Wagler, John (1859-1947)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1947 Dec 11 p. 3

Birth date: 1859 Jul 25

text of obituary:

JOHN WAGLER, SR.

John Wagler, son of Rev. Joseph and Barbara (Zehr) Wagler, was born July 25, 1859, in Obergeis, Alsace Lorraine, and departed this life November 23, 1947, at his home in Wayland, Iowa at the age of 88 years, three months and 28 days.

Bro. Wagler enjoyed good health until last July, when a light stroke impaired his speech. He apparently made satisfactory recovery, and he was not bedfast until the last week of his earthly life.

At the age of 12 he accepted Christ and united with the Mennonite Church. At the age of24 he was ordained minister and was active in the ministry for 35 years. He served the church in Alsace Lorraine for 20 years,and when he came to this country in 1904, served as co-pastor at the Sugar Creek church at Wayland. In 1920 he transferred his membership to the Eicher Emmanuel Mennonite church, Noble, Iowa, where he was a member a the time of his death.

In 1884 he was united in marriage with Anna Shertz. To this union were born seven children. Four children, Joseph, peter, Anna, and Adolph preceded him in death in early childhood. the other three, Lydia, John, and Alfred, survive. this home was broken when Mrs. Wagler was taken by death.

Later he married Catherine Litwiller. One child, Anna Johannah, was born to this union, but this home was soon broken when death called this companion, also. In May, 1903 he was united in marriage to Catherine Hirschy, who survives.

On August 22, 1904, he with his family came to America to make their home, settling on a farm south of Wayland. Later he purchased a farm in the same community where they made their home until five weeks ago, when they moved to Wayland.

Mr. Wagler was a kind, loving husband and father, and was keenly interested in his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was not only concerned about the physical needs of the family, but was also interested in their spiritual welfare and often used the Word of God in his associations with them.

Besides his deeply bereaved companion, two daughters, Lydia, (Mrs. Joe C. Hirschy) Wayland, Anna, (Mrs. Lawrence Fritz) of Washington, Iowa; two sons, John of Wayland, and Alfred of Mt. Pleasant; 34 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren remain to mourn his passing.