Sukhie (d. 1929)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1929 Oct 23 p. 4

Birth date:

text of obituary:

P. W. PENNER DESCRIBES THE DEATH OF SUKHIE

Jangjir, C. P., India,

Sept. 17th, 1929.

Rev. and Mrs. H. P. Krehbiel, Newton, Kansas.

Dear Bro. and Sister:—

This afternoon I am sitting down to intimate that today a week ago Bro. Sukhie, in whom you took such interest while on a short visit to our mission field here in India, has passed to his reward for which he constantly longed. It was a glorious death indeed to behold. In the time of death his face changed as if some of the heavenly glory wanted to be impressed on the face of this wonderful saint of the living god. I was summoned at 10:45 a. m. to come quickly, because he was unconscious. After another 2 hours and 15 minutes his soul went to be with the Lord. I could not help but let the verses Psalm 112:6; 116:15; Prov. 10:7 rush through the memory. He was buried in the cemetery on the mission compound between 8 and 9:30 that same evening. The services were very impressive. Everybody must admit that a strong saint of the Janjgir church has gone to Him Whom he l9voed so much in the entire walk of life. May his example continue to work on until He comes to gather His church out the turmoil of this world.

The rolling chair Bro. Sukhie has used considerably for the glory of the Master. His son Phillip wheeled him to the village for effective evangelistic work. Surely he knew to utilize the opportunities constantly. As the chair will not be used any longer for him it will now as directed by transferred to the Champa hospital for use there. The chair is in a good order, will undoubtedly be of excellent service hereafter. Hope someone else will use it who knows Christ as Bro. Sukhie did. Once more we wish to express our gratitude for the assistance rendered, the family joins us doing so.

Bro Sukhie's oldest son Phillip will be married on Oct. 4th to a young girl Sundria, of the Champa church. He presently functions as our S. S. Superintendent. it is remarkable what a good impression he makes among the young people of the church. We do hope and pray he will love the Lord as much as his father did ever since he became a Christian in 1912.

The monsoon draws to a close, it has brought us excellent rain for the crops to grow. Almost 48 inches of rain have fallen since the beginning of the monsoon in June. 50 inches is average for this area. If the latter rain will not fall, the farmers will have the privilege to bring in a good harvest.

Hoping these lines will find you well as they have us. Mrs. Penner jins em sending greetings.

Yours for service,

P. W. Penner

---

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1929 Nov 27 p. 3

text of obituary:

BROTHER SUKHIE IN GLORY

(From The Mennonite)

The headline will arrest the attention of the readers. At different times the church papers communicated about this saint. He is not any more to be numbered among the living ones on this woeful earth. For more than two years he has been an invalid. Bro. and Sister H. P. Krehbiel, when traveling through India, visited him; later collected money for a rolling chair. This has arrived and was used for some months, from it he preached to crowds in the neighboring village.

Lately his strength, especially the voice, gradually decreased, for several weeks his speech was only a whisper. On Sept. 10th at 10:45 am I was notified in my office to come quickly to Bro. Sukhie’s bedside; he was unconscious. I left everything and hurried there immediately, administered some stimulant, pretty soon he lifted his eyes and recognized me. I stooped and asked, “Brother Sukhie, is the Lord Jesus with you, are you ready to go?” With a smile on his face, he nodded. Soon I noticed a whisper, with my ear close to his lips, he repeated these words,”Jeshu Massih, Guru Jee ki jai Jeshu massih, Guru Jee ki jai.” (Praise be to my Teacher, Jesus, the Messiah.) He then requested us to sing and pray. Both was done.

In the meanwhile Sister Martha Burkhalter and many others had come. All did what was thought to make him comfortable the last few hours. Whenever asked whether he was ready to go, glad to go, he either nodded, or would whisper his decided “Yes” to it all. When so many were there, I took some bottles and wanted to go for a little while to the bungalow a short distance away. Brother Sukhie noticed this, strained himself, said, “Papa Jee, remain with me.” He turned to Sister Martha Burkhalter with the same request. We prayed much, his wife and children, of course, could not help but cried bitterly. Another ten minutes his eyes filled with tears, then they twitched, his face turned pale, the sweat broke out profusely, several times opened his eyes, as if wanting to say something yet, gradually he passed on at 1 p. m. I could not help but to remember the words of Psalm 116:15: “Precious is in the sight of the Lord the death of his saints.”

