Schowalter, Frederick Wilhelm (1876-1960)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1960 Jul 14 p. 6

Birth date: 1876 Apr 27

text of obituary:

. . .

— Funeral services for Fred W. Schowalter, 84, well-known retired farmer of Halstead, were announced for Thursday morning at the First Mennonite Church there, Rev. Roland Goering officiating. Mr. Schowalter died Monday morning at the Halstead hospital after a brief illness. A native of Friedelsheim, Germany, he had lived at Halstead for 77 years.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1960 Jul 28 p. 8

text of obituary:

FREDERICK WILHELM SCHOWALTER

Frederick Wilhelm Schowalter, son of Heinrich and Maria (Risser) Schowalter, was born on April 27, 1876 in Friedelsheim, Germany. With his parents he migrated to America when he was seven years old and settled on a farm near Halstead, Kansas. His father passed away two years after coming to America and his mother passed away five years later, leaving him and his three brothers and two sisters orphans. These, for periods of time, were separated and care for in different homes.

On March 29, 1891 Mr. Schowalter was baptized upon the confession of his faith by Rev. Christian Krehbiel and received into membership of the First Mennonite Church of Halstead. Of this church he remained a very faithful member until the time of his death.

His schooling included study at the Bethel Academy, which was located in Halstead at the time.

When he was 24 years of age he and his brother, Jake, bicycled to Nebraska to work. Here he met Paulina Leisy, to whom he was married on Oct. 16, 1900. With her he came to Kansas to make his home on the farm near Halstead that had formerly belonged to his parents. On this farm which has now been in possession of the family for 77 years he lived until 1950, when he retired and with his wife moved to Halstead. To this marriage six children were born. The couple was privileged to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary in October 1950.

Mr. Schowalter passed away in the Halstead Hospital on July 11, 1960, after suffering his second stroke. His wife preceded him in death by approximately one year and one month. Preceding him in death also are one daughter, Edith; one son, Henry, all three of his brothers, and both of his sisters.

He leaves to mourn his departure four children, Dora, Mrs. P. N. Goertz, San Marino, Calif.; Mildred and husband, Robert DeWitt, Alden, Kan.; William and wife, Betty, Halstead; and Frederick and wife, Yvonne, of Colorado Springs; six grandchildren, Alice Pauline and Robert Kay DeWitt, Beverly Ann and husband Darrel Easter; William Arthur Schowalter and Sheryl and Michael Schowalter; also two great-grandchildren, Robbie Ann and Craig Allen Easter.