Wedel, Garman H. (1920-1975)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1975 Jul 3 p. 3

Birth date: 1920

text of obituary:

West Kansas Pastor Called by Death

Newton, Kan — Funeral services for Rev. Garman H. Wedel, 54, of Hanston, who was pastor of both the Hanston Mennonite Church and the First Mennonite Church at Ransom, will be held at the Ransom church 10 a.m. Saturday, July 5. Rev. James Gingerich, pastor of the First Mennonite Church of Christian at Moundridge, will officiate at the services.

Rev. Wedel died of an apparent heart attack the afternoon of July 1.

A native of Moundridge, he served the pastorate of the Emmanuel Mennonite Church, north of Moundridge, from 1943 to 1964. In 1965 he became pastor of the First Mennonite Church at Ransom in 1968, while continuing to serve the Hanston church, making the 40-mile trip to the western Kansas community every Sunday.

Among the survivors are his widow, the former Katherine Wiens of Inman, and two daughters, Marcene and Cynthia, all of the home.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1975 Jul 31 p. 11

Birth date: 1920 Sep 10

text of obituary

GARMAN WEDEL

Garman Wedel, son of Andrew H. and Carolina Koehn Wedel, was born on Sept.10, 1920 on a farm near Moundridge, Kan. He received his early education at the Farms School and Moundridge High School. He attended Bethany College at Lindsborg for one and a half years with the ambition of entering a musical career. However, the voice of the Lord spoke to him to become one of His messengers to preach the Word, and thus Garman directed his further education to Bethel College where he graduated in 1946. His fifth year there was a seminary course in preparation for entering the Christian ministry.

Even in his early years Garman lived with great zeal and searched for a depth of purpose to find in life the fullness of joy. Through great searching and diligent reading of the Bible, and discussing it often with his Grandmother Wedel, the Lord found him and he accepted Him as Saviour and Lord. He was baptized on Aug 23,1936 by Rev. J. J. Ratzlaff and became a member of the Emmanuel Mennonite Church, Moundridge.

Garman was ordained a minister of the Gospel on May 24,1942 by Rev. W. C. Voth and ordained as elder on March 9,1947 by Rev. P. A. Wedel at the Emmanuel Mennonite Church, Moundridge.

He was married to Kathrien Wiens on June 6, 1943 at the Bethel Church near Inman, Kan. by Rev. A. E. Kreider, his Bible professor at Bethel College. The following Sunday he began serving as pastor of his home church. He carried the load of serving the church and going to school for three years while he and his wife lived on the Bethel campus. In 1946 they moved to Moundridge where they lived lor 18 years. During these years Garman and his dad worked together on the farm and did other supplementary work while serving the church.

Joy came to their home in a great measure when a daughter, Mercene, was adopted in March 1959.

On Jan. 3, 1965 they became associate members of the First Mennonite Church of Christian in Moundridge. The Hanston Mennonite Church called him to serve in the spring of 1965, and they moved to Hanston in August 1965. When the First Mennonite Church of Ransom needed a pastor they asked Hanston to share Garman's services. Thus since July 22,1968 he served both congregations. Another daughter, Cynthia Kay, became a member of the family when she was nine years old, and on Feb. 18, 1972 she was legally adopted. Garman taught his daughters the meaning of the values of life and found a special joy in teaching them in catechism and baptizing them. In his years of ministry he was diligent in teaching many classes of catechism, often to older people in the home. He also served at 56 weddings.

He sang in "The Messiah" at Lindsborg several years and had attended it every year since 1937. He sang in the 500-voice Mennonite Men's Chorus several times. He was president of the Hodgeman County Ministerial Alliance at the time of his death. He felt a great need to present the Gospel truths as the Lord revealed them to him. His voice in word and song can now be more fully expressed in the heavenly choir.

His earthly life ended suddenly at the end of a busy day on July 1, 1975. He reached the age of 54.

He leaves to mourn his wife, two daughters, Marcene and Cindy; his parents; and one sister, Velma and husband Nathaniel Kuhn. One brother, Carl, preceded him in infancy.

The Mennonite obituary: 1975 Aug 19 p. 466