Wollman, Andreas A. (1869-1951)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1951 Mar 15 p. 8

Birth date: 1869 Jan 27

text of obituary:

ANDREAS A. WOLLMAN

Andreas A. Wollman was born January 27, 1869, in South Russia. His parents, Andreas and Susanna Hofer Wollman, died when his older sister Susanna and his younger brother, Jacob, were still young and so he grew up at the home of his aunt, Mrs. Paul Walter.

On April 14, 1889, he accepted Jesus as his Saviour, who remained his guide to the end, and was baptized. On November 24 of the same year he was married to Susanna Walter and it was their unusual privilege to share life’s joys and sorrows together for 61 years, at first on the farm and later in Freeman, where he was in the grain business.

He suffered with diabetes and later began to gradually lose his eye sight He bore it patiently and did not complain. When people asked how he was, or said that must be hard to bear, he usually answered that it could be much worse and thanked God that his spiritual sight was keen and clear.

He read much formerly and also sang much, so that he had a large treasure of Scripture passages and songs stored in his mind, which was of inestimable value for these many years in physical darkness. We remember so well the nightly scenes around the table, when he read stories from the Bible to his youn [sic]family and the Bible readings for the family devotions as long as he could see to read.

His place in Sunday school and church he filled, if at all possible. He was deeply concerned in Christian Education for our youth and helped build Freeman college and later was a member of the Board for several years. Through good times and bad he did for Christian education, missions and relief what he could. In the upbuilding of church, town and community he helped wherever he could. When he could no longer attend church services, he edified himself daily with sermons and devotional messages on the radio. Lately, especially, he seemed prticularly [sic] to enjoy it when friends dropped in to visit him.

At noon on February 20 he died suddenly of a heart attaack [sic]. God called him home where there is no suffering nor blindness.

He leaves to mourn his death: his deeply bereaved wife; five children (one preceded him in infancy), Joseph of Freeman, Marie (Mrs. A. M. Lohrentz) of McPherson, Kansas, Andrew of Huron, Walter of El Paso, Texas, Susie (Mrs. John Sprecker) Sioux Falls; three daughters-in-law, two sons-in-law, four grandchildren and one brother, one half-sister and a large host of relatives and friends.

We grieve, but with assurance, for he is with the Lord.

The Mennonite obituary: 1951 Mar 20 p. 195