Siemens, Edward Menno (1919-2005)

Newton Kansan obituary: 2005 Jan 17 p. 2

Birth date: 1919 Dec 22

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2005 Feb 21 p. 11

text of obituary:

EDWARD M. SIEMENS

Edward Menno Siemens, 85, of Hesston, Kan., died Jan. 14, 2005. He was born Dec. 22, 1919, to Abe R. and Katie L. (Regier) Siemens on the family farm near Burrton.

He grew up helping on the family farm. He attended Wildrose Country School and graduated from eighth grade. After finishing school, he learned to weld from a neighbor. He used this skill the rest of his life, making many projects.

As a young boy he accepted Christ. He was baptized at Finnimore Lake on July 20, 1941, and joined Hebron Mennonite Church east of Buhler.

During World War II he got an agricultural deferment. In 1947, he and his brother Wilbur started Siemens Brothers and were one of the first to do soil conservation work in the area.

He married Alma Irene Bergen on Aug. 30, 1951, at Bethesda Mennonite Church in Henderson, Neb.

They settled near the Alta Mills. In 1956-58 they spent the winter months at Henderson, and he did land leveling for irrigation.

In the late 1950s, they moved to the Hesston area. Over the years he did soil conservation work. He also farmed, raising wheat and milo, and ran the township grader for more than 20 years.

After Alma suffered a stroke in September 1994, he helped with her care. They celebrated 52 years of marriage before she preceded him in death on March 8, 2004.

In February 2004 he was diagnosed with leukemia. In November he entered Showalter Villa.

He was a quiet, reserved, hard- working man. There are many land improvements that will be reminders of him for years.

Survivors include four sons, Kenneth and his wife, Teresa, Karl and his wife, Jacquie, Kelvin, and Klifford and his wife, Fran; a sister Welma V. Stucky; in-laws Elda and Kerwin Jantz and Marieanna Siemens; and eight grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Alma; two brothers, Wilbur and Marvin; and a brother-in-law. Marion Stucky.

Funeral services were held at Buhler Mennonite Brethren Church. Burial was in Hebron Cemetery.