Suderman, Jacob P. (1886-1959)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1959 Jul 16 p. 8

Birth date: 1886 Feb 28

text of obituary:

JACOB P. SUDERMAN

Jacob P. Suderman, the son of Jacob and Eva Pauls Suderman, was born on Feb. 28, 1886, near Buhler, Kan. Here he spent his childhood days and also attended grade school. As a boy he moved with his parents to Richmond, Texas, where they spent 10 years on a farm. He left Texas to attend Bethel College where he studied for three years. In 1908 the family moved to Gotebo, Okla.

Our father recognized his lost condition and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. On Jan. 2, 1910, he was baptized by Rev. Peter Richert and united with the Mennonite Brethren Church for fellowship.

On Oct. 19, 1911, he was united in holy matrimony to Mary Richert. This union, which lasted 47 years, seven months and seven days, was blessed with three daughters and one son. The son, Jacob, died in infancy.

In 1913 we moved to Reedley, Calif. and our father began his career as a railroad worker. In this occupation it was necessary for us to move quite frequently and we lived in a number of towns in the San Joaquin Valley, spending 13 years in Bakersfield, Calif. In 1946 our father retired from the railroad business and opened a Bible book store in Reedley.

Our father loved the Lord Jesus Christ with all his heart, and even while working for the railroad he spent his spare time seeking to get Bibles and good reading material into the hands of other people. He was a great supporter of the church. He taught us the way of life by telling us about Jesus Christ and the plan of salvation, but more that he lived it every day of his life. He prayed daily for the spiritual welfare of the family. He was especially concerned that the grandchildren might accept the Lord in their early years. Throughout his life we can never remember a time that he missed a church service except during the last year of his illness.

He enjoyed comparatively good health until the last two years. During this time his health began to fail. We as a family were grateful that we could take care of him in the home until the last week of his life. His last few days were spent in the Reedley Home for the Aged. Here he received tender care, but Friday morning, June 26, 1959, at about 11 a.m. he slipped away into the Great Beyond to live in the sunshine of God's love. He reached the age of 73years,three months and 28 days.

Those who remain to mourn at his departure are his wife, Mrs. Mary Suderman of Reedley; three daughters, Florence Suderman of Reedley, Helen, Mrs. Dave Koop of Reedley, and Mary Ann, Mrs. Harold Gaede of Fresno, Calif.; two sons-in-law; eight grandchildren; four brothers, Abe of Reedley, Dave of Dinuba, Leonard of Mountain Lake, Minn., and Ernest of Reedely; two sisters, Elizabeth, Mrs. Dave Fast of Hardesty, Okla., and Anna, Mrs. C. K. Brandt of Reedley. Besides these there are 11 sisters-in-law, six brothers-in-law, and many other relatives and friends who stand by to show their sympathy and love in these days of bereavement. We mourn the loss of our father, but we rejoice that he could go on to glory.

The memorial service was held Tuesday, June 30, at 10 a.m., in the Reedley Mennonite Brethren Church, with Rev. Dan Friesen and Rev. H. R. Wiens officiating.