Rev Cornelius Heinrich P Wohlgemuth

Cornelius (Platt) Wohlgemuth was born Nov. 6, 1879 in the Steinbach district, where he also grew to manhood. He passed away on July 20, 1959 at 10:30 A.M. in the Bethesda Hospital in Steinbach, Man., reaching the age of 79 years, 8 months and 14 days. Father realized his lost condition and upon true reprentance and forgiveness of his sins was baptized on June 27, 1898 and added to the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. He was ordained into the ministry on June 14, 1910, in which office he served faithfully unto the end. He was deeply concerned far the welfare of the Church and especially gifted in personal work. Only one week before his death he had for his text Psalm 73:1-19, and preached a very timely sermon thereon. His father died when he was 19 years of age, and as the oldest in the family he took over responsibilities in the home and was a great help to his mother both spiritually and in material things. He was united in marriage to Maria Warkentin on March 10, 1901. They lived with his mother the first six years and then settled on a farm near-by, where they lived until he retired. This union was blessed with 6 sons and 5 daughters, of whom 2 sons and 3 daughters preceded him in death. He was always much concerned for his children that they might follow in the path of Jesus. Mother passed away on Aug. 24, 1941, which left father quite lonesome. In Feb. 1948 his daughter Katherine suffered a stroke, leaving her paralyzed and speechless. He cared for her the remaining 6 years of her life until March 1954, when she passed away, leaving father alone in his small house on his son's yard. After being a widower for 17 years he found a companion for his last days in sister Mrs. Isaac T. Penner of Inman, Kansas, on May 11, 1958, enjoying married life for 1 year, 2 months and 9 days. Father has always enjoyed comparatively good health until Sunday night. Monday morning, July 20, after a sleepless night with great pain, he was taken to the Hospital in Steinbach and there passed away of heart failure a few minutes after being admitted. He leaves to mourn his departure, me his companion, 4 sons, John of Crooked Creek, Alberta; Isaac of Giroux, Man., Henry and Cornelius of Ste. Anne, Man.; 2 daughters, Elizabeth, Mrs. Ed. P. Penner and Minnie, Mrs. F. K. Doerksen of Ste. Anne; 2 sons in law; 4 daughters in law; 42 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren. Then by the latter marriage another 4 sons and 3 daughters and their families and many relatives and friends. Never the less we rejoice in the full confidence to meet him again in eternal joy. -The Family. Funeral services were held July 24, 1959 at the Greenland Church. Brother Cor. Goosen spoke at the home on Heb. 13:7. Brother John M. Penner had the introduction. Brother Clifford Mastre spoke from James 4:14; Psalm 90:12; Rev. 14:13; 2 Cor. 5:1. Addition by John D. Penner and Joe Isaac. Brother Martin Barkman spoke at graveside.

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Cornelius P. Wohlgemuth grew up in his parent's home at Blumenhof, MB. His father died in 1899 when Cornelius was only 19 years old. He, being the oldest, was left with the responsibility of the farm work.

In 1901 he married his second cousin, Maria Warkentin, daughter of Johann L. Warkentin and Maria P. Goossen. They lived and worked with his mother until 1905 when they bought uncle David L. Plett's farm, the SE26-7-6E. They moved to this farm in the spring of 1906. The Wohlgemuths now owned the entire ridge dissecting Section 26-7-6E, which was known locally as "Wohlgemuth's Rig'gje". They operated a mixed farm.

Cornelius was elected a minister of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite on June 14, 1910. He faithfully served this office until his death. He was a capable man who faithfully tried to assist people in the right direction wherever he could. "When Cornelius had a young growing family he was ordained a minister which increased his responsibility in an already busy life. Maria and the children ate many meals by themselves when Cornelius was away looking after the spiritual needs of others. During the time of the flu (1918-1919) he was especially busy when he also helped other farmers with their chores (with mothballs in his pockets to keep from getting the flu himself). Miraculously, he escaped getting the flu except for a week of not feeling quite right."

"Cornelius left his children and grandchildren and example to follow. He had his setbacks, his spiritual struggles and failings, like everyone else does. But he pointed others to the One who is able to help in every situation. He told of the time when he first found the Lord at the age of seven years. One day when he was bringing the cattle home from the field to his parents' homestead there was a severe thunderstorm approaching. He knelt down and asked God to forgive him all his sins. When he got home he shared this experience with his mother. Later when he wanted to make a total commitment to follow the Lord and be baptized, and when he felt the need to make a reconsecration, he always went back to that time alone in the meadow, when God first forgave him."

Maria died on August 21, 1941, "...leaving Cornelius very lonesome; but he would still visit his children, often encouraging them to be faithful to the Lord. He would take the opportunity to ask his grandchildren individually how they were doing spiritually. As the grandchildren grew up he stated that he would never want to be responsible for keeping anyone from the mission field when the gospel was needed in other places."

After being a widower for 17 years, Cornelius married Mrs. Maria Nikkel Penner (widow Isaac T. Penner). Cornelius gave the farm over to son Cornelius who eventually bought it. In 1959 son Cornelius sold the farm and bought a farm in Greenland and Father then lived in his own house on the son's yard. Cornelius and his second wife had enjoyed only 14 months together when he died of a stroke on July 20, 1959.

Cornelius was remembered as "a quiet person and lover of people. He seemed to be able to put himself into another's situation, listen intently, and offer a bit of advice. He even delighted grandchildren away from home with a special letter from Grandpa. They wished they had learned to know him better."

-from Johann Plett: A Mennonite Family Saga by Delbert F. Plett, pp579-580.