© Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Last updated January 31, 2003)


Froese, Gerhard J., 1901-1947

Retrieval numbers: Vol. 2109-8

Title: Gerhard J. Froese fonds
Dates: 1935-1947
Extent: 1 cm. of Textual records

Historical note

Gerhard J. Froese, minister, evangelist and farmer was born on August 29, 1901 in Schoenfeld, Manitoba. He was the youngest of 13 children, three of which died as infants, born to Johann and Katharina (nee Unrau) Froese. His father died within a year after his birth and his mother soon married again. Peter Friesen became his stepfather and brought with him nine children of his own from his first marriage. To this large blended family of 18 children was added one more half brother. Froese was baptized on June 18, 1921 by Aeltester Peter Toews at Rosenbach and became a member of the Sommerfeld Mennonite Church. He married Sarah Krahn on November 11, 1923. Their marriage produced 13 children, three of which died as infants. Froese began serving in the church as Vorsaenger (song leader) and was then called to the ministry and ordained on November 15, 1931. He was very much influenced by the religious revival movement sweeping the West and as a result became one of four founding ministers of the Rudnerweider Church in 1936. During his years of service to the church he spend many weekends travelling to preach at evangelistic meetings. He is remembered for his sense of humor, for being a good conversationalist and for being a man of prayer. Gerhard J. Froese died tragically in a train/car accident at Horndean on December 5, 1947.

Scope and content note

This fonds contains three sermons including the last message Froese wrote less than a month before his death. The other two sermons are based on Matthew 27:19 and Luke 16:22 consecutively.

Index terms

Creators

Froese, Gerhard J., 1901-1947

Adjunct descriptive data

Finding aids

No other finding aids currently available.

Notes

Custodial history

Collected by David and Trudy Schellenberg of Winkler for the Christian Heritage Library.

Language

Hand-written Gothic German and English

Arrangement

Described by Sharon H. H. Brown December, 2002.

Restrictions on access

None

Other notes

Acc. no. 97-150.