Warkentin, John W. (1894-1970)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1970 May 21 p. 10

Birth date: 1894 Mar 29

text of obituary:

Secy. of Mid-Kansas Relief Auction Dies at Hillsboro

Word was received on Monday that J. W. Warkentin, secretary of the Mid-Kansas Relief Auction Sale, died unexpectedly in his sleep early Monday at his home in Hillsboro.

Mr. Warkentin was one of the founders of the Kansas sale and as secretary had a leading part in planning the first two sales, held in 1969 in Hutchinson and on April 18, 1970 in Newton. He was a member of the Hillsboro M. B. Church, where the funeral is to be conducted Thursday at 10 a. m. by Rev. Marvin Hein and Dr. Roy Just.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1970 May 28 p. 6

text of obituary:

Services Held for Hillsboro Businessman, Former MCC Worker

Hillsboro, Kan. — Funeral services were held at the Hillsboro M. B. Church on May 21 for John W. Warkentin, 76, long-time businessman here who was also active in church and community affairs as well as MCC interests. He died unexpectedly at his home early Monday, May 18.

A native of Kirk, Colo., he came here at the age of 16 to enroll at Tabor Academy. He had a varied career which included teaching school, working in a bank, a mill, and a printing office, and operation of a local hatchery and locker plant At one time he was acting administrator of Salem Hospital here, and he served on the Tabor College board for 41 years.

Following the death of his first wife, he served in South America under the MCC. There he met and married Kaethe Kasdorf. He was one of the founders of the Mid-Kansas Relief Auction Sale, and served as secretary of the sales held in 1969 and 1970. Survivors include his widow, Kaethe, and four children and their families.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1970 Jun 11 p. 11

JOHN W. WARKENTIN

John W. Warkentin was born on March 29, 1894 at Kirk, Colo., the son of Bernhard and Maria Suderman Warkentin. He received his early education in that community, joined the Mennonite Brethren Church through confession of faith and baptism, and then came to Hillsboro to attend the Tabor Academy at the age of 16. Further schooling at the college not only enabled him to enter the teaching profession but also gave him a love for the school that never diminished through the years.

He taught school at French Creek and Creswell in the Hillsboro community for four years. During this time he married Martha Schroeder (June 6, 1917), and to this union were born three children, Evelyn, Esther and Leo, the youngest of whom, a son, was killed April 1945 on Okinawa.

During subsequent years he worked locally as a printer at the Hillsboro Publishing House, at Ebel's Feed mill, the Hillsboro State bank, and as a field representative for Tabor College. He later rented a hatchery for several years and in 1936 built his own business establishment, remaining in the hatchery business until 1953. He added a refrigerated locker plant in 1940 and remained its owner and operator until 1966.

In 1947 he was saddened by the death of his wife. Soon afterward he went to South America, fulfilling his part of their plan to assist for two years in settling refugees who had come to Paraguay after the war. While in South America he met and married, on September 3, 1949, Kaethe Kasdorf, a teacher and one of the refugees. In December 1949 they came to Hillsboro. To this marriage two children, John and Sharon, were born.

Throughout his life he gave himself to many interests and activities in the church and community. His love for Tabor College resulted in 41 years of service on the Board of Education, during which time he served as treasurer. In the church he enjoyed singing in the male chorus for 20 years, teaching Sunday school for more than 50 years, serving as church treasurer for 20 years, and on the church council for a long period of time. In the community he served on the boards of the Salem Home for the Aged and Salem Hospital, working actively and contributing toward building projects for both of these institutions. He also served as interim administrator at the local hospital for one year. During the past two years he had become particularly engrossed in the work of MCC Relief Auction Sales and served this new organization as secretary of the board.

In the midst of an active and exciting life he suddenly departed from this life early Monday morning, May 18, 1970, passing away quietly in his sleep. He was 76 years old. Preceding him in death were his parents, one son, five brothers and one sister. Surving are his wife, Kaethe, and four children, Evelyn, Mrs. Clifford Delk and husband, Hillsboro, Esther, Mrs. George Atkinson and husband, Norton, Kan., John and Sharon of the home; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; three brothers, Abe (Enid), George (Hillsboro), and Eric (Reedley); four sisters: Mary, Mrs. Jake Heinrichs, Susie, Mrs. Paul Ruth and Lydia, Mrs. Jake Braun, all of Reedley, Calif., and Ann Warkentin of Kansas City, Mo., along with many other relatives and friends.

— The Family.