Rempel, John Edwin (1924-2004)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2005 Mar 7 p. 11

Birth date: 1924 Oct 18

text of obituary:

JOHN EDWIN REMPEL

John Edwin Rempel, 79, of Clinton, Okla., died Aug. 18, 2004, at Integris Clinton Regional Hospital. He was born Oct. 18, 1924, to John H. and Susie (Wiebe) Rempel at Corn.

In addition to farming near Corn, his family also farmed in west Texas. He began his schooling at Hereford, Texas, and completed his education at Corn. As a junior he was a member of the first Corn High School basketball team to advance to the state tournament.

He married Erna Viola Harms on Oct. 29, 1944, at Herold Mennonite Church. They first lived on a farm west of Corn.

Soon after their wedding, he was baptized and became a member of Herold Mennonite Church of Bessie. He assisted with the church basement excavation project in 1945-46. Over the years he served the church as an usher and a trustee, and was part of the trustee team in 1981 when the Sunday school addition was built.

In 1951 they moved to Clinton, but he continued to farm until his retirement in 1994. For a time after they moved, he also demonstrated and repaired equipment for Singer Sewing Machine Co.

One season he was unable to do any farm work due to injuries from an auto accident. Due to complications, it was eight years before he totally recovered, and he managed the farm while on crutches.

As a hobby, he enjoyed fishing.

Survivors include his wife of almost 60 years, Erna; a daughter, Eva Maxine Rempel of Clinton; a sister, Margie Schmidt of Sterling, Kan.; a stepmother, Jessie Mae Rempel of Corn; four sisters-in-law, Rosella Abrahams and Martha Harms, both of Clinton, and Linda Harms and Anna Horn, both of Corn.

Services were held at Herold Mennonite Church of Bessie. Burial was in Herold Mennonite Cemetery.