Becker officiated. Burial took place in the nearby cemetery. — The Children and Grandchildren.