Zielke, Arlen Francis (1937-1953)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1953 Sep 10 p. 9

Birth date: 1937 Apr 1

text of obituary:

ARLEN ZIELKE

Arlen Francis Zielke, our son and brother, was born April 1, 1937, in Meade County, Kansas, and passed away to be with the Lord, August 24, 1953, at 7:50 o'clock p.m. in the Fowler Community Hospital, Fowler, Kansas, at the age of 16 years, 4 months, and 24 days.

Arlen became ill six years ago with rheumatic heart disease and suffered severe attacks at various times during the intervening years. After the first attack he was bedfast for five months and the second severe attack, which was shortly after his eighth grade graduation in May of 1952, forced him to remain in the hospital for nine weeks and bedfast for several months after his return home. On July 18, 1953, Arlen was returned to the hospital for aspiration of two quarts of fluid from the chest. On August 20 he was again returned to the hospital which proved to be his last illness. He died of dilation of heart and engorgement of liver.

Though Arlen suffered a great deal in his short life, he never complained or became impatient. Arlen almost always wore a smile of happiness and he was unusually cheerful.

At approximately seven years of age Arlen trusted the Lord as his personal Savior. We, the family, did not realize what a strong faith he had in the Lord until he became ill. He memorized many verses out of God's word during his illness and the last verse he quoted to his mother before he departed this life is found in II Cor. 9:15, ‘‘Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift.”

He leaves to mourn his departure his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Zielke, one brother, Elmer of Fowler, Kansas, four sisters, Wilma Unruh of Hutchinson, Kansas, and Ruth, Alice, and Carol of the home; one brother-in-law, Doland Unruh; one sister-in-law, Bertha Zielke; one nephew and two nieces, and a host of relatives and friends.

We will miss Arlen, for his place in our family will be vacant but we look forward with happy anticipation to our reunion in heaven. — The Family.