Obit from Messenger of Truth Issue 11, 1969:
Aaron Y. Boeckner, beloved husband, father and grandfather, son of John and Sarah Boeckner, was born near Plymouth, Nebraska, July 9, 1901, and peacefully fell asleep in the Lord at Bethel Hospital, Newton, Kansas, the evening of April 18, 1969, at the age of 67 years, 9 months and 9 days.
He grew to young manhood and received his education in the community of his birth. At the age of 18 he with his parents moved on a farm in the Moundridge, Kansas community, which was his home at the time of his passing. Only a few months after settling in Kansas and attending the Meridian Mennonite Church services, he became convicted of his lost condition and gave his heart and life to Christ, and upon his personal experience with God and confession of faith, he was baptized Jan. 27, 1920, becoming a member of the church of God in Christ, Mennonite, in which he continued to the end. For a number of years he was a singing leader and Sunday School teacher, in various ways helping to build the Kingdom of God.
July 26, 1925, he was joined in holy matrimony to me, Gertrude Holdeman, at the Meridian Mennonite Church. Our union was blessed with four sons and nine daughters, sharing joys and sorrows for over 43 years.
He was a good husband and father, enjoying and loving his family and always happy to see the children and grandchildren come home, or to visit them in their homes. And he was loved and appreciated by the children and grandchildren and in his friendliness won many friends wherever he went. He was a hard worker and a good provider, however his life was not without many struggles and tests, both spiritually and physically. Even though he fought many spiritual battles, we rejoice with him in his victory through the love and grace of God.
Not being physically strong from his early manhood years, his major decline occurred about a year ago when upon returning from a trip to Mexico he suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized for a number of weeks in Carlsbad, New Mexico. During the summer he enjoyed reasonable health under conditions until last Sept. he had another attack. After a few weeks he again enjoyed a fair recovery and being very pleased to again attend church services, including our last revival and Communion services, which was always his delight to faithfully attend whenever possible. But only so soon he suffered a stroke last Feb. which left him partially paralyzed. Now after being hospitalized for nine weeks and making a fair recovery, about an hour before passing a massive blood clot struck his heart, causing death. The numerous experiences of the last year in particular wrought in him a grace and faith in God that prepared him for his sudden ending, leaving a living hope and our looking forward to see our loved one again.
He leaves to mourn his passing: his deeply bereaved companion, Gertrude; four sons and nine daughters: Wilmont and wife Roberta, Newton; Anita and husband Clifford Penner, St. Mary's, Ont.; Leona and husband Kenneth Dyck, Newton; and Lela and husband Kenneth Litwiller, Almena, Wis.; Mae and husband Chester Johnson, DeRidder, La.; Vada and husband Harold Schmidt, Walton, Kansas; Blanche and husband Newell Eicher, Atmore, Ala.; Gerald and wife Thelma, Moundridge, Kansas; JoAnn and husband Andy Powell, Moundridge, Kansas; Weldon and wife Lois, Moundridge, Kansas; Rose and husband Paul Toews, St. Mary's, Ont.; Lois and husband Fred Decker, Leland, Miss.; Dennis and wife Eileen, Lebanon, Ore.; forty-eight grandchildren; one brother, and his wife Dorothy, Moundridge, Kansas; two sisters, Leah and husband Geo. Dyck, Hesston, Kansas, and Mary and husband Frank H. Wenger, Moundridge, Kansas, as well as many other relatives and friends. Father, mother and one sister Verena preceded him.
Our Father which art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will--
Permit us to pause Father--
Yes Thy will be done on earth as
It is in heaven.
Safe in the arms of Jesus,
We would have it no other way.
Our beloved husband and father
Was called at the close of the day.
Our hearts now are bleeding and broken,
Yet thankful for power and grace;
That leaves us that blessed assurance
That he is beholding Thy face.
His life's work will stay and long linger
At the close of each God-given day.
That a yielded hand, in Thy service,
Will excell all the cares of life's way,
We'll be faithful dear Dad, to our Maker
As we wend up this pathway of thorns
As we get to the stream you're now over
That we too on pinions be born
Into the presence of Jesus, by Whose
Stripes we were healed.
And know that through Thy tender mercies
Our redemption is forever sealed;
With hands clasped we'll visit the Master
While walking the streets of pure gold,
And thank Him for blood spilled on Calvary,
The half Lord, has never been told.
--Mother and Children
Funeral services were conducted on April 22, 1969 at the Meridian Church, Hesston, Kansas. Min. Milferd Wenger brought opening remarks and prayer, after which Min. Harry D. Wenger chose his message of comfort from 2 Cor. 1:2-7; Job 14:1, 2; 1 Pet. 1:3-6 and Rev. 21:2-7.
Interment was made in the nearby cemetery where Min. Paul D. Wenger spoke words of consolation.
Family Note: We wish to express our deep appreciation and thanks for the many prayers, visits, love and any acts of kindness shown during the illness and death of our loved one. Also the many get-well and sympathy cards and letters received. Surely it was love that prompted it all and we feel confident it helped to ease the load. May God reward you all.
--Mrs. Aaron Boeckner and Family.
