Rudiger, Andreas (1853-1937)

Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1938 Jan 11 p. 14 (Rüdiger, Andreas)

Birth date: 1853 May 14

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1937 Dec 29 p. 6

text of obituary:

Andreas Rudiger

Father Andreas Rudiger, son of David and Elizabeth (Jants [sic Jantz]) Rudiger, was born May 14, 1853, in Poland Russia, in the village of Karlswalde.

Here he was baptized upon his confession of faith in Christ Jesus by elder Tobias Unruh and became a member of the local Mennonite church.

In the year 1874, during the great immigration to America he joined his parents and their children and came to America, to Great Bend, Barton County, Kansas. Here he spent some years. He homesteaded a farm near Kinsley, Kansas. Later he came to McPherson County.

On March 5, 1885, he united in holy matrimony with Anna (Richert) Unruh, a widow with four children, — Mrs. Elizabeth Schulz, J. J. Unruh, of Pawnee Rock, Kansas, and C. J. Unruh of Livingston, California. To this union,eight children were born, one of whom preceded him in death in infancy. The seven living are: Mrs. Lena Heer, Green, Kansas; Mrs. Carrie Nickell, Hesston, Kansas; Obed Rudiger, Greensburg, Kansas; Frank A. Rudiger, Mrs. Anna Koehn, Miss Mary Rudiger, and Joe Rudiger, all of Galva, Kansas.

He shared joy and sorrow with mother for 48 years until death called her home, March 5,1933. The rest of his life he remained on a farm six miles north and one-half east of Moundridge with Mary and Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Koehn. He lived on this same farm for 54 years.

Father Unruh enjoyed good health until one of his eyes caused him great pain. Medical aid was sought and an operation was performed which relieved him of much pain. Other complications set in, however, and caused him severe pain at times until December 23, 1937, he was called home, having been sick for 4 weeks, 14 days at home and 16 days at Bethel Hospital. He reached the age of 84 years, 7 months, and 9 days.

Father had the blessed assurance of his salvation through Jesus Christ, and expressed his wish to be with Jesus rather than to recover. He remained a true member of the Emmanuel Mennonite Church, sharing her blessings and lending her support since it was organized.

He leaves to mourn 11 children, 54 grandchildren of which 4 preceded him in death, 30 great grandchildren, one brother, Carl Rudiger, of Pawnee Rock, Kansas, and a host of friends and relatives.

Funeral services were held at the home and at the Emmanuel Mennonite church near Galva on Tuesday, Dec. 28. At the home the services were in charge of Rev. J. J. Ratzlaff, while at the church he was assisted by Rev. E. . Neuenschwander of McPherson. Special music, "Safe in the Arms of Jesus," "Gone! Our Beloved," and "Asleep in Jesus" was rendered by the church choir.

Rev. E. J. Neuenschwander led the committal service at the cemetery.

After the services the body was taken to the Goessel hospital, were [sic] the deceased's sister, Anna Koehn, wanted to view the body, having been too sick to attend the funeral.

The Mennonite obituary: 1938 Jan 18 p. 13