Wall, John P. (1861-1956)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Jun 14 p. 8

Birth date: 1861 Jan 1

text of obituary:

REV. JOHN P. WALL

Rev. John P. Wall, the son of Peter and Maria Wall, was born in Blumstein, South Russia, on Jan. 1, 1861, and was permitted to depart from this life to be ushered into the presence of his Saviour and Lord on May 29, 1956, at Reedley, Calif. he attained to the high age of 95 years, four months, and 28 days.

He grew to young manhood in a school teacher's home, his father being his teacher all his school years. After his father had taught for a number of years, he purchased a "Vollwirtschaft" (farm) in the village of Alexanderkron.

In 1878 as a young man he came to America with his parents, settling on a farm which they purchased near Halstead, Kansas.

On Aug. 24, 1879, when 18 years of age, he accepted Christ as his Saviour and was baptized by Elder Abraham Schellenberg, whereby he became a member of the Ebenezer Mennonite Brethren church.

On Dec. 23, 1885, he was united in the holy bonds of wedlock with our mother, then Katharina Balzer. They were permitted to share the blessings and difficulties of life for more than 59 years. This union was blessed with eleven children, five sons and six daughters. One son and one daughter died in infancy. Mary, Mrs. Sam J. Unruh died on April 22, 1950, and Anna, Mrs. P. E. J. Harder died Mqrch 12, 1956.

As young people our parents settled on a farm near Moundridge, Kansas, where also all of their children were born.

Father was active in church almost immediately after he was baptized. He taught in Sunday school almost continually until old age caused him to decline this work. In 1903 the Ebenezer Church elected him to serve as a lay minister. He had much joy in this work. On Oct. 232, 1911, he was ordained into the ministry with the Elders Henry Adrian and Peter Rempel officiating. He sought to faithfully serve as a servant of the Lord as long as his health permitted.

In November of 1917 the parents with their five youngest children moved to the Lake Charles, Louisiana, community. He was instrumental in helping to organized a Mennonite Brethren Church in their community and also served as pastor for some time.

In 1925 the parents moved to Orland, Calif., where they settled on a ranch. They lived in this community a number of years and served the M. b. church there as pastor for some time. Our parents then moved to Los Angeles where they lived for about four years, and came to Reedley, Calif., in 1934.

Mother passed away in 1943 leaving father a very lonesome man. He stayed at the home of one of his daughters for some time and then went to live in the M. B. Home for the Aged in Reedley.

Father's health had been quite good till the spring of 1955 when he began to fail rather rapidly. This spring he had four attacks of severe illness which caused him to steadily grow weaker till he could at last go home to be with Christ.

Father has had a full, rich, and active life. He was a good father to us and instructed us in the ways of the Lord. His chief concern, even to the very end of his earthly life, was for the salvation of his family. His memory is a blessed one to us as children and to the many who knoew him as a minister of the Gospel.

Those surviving his death are his seven children: Peter J. Wall of Reedley, John W. Wall of Ingalls, Kansas, Jacob J. Wall of Orland, Calif., Arthur Wall of Dinuba, Calif., Emma, Mrs. George G. Neufeld of Buhler, Kansas, Minnie, Mrs. Abe M. Harder of Dinuba, Calif.; four sons-in-law; four daughters-in-law; 18 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Pete Regier of Buhler, Kansas, and mrs. Frank Dick of Halstead, Kansas; and many relatives and friends. — The Children.