Glenn Clifford Fretz

Glenn — Janice Marlene Woolner. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110989259
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-62561

Notes:

Fretz, Dalton, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chris Fretz, was born at Vineland, Ont., Nov. 29, 1913; died of cancer at Chicago, Ill., Nov. 7, 1973; aged 59 y. 11 m. 9 d. He was married to Irene Snyder, who survives. Also surviving are 4 sons (Ronald, Marvin, Douglas, and Glenn), 3 grandchildren, and 2 sisters (Mrs. Lena Reesor and Mrs. Iola Hodgkins. Funeral services were held at the First Mennonite Church, Vineland, Ont., in charge of Robert N. Johnson, Newton Gingrich, and Clare Wideman; interment in the Vineland Cemetery.

Gospel Herald - Volume 67, Number 1 - January 1, 1974, page 21, 22

Dalton — Irene Lovina Snyder. Irene (daughter of Menno Snyder and Ida Elizabeth Groh) was born 8 Aug 1916, , Ontario, Canada; died 31 Dec 2002, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28023146
• Name: Irene Lovina Fretz
• Name: Irene Lovina Ruby
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-298417
• Residence: 1921, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Passed away, peacefully, at the K-W Health Centre of Grand River Hospital, on Tuesday Dec. 31, 2002, at the age of 86 years. Irene was predeceased by her first husband, Dalton Fretz in 1973 and by her second husband, Ervin Ruby in 1993. Caring mother of Ronald Fretz and his wife Marlene of Kitchener, Marv Fretz and his wife Betty of Moorefield, Glenn Fretz and his wife Jan of Waterloo and Douglas Fretz and his wife Karen of Pennsylvania.

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00106-6061.2
• Occupation: 1921, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1921, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Menno — Ida Elizabeth Groh. Ida (daughter of Anson Groh and Lovina Bechtel) was born 27 Jul 1890, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 1975; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Ida Elizabeth Snyder
• Eby ID Number: 00007-0668.6
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Protestant
• Occupation: 1911, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; At Home
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1921, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00106-6061
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Other Methodist
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1881, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1881, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1901, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer

Notes:

Samuel B. Snyder, "was born March 13th, 1856. On May 31st, 1887, he was married to Amanda Rudy and after her decease he was again married to Anna Shantz. They reside in Wilmot Township where he is engaged in farming. His family consists of one child of first wife named VI Menno."


Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

Samuel married Amanda "Mandy" Rudy 31 May 1887. Amanda (daughter of Christian Rudy and Lydia Horst) was born 14 May 1857, , Ontario, Canada; died 24 May 1889, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Amanda "Mandy" Snyder
• Name: Mandy Rudy
• Eby ID Number: 00097-5451
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1881, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Amanda Rudy, "was born May 14th, 1857. She was married to Samuel Snyder and resided in Wilmot Township where she died May 24th, 1889, leaving one son"


Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00045-3422
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Dunkard
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Protestant
• Occupation: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Protestant
• Occupation: 1901, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Occupation: 1911, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Anson W. Groh, "was born April 17th, 1859. He resides about one mile north-east of Preston, on the farm formerly possessed by the Rev. John Bear. He is married to Lovina Bechtel and has a family of seven children"

Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

_____________________________

Wanner Mennonite Church
Begun: 1829

A small wooden meeting house was built in 1829 on a corner of the farm belonging to Samuel Bechtel which was located in the vicinity of the present-day regional headquarters of the Ministry of Natural Resources near the intersection of Highways 24 and 401. The site for this community meeting house, as well as a school and a burial ground, had been chosen on August 8, 1829. The land was donated by Samuel Bechtel and his wife Barbara (Baumann) on March 15, 1830. A new meeting house, of white brick, was built in 1837 on the east side of Henry Wanner's farm, somewhat north of the first meeting house. Meetings at first were held every eight weeks. The deed of land for the meeting house known as Wanner's was dated October 15, 1837. Early preachers were David Sherk, who had been ordained by Benjamin Eby in July 1837, Jacob Bretz, Jr., and Joseph Hagey.
Joseph Hagey was ordained bishop in 1851. During his time divisions occurred in the church by a surge of enthusiasm for a Methodist form of revivalism. Solomon Eby of Port Elgin, who announced his own conversion in December 1869, was leader of a group which believed that members could be converted through participation in revival meetings. John Baer of Wanner's became associated with Solomon Eby, and was compelled to leave the church in the spring of 1874, as were Eby and his other followers. The new church movement resulted in organization conferences which culminated in the conference on March 23, 1875 at Bloomingdale where New Mennonites and Reforming (or Reformed) Mennonites joined together as United Mennonites. The United Mennonites favored revival meetings, Sunday Schools and prayer meetings, and were opposed to the use of alcohol and tobacco.
The date of construction of the meeting house which replaced the one built in 1837 is somewhat in doubt. It is possible that a new building was erected in the early 1870s; it is also possible that the 1837 building only underwent extensive renovations at that time. There is no doubt, however, that a new brown brick church was built in 1938. An education wing was added in 1969.
The earliest Mennonite Sunday School in North America was begun in 1842 and was held jointly by the Wanner and Hagey Meeting Houses. It was discontinued after a short time because of a division of opinion within the congregations. An attempt was made later, in the mid-1860s, to begin another Sunday School, but this, too, did not last long. Many years later, on June 10, 1896, a meeting was held to organize a Sunday School. Anson Groh was appointed superintendent..

Waterloo County Churches A Research Guide To Churches Established Before 1900 By Rosemary Ambrose

_____________

Groh.-Anson Groh was born April 17, 1859; died May 9, 1944, at his home near Preston, Ont., in which community he was born and had farmed till near the close of his life. He suffered a slight stroke about three and one-half years ago, and was in failing health since that time, though usually able to be up and about the home till the past January. He grew gradually weaker and passed quietly away without severe suffering. Although his mental powers faded as strength declined, he remained calm and conscious to the end. On March 7, 1882, he was united in marriage to Lovina Bechtel, who departed this life in August 1932. Eleven children were born to this union. One daughter died in 1914 at the age of eighteen. Surviving are 4 daughters (Mabel, and Esther at home; Ida, Mrs. Menno Snyder, near Kitchener; Bertha, Mrs. D. W. Lehman, Orrville, Ohio), 6 sons (Herbert, Ottawa; Melvin, Preston; Norman, Beamsville; Oscar, Detroit, Mich.; Ivan, St. Catharines; Harold, Toronto), 31 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, and 4 brothers. He and his wife were interested in spiritual things. Before his conversion he was instrumental in helping to organize a Sunday school at the Hagey Church in order that his growing family might have Sunday-school privileges. Soon after J. S. Coffman came to Waterloo County, he and his wife gladly accepted salvation and united with the Wanner Mennonite Church, in which fellowship he remained till death. After helping at the Hagey Sunday School for a number of years, he turned his attention to the establishing of a Sunday school at the weaker Wanner church, where he served as superintendent and later as teacher for many years. He was a well-known speaker at Sunday-school conferences in the early days, and was a speaker at the first Sunday convention in Indiana. He served on the Mission Board of Ontario, and it was largely through his efforts that the Ontario Board of Mennonite Finance was organized. He was also largely used as a lecturer on agriculture and forestry by the Ontario Department of Agriculture. For some years he gave himself to the development of Farmer's Co-operation, while his last major task was the building and management of a Municipal telephone system. These responsibilities were relinquished one by one as age crept on, but he was devoted to his farm as long as he was able to get around. Funeral services were conducted by Bros. J. W. Witmer and B. B. Shantz at the Wanner Church, and the body was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery to await the resurrection.

Gospel Herald - Vol. XXXVII, No . 14 - July 7, 1944, page 270, 271, 272

Anson married Lovina Bechtel 7 Mar 1882, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Lovina (daughter of Solomon Bechtel