Suderman, Edward (1889-1971)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1971 Apr 1 p. 11

Birth date: 1889 Aug 29

text of obituary:

EDWARD SUDERMAN

Edward Suderman, youngest son of Jacob and Agnes Wiens Suderman, was born Aug. 29, 1889, on a farm south of Hillsboro, Kan. Almost his entire life was spent in the Ebenfeld community, where he attended school and grew into manhood. In the Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church, during a revival when a great many came to confess Christ, he too received Christ as Savior from sin, and upon baptism and confession of faith was received into the membership of the Ebenfeld Church.

He was married on Aug. 4, 1918 to Martha Seibel, and the Lord in His mercy granted them more than 52 years of companionship and love. More than 30 of those years were spent on the farm where he loved to work with the land and livestock — a vocation that brought many challenges and joys to his life. They moved to Hillsboro in 1949 and here he moved a second major challenge in his declining years. For about ten years he served as curator of the Hillsboro Adobe House and reveled in the work of entertaining the many visitors who came from day to day.

During recent years his health began to fail. Several weeks before his death he became seriously ill, was hospitalized in Hillsboro. He quietly passed away early Tuesday morning, Feb. 23, 1971, having reached the age of 81 years, five months, and 25 days.

We who survive covet many happy memories of our husband and father. Especially precious to us was his constant and prayerful concern for his family. One of his first interests lay in the field of music, much of which he passed on to his children. He spent many hours in his lifetime singing in quartets and a male chorus, always looking upon this ministry as a spiritual service god had given him. He was also active in community affairs, serving on the Ebenfeld School Board for 18 years. While declining health curtailed his church attendance in recent years, he nevertheless loved to worship with God's people and enjoyed so much during the last months listening to the church services through the speaker placed in our home.

Preceding him in death were seven brothers and two sisters. Surviving are his wife, Martha; five children and their families, Leon and Ruby Suderman of Hillsboro, Adena, Mrs. Roy Schmidt and husband of Fresno, Calif., Leslie and Rubena Suderman of Hillsboro, Hilda, Mrs. Ira Hein and husband of Hillsboro, Ruby June, Mrs. James Hefling and husband of Halstead, Kan.; 15 grandchildren and one great-grandchild; one brother, Dietrich Suderman of Hillsboro; and many other relatives and friends. — The Family.