Yontz, David (1873-1958)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Jan 23 p. 3

Birth date: 1873

text of obituary:

AGED MEMBER OF INDIANA CONGREGATION FOLLOWS WIFE IN DEATH

Goshen, Ind. — Funeral services were held at the Clinton Frame Mennonite Church near here Jan. 14 for David Yontz, 85, a deacon of the congregation for 32 years. His wife, the former Emma Yoder, preceded him in death Dec. 31, 1957. They would have reached their 60th anniversary on Feb. 8.

Bro. Yontz was born in South Russia and came to the United States with his parents in 1874. The family settled first at Belleville, Pa., later moving to Marion, S. D. As a young man he came to Topeka, Ind. and had lived in this area since.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Jan 30 p. 8

text of obituary:

DAVID YONTZ

In the early years of the 1850's a group of Mennonite families in Germany left their homeland to settle in South Russia upon an invitation of the Russian Government. They settled near Warsaw, Poland to put under cultivation a large area of wasteland.

It was among these groups that the Yontzon family found themselves in Russia. These German Mennonites, in the 20 years that followed, were blessed of God and their labor rewarded. Nevertheless, this was observed by the government and the bonds of religious freedom became tighter. Due to these trying circumstances in 1874 Henry Yontzon and wife decided to bring part of their family to America. An undertaking of this sort involved a lot of expense and to minimize the cost when applying for passport, Yontzon was shortened to Yontz, as a tax was levied on each letter.

David, being three years of age, remembered their voyage, especially the sickness, death and burial of a sister at sea.

At Belleville, Pa. the Mennonites helped them to establish their first home in this strange land.

Three years later his mother died and within a short time his father took David and youngest child Suzanne to Marion, D. D., here establishing a claim for a homestead. His father remarried, and David remained at home for a number of years and always held fond memories of his step-mother and step-brothers, buy the name of Lutke.

An older brother Andrew died not go with the family to South Dakota but came to Indiana. So as a young man David came to Topeka to make his home with him. It was here that he met and married Emma Yoder, daughter of Levi and Martha Honderich Yoder, on Feb. 8, 1898. They were the first couple to be married in the Clinton Frame Mennonite Church. They were married by D. J. Johns. They would have observed their 60th wedding anniversary this February.

To this union were born four children: Elmer of Goshen; Andrew, who died at the age of one year; Amos of Goshen; Ruby, Mrs. Gerald Murray of Syracuse; and five grandchildren.

His wife Emma preceded him in death Dec. 31, 1957, at 8:30 in the evening at the home of their daughter. She had suffered a heart attack on Saturday, but seemed well on the way to recovery. However, on New Year's Eve, at 8:30 p. m., she suffered a fatal attack shortly after retiring. She was precede in death by her twin brother, who died in infancy, brothers Mike and Silas and a sister Anna, and is survived by her youngest brother, Samuel of Goshen, now at Pinecraft, Florida.

Two operations, plus the passing of his companion, was a great shock and due to his weakened condition his health rapidly failed. On Saturday morning, Jan. 11, he was taken to the Goshen Hospital, where he died at 8:10 p.m.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Mary of Belleville, Pa., and Suzanne of Goshen; to brothers, Andrew of Topeka and Peter of Swallwell, Alberta. he is survived by a step-brother, Fred Lutke of Dalmeny, Sask.