Mrs. Penner with a number of others being away were missed indeed very much. We tried to keep the body for the next morning; owing to the sultry and damp atmosphere, no undertaker available, this proved impossible. That evening between eight and nine-thirty the impressive funeral took place, bedding the body of the true saint in the cemetery on the mission compound. The texts chosen were Psalm 112:6 “The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.” Prov. 16:7 “The memory of the just is blessed.”

Bro. Sukhie who formerly belonged to the low Chamar (Leather) caste, was baptised April 7, 1912. He suffered intense persecution, even his own wife then disdained him with the most abusive language, frightfully angry. Bro. Sukhie calmly stood it all and said, “Let’s not talk very much to my wife, but pray earnestly that she may see the light and join me I this newly accepted faith.” Only a year later she yielded, was baptised, both have remained staunch Christians ever since.

Bro. Sukhie pretty soon became much interested in government contract work. Was busily engaged with that. Before leaving on a job, he frequented the office for Testaments, gospels, tracts, and never forgot to be an evangelist besides. The high caste people frequently would call him a fool that he left caste and joined the Christian church, nevertheless he would in return to all that preach Christ to them. His lips always opened to every one for witness; while an invalid many came to see him. Only a few weeks ago, asking for a helper from the mission, he conducted regular evangelistic services at his home for an entire day. He was so tired in the evening that no food wanted to taste, but he exclaimed, ‘”These people need Christ, I ‘must’ talk until the Lord taeks [sic] me.” At this and other times he saw to it that a Bible or a Testament was placed into the hands of his reading friends.

Not only his lips witnessed for Christ, but the entire life did so. Ever since he was baptised the mission had very much to do with him, not a single deed can be recorded where a “shadow” of dishonesty could be detected. The manager in whose charge he worked traveled with me one time, said, “Among the many contractors under my supervision there is only a single one whom I have never caught cheating, that is one by the name Sukhie, he says he is a Christian.” I revealed finally after a lengthy conversation, “This man Sukhie is a member of our mission church. I have baptised him a number of years ago.” In reply came this, “If Christianity means that, then you ought to be proud, it is certainly worth embracing.”

Where others in similar vocations claimed, “We cannot witness for Christ, we cannot keep the Sabbath, we cannot remain honest, we cannot refrain from taking and giving bribes, we cannot refrain from telling lies, we cannot refrain from cheating people,” Bro. Sukhie has overthrown all the claims, has corroborated just the opposite with his testimony and life. Has put to shame hundreds of Christians here and in other lands who possess an infinitely superior book knowledge and refinement. He has substantiated the possibility of a Christian life. He refrained from choosing a vocation where his fellowship with the master became jeopardized. Constantly he expressed how dangerous it was in his vocation to stumble, would hundreds of times request prayer before going out on government jobs.

His remembrance shall prove a blessing to us, to everybody who knew him in the mission; his walk of life was never contested by the entire church, his life was pointed out by “all” well-thinking persons as an ideal one, representing Christ truly.

He leaves behind to mourn the early departure his beloved wife Soni Bai (Golden Sister), five sons and one daughter, a number of brothers and sisters, the missionary staff, the church, the entire Christian body of our mission. The loss is now already felt as keenly.

His son Phillip is going to be married on October 4th to Sundria (Beautiful) of Champa. The father was very anxious to see that day. Philip at present functions as S. S. Superintendent. The first Sunday after the funeral he expressed to the entire church the family’s sincere gratitude for all services rendered during the days of suffering, at the time of death and burial. Avery promising young man indeed.

Soni Bai in her grief repeated with tear-filled eyes the numerous beatitudes of her beloved husband in an oriental and most sympathetic manner. One could not withhold the tears from flowing. Would Soni Ba [sic] have been a caste woman she would have undone her hair, beat the head furiously against the wall or on the ground almost endangering her life, and screaming at the top of her voice, because lacking the living hope. Oh, what a change when Christ predominates in such a crushed heat, and comforts!

Yours in his service,

P. W. Penner.