Pastor Stärkel's Death Report
Editor's note:
The following letter from Mr. Johann Georg Stärkel, residing in Hillsboro, Kansas, was sent to us by the same for publication in the columns of the "Welt-Post." The letter writer, who calls Pastor Stärkel "Papa," is a woman who has cared for him for many years. "Hulda," who is mentioned repeatedly, is Pastor Stärkel's foster daughter, whom he brought up from the earliest days of infancy.
Norka, Russia, December 27, 1915
Dear Uncle Johann Georg, I received your October 12th card on December 13th. Thank you very much!
Papa was ill for several days in May. Then he said: “I will go home to my father,” because he could sometimes speak very few words. At his question, fearing death, I became very anxious, for I wished to have Papa in our midst for a few more years. Pastor Wacker's sister stood by and read something to him. Hulda came too and we said to him: Papa, you don't want to leave us, do you? Then he said: “the Father will probably do it” while looking out of the window. I then fetched him some food, of which he also ate a little. The doctor called this “ailment fever," after which he got better in a few days. He was able to go to church again and also attended the meetings. Then he went to the churchyard to Mama's grave, where he sat down on a bench. On Sundays, Hulda and I used to go to the cemetery with him. At 5 o'clock in the afternoon of June 22, he and Hulda were back in church just as the soldiers were having communion. In the evening, when Papa was in bed, he became paralyzed on his left arm. At that time, his mind was clear, and he still knew people. If you asked him something, he always answered it nicely. The Lord sustained him in faith and in full consciousness until he passed away. He was full of life and longed to be set free. But as patient as he was in health, so was he in sickness. On June 29, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, Papa passed away gently and peacefully. May God keep us believing that we are not missing the right goal.
On July 1, Papa's body was taken to the church. Our pastor gave a speech in front of the church door and in the church. On July 2 at noon he was buried by 10 pastors. Pastor Schneider wept bitterly over his "brother Jonathan," as did Pastor Mehlmann. Papa's full obituary is to be published in the “Friedensboten.”
The following letter from Mr. Johann Georg Stärkel, residing in Hillsboro, Kansas, was sent to us by the same for publication in the columns of the "Welt-Post." The letter writer, who calls Pastor Stärkel "Papa," is a woman who has cared for him for many years. "Hulda," who is mentioned repeatedly, is Pastor Stärkel's foster daughter, whom he brought up from the earliest days of infancy.
Norka, Russia, December 27, 1915
Dear Uncle Johann Georg, I received your October 12th card on December 13th. Thank you very much!
Papa was ill for several days in May. Then he said: “I will go home to my father,” because he could sometimes speak very few words. At his question, fearing death, I became very anxious, for I wished to have Papa in our midst for a few more years. Pastor Wacker's sister stood by and read something to him. Hulda came too and we said to him: Papa, you don't want to leave us, do you? Then he said: “the Father will probably do it” while looking out of the window. I then fetched him some food, of which he also ate a little. The doctor called this “ailment fever," after which he got better in a few days. He was able to go to church again and also attended the meetings. Then he went to the churchyard to Mama's grave, where he sat down on a bench. On Sundays, Hulda and I used to go to the cemetery with him. At 5 o'clock in the afternoon of June 22, he and Hulda were back in church just as the soldiers were having communion. In the evening, when Papa was in bed, he became paralyzed on his left arm. At that time, his mind was clear, and he still knew people. If you asked him something, he always answered it nicely. The Lord sustained him in faith and in full consciousness until he passed away. He was full of life and longed to be set free. But as patient as he was in health, so was he in sickness. On June 29, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, Papa passed away gently and peacefully. May God keep us believing that we are not missing the right goal.
On July 1, Papa's body was taken to the church. Our pastor gave a speech in front of the church door and in the church. On July 2 at noon he was buried by 10 pastors. Pastor Schneider wept bitterly over his "brother Jonathan," as did Pastor Mehlmann. Papa's full obituary is to be published in the “Friedensboten.”
Sources
Die Welt-Post und der Staats-Anzeiger, May 11, 1916, page 4.
This translation is provided courtesy of Michelle Monson.
This translation is provided courtesy of Michelle Monson.
Last updated November 25, 2023