Warkentin, John (1859-1948)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1948 Jun 3 p. 1

Birth date: 1859 Sep 29

text of obituary:

Death Takes Well-Known Teacher, Minister And Pioneer Farmer at Winkler, Manitoba

REV. JOHN WARKENTIN SERVED AS ELDER OF WINKLER M.B. CHURCH FOR 25 YEARS

By Peter Brown

Winkler, Man.—Funeral services for Rev. John Warkentin, 88, teacher, trustee, pioneer farmer, minister and church leader, were held here on Sunday afternoon in the Mennonite Brethren church. Burial was made in the Winkler cemetery. Rev. Warkentin passed away on Tuesday, May 18, after an illness of about four months.

The deceased was born in South Russia on September 29, 1859. He received his early education there in the village of Niederchortitz. In 1879 he emigrated to Canada with his parents, Jacob and Helen Warkentin, entering Manitoba at Emerson. His parents homesteaded at Haskett.

First Building in Winkler

On October 23, 1881, he married Sara Loewen of Osterwick. For six years after this he taught school in the village of Hoffnungsfeld and his former pupils still recall the enthusiasm with which he aroused their loyalty. In 1888 he started farming on what are now the outskirts of Winkler. Four years later he personally erected the first building in the present village of Winkler.

At this time also, April 28, 1885, he experienced the joys of personal salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He was baptized in 1891 and became an active church worker in Sunday School and young people's organizations. In 1906, upon the retirement of Elder David Dyck, he became the leader of the Winkler Mennonite Brethren congregation. He held this position for twenty-five years, his son-in-law, Rev. H. S. Voth, succeeding him in 1931.

Mrs. Warkentin pre-deceased him in 1930. Three years later he married Mrs. David Dyck, who survives him. He is also survived by six sons: Jacob, school teacher at Redding; Isaac, school teacher at Steinbach; John, farmer at Roland; Bernhard, school inspector at Beausejour; Peter, business man at Rennetta, B. C; and Cornelius Paul, Imperial Oil engineer at Sarnia, Ont. He is also survived by four daughters: Mrs. H. S. Voth, Winkler; Helen, missionary recently returned on furlough from India; Mrs. Sara Voth, Winkler; and Tienne, school teacher at Halbstadt.

There are also four sisters, Mrs. Jacob Braun, Alberta, Mrs. Isaac Wiens, Winkler. Mrs. John Giesbrecht, Haskett, and Mrs. Jacob Cornelsen, B. C., and one brother, Isaac, Winkler, still living. Also included in the living descendants are 24 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Rev. J. G. Wiens officiated at the funeral service. He was assisted by Rev. H. H. Redekop and Dr. A. H. Unruh.