Wohlgemuth, Cornelius Plette (1879-1959)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1959 Aug 27 p. 8

Birth date: 1879 Nov 6

text of obituary:

MIN. C. P. WOHLGEMUTH

Cornelius (Plette) Wohlgemuth born Nov. 6, 1879, in the Steinbach, district where he also grew to manhood. He passed away July 20, 1959 at 10:30 a.m. in the Betheda Hospital in Steinbach, reaching the age of 79 years, eight months and 14 days.

Father realized his lost condition and upon true repentance and forgiveness of his sins was baptized on June 27, 1898, and added to the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite.

He was ordained into the ministry on June 14, 1910, in which office he served faithfully unto the end. He was deeply concerned for the welfare of the Church and was especially gifted in personal work. Only one week before his death he preached a very timely sermon from Psalm 73:1-19.

His father died when he was 19 years of age and as the oldest in the family he took over responsibilities in the home and was a great help to his mother both spiritually and in material things.

He was united in marriage to Maria Warkentin on March 10, 1901. They lived with his mother the first six years, and then settled on a farm nearby where they lived until he retired.

This union was blessed with six sons and five daughters, of whom two sons and three daughters preceded him in death. He was always much concerned for his children that they might follow in the path of Jesus.

Mother passed away on Aug. 24, 1941, which left father quite lonely. In February 1948 his daughter Katherine suffered a stroke, leaving her paralyzed and speechless. He cared for her the remaining six years of her life, until March 1954, when she passed away, leaving father alone in his small house on his son's yard.

After being a widower for 17 years he found a companion for his last days in Mrs. Isaac T. Penner of Inman, Kansas. They were married on May 11, 1958 enjoying married life for one year, two months and nine days.

Father enjoyed comparatively good health until Sunday night, July 19. Monday morning after a sleepless night, suffering great pain, he was taken to the hospital in Steinbach and there passed away of heart failure a few minutes after being admitted.

He leaves to mourn his departure his companions; four sons, John of Crooked Creek, Alberta, Isaac of Giroux, Man., and Henry and Cornelius of St. Anne; two daughters, Elizabeth, Mrs. Ed. P. Penner, and Minnie, Mrs. F. K. Doerksen, of St. Anne; two sons-in-law, four daughters-in-law, 42 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren, and by his later marriage, another four sons and three daughters and their families, and many relatives and friends. We rejoice in the full confidence to meet him again in eternal joy. Funeral services were held July 24 at the Greenland Church.

Bro. Ger. Goossen spoke at the home on Heb. 13-7. Bro. John M. Penner gave the introduction. Bro. Clifford Mastre spoke on James 4:14, Psalm 90:12, Revel. 14:13, II Cor. 5:1, with additions by John D. Penner and Joe Isaac. Bro. Martin Barkman spoke at the graveside. — The Family.