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- (Research): THIS IS A DOUBLE OBITUARY FOR NOAH STAUFFER AND HIS WIFE BARBARA (BETZNER) STAUFFER Gospel Herald - Volume XXI, Number 10 - June 7, 1928, pages 206, 207, 208 Stauffer. - Pre. Noah Stauffer was born in Waterloo Co., Ont., Feb. 13, 1842; died in his late home in Waterloo Co., Ont., May 20, 1928; aged 86 y 3 m. 7 d., of the infirmities of age and pneumonia. Barbara Betzner, wife of Pre. Noah Stauffer, was born near Breslau, Ont., Dec. 19, 1844; died in Waterloo, Ont., May 22, 1928 (twenty-nine hours after the departure of her husband) of the infirmities of her age, aged 83 y. 5 m. 3 d. Brother Stauffer was the only survivor of a family of four brothers and four sisters. There remain of sister Stauffer's family, of half-brother and sisters; Moses, Aaron, and Samuel Betzner. Mrs. Aaron Cressman and Mrs. Ephraim Cressman. Of the immediate family of their children, all survive: Mrs. Ida Snyder (who resided with and cared for her parents for the past seven years) Obal Stauffer, and Jacob Stauffer. After a union of sixty years and six months, in which they shared the sorrows and joys in the labors of life, and engaged in the service of the Lord for nearly fifty-two years, blessed with joy of Christian labor and fellowship they laid down their life together to enter the long expected, and earnestly looked for, rest of the servants of the Lord. Brother Stauffer was ordained to the ministry if the Mennonite Church for the Strassburg congregation, near the place of his birth, Nov. 9 1876, by bishops Joseph Hagey, Amos Cressman, and Abram Martin. Early in his ministry he was active in building up the Church, in strengthening the spiritual life of the membership. In company with the ministering brethren - Solomon Gehman, Jacob Gingerich, and Joseph Nahrgang - evangelistic services were conducted in the homes of the brotherhood in Christ, in evening services at which the unsaved were admonished to repentance and faith in Christ, and many were led to Christ in these first evening evangelistic efforts. Brother Stauffer is said to have preached the first English sermon in the Waterloo Mennonite congregation, at the Hagey Church, near Preston, Ont. His services were much in demand on account of his ability in this language. He was nominated for the office of bishop at least on three different occasions - at the ordination of Elias Weber, Jonas Snider, and Abram Gingerich. His labors and influence in the conference work were invaluable, and his counsels were deliberate and wholesome. In his duties and service for the Church in general his efforts were appreciated in the organization of the first evangelizing Board, organized at Elkhart, Indiana. He with Bro. Jonas Snider, were the Canadian representatives at the preliminary meeting leading to the organization of the General Conference. His heart was in the growth and progress of the Church. He labored constantly and faithfully for the young and the old in the kingdom of Christ as long as the Lord gave him strength. His labors are ended. His co-laborers will miss him, the Church will honor his memory, the Lord alone will reward His servant. Funeral services were conducted May 25, from the home, where brief services were conducted by Bro. C. F. Derstine, and thence to the Waterloo Mennonite Church, services were conducted by the brethren, Jonas Snider, S. F. Coffman, and C. F. Derstine. An assembly which filled all the available space in the audience room, lobbies and basement, and some waiting outside the building, gave silent and impressive testimony to the esteem in which Brother and Sister Stauffer were held by the many who knew them. The remains were laid to rest side by side in the Mennonite cemetery. They wait the day of their resurrection, when they shall be like Him who redeemed them and for whose love they served their Lord and coming King.
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1842 - 1928 (86 years)
