Schroeder, John (1865-1949)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1949 Aug 11 p. 5

Birth date: 1865 Sep 9

text of obituary:

. . .

— A resident of the Halstead community since 1882, John Schroeder Sr., died at the Halstead hospital Sunday morning at the age of 83. Funeral services were held at the First Mennonite church of Halstead on Wednesday afternoon, Rev. Loris A. Habegger officiating. Mr. Schroeder, who was born in Germany, farmed north of Halstead for many years. He leaves his wife, Christina, three daughters and four sons.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1949 Aug 25 p. 6

text of obituary:

JOHN SCHROEDER

John Schroeder, son of Johann and Maria Franz Schroeder, passed to his eternal reward at Halstead, Kans. on Sunday morning, August 7, 1949, following a brief illness of five days.

On Tuesday afternoon he had gone for a short walk up town to transact some business and stopped at the Yung Machine Shop to visit with his son, Karl. While there he suffered a fainting spell and was removed to his home. On Thursday evening, when his condition did not improve, he was admitted to the Halstead hospital and it was there that he quietly yielded to the call of his Maker.

Mr. Schroeder was born at Dragass, Germany, on September 9, 1865. All of his formal education took place in that country. For a short time he was employed in his native country as a legal secretary. His early concern for things spiritual led him to commit himself to his Lord and he was baptized and received into the membership of the Montau Mennonite church on Pentecost, 1880.

Because the German government would not allow those who disagreed with the law of universal military service to hold property, the Schroeder family emigrated to the United States in 1882 in order that they might preserve their religious heritage. The family settled near Halstead, and John, then a young man of 19, found employment on farms in the vicinity of Halstead.

The First Mennonite church of Halstead was the scene of the wedding ceremony on November 24, 1892, which united him in marriage with Christain [sic Christina] Lichti. Rev. David Goertz officiated at the wedding. The young couple made their home on farms southwest of Halstead until 1909 when they moved to their own farm north of Halstead now tenanted by their son, Paul. During his residence there, Mr. Schroeder served on the District 33 (South Garden) school board for 22 years. In 1941 the couple retired to their present residence in Halstead.

John continued his active interest in the church during his years in this country. He joined the First Mennonite church of Halstead in 1882, shortly after his arrival here from Germany, and remained a faithful member here until his departure. During this time he served several years as a deacon of the church. His encouragement and understanding of young people will always be cherished as a distinct contribution to this church. Copies of talks which he gave in Christian Endeavor, neatly written in German script, are in possession of the family and they bespeak a testimony of genuine Christian character and concern.

He leaves to mourn his departure his sorrowing wife, Christina; four sons, Paul G. and Karl W. of Halstead, John H. of Los Angeles, Calif., and Herman O. of Baltimore, Maryland; three daughters, Mrs. D. S. (Elisie [sic Elsie] M.) Krehbiel and Mrs. E. H. (Marie E.) Krehbiel of Deer Creek, Okla., and Mrs. J. P. (Linda B.) Buller of Manhattan, Kansas; one brother, William, of Winton, California; 17 grandchildren;;[sic] and two great grandchildren. A host of relatives and friends also survive.

The parents, five brothers, and three sisters, preceded him in death.

Funeral services were conducted from the First Mennonite church of Halstead, on Wednesday afternoon, August 10, 1949, with the pastor, Rev. L. A. Habegger, in charge. A mixed quartet, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Krehbiel, Mrs. Harlan Friesen, and Harvey Vogt sang three numbers, "Abide With Me,” "Ist’s Auch Eine Freude,’* and "Near to the Heart of God." Mrs. Harvey Vogt presided at the organ. Casket bearers were Herman Franz, George Matthies, Dan Dettweiler, Clarance [sic Clarence] Dugan, J. F. Lehman, and Sam Bauman. Burial was in the family lot in the Halstead cemetery under the direction of the Kaufman Funeral Home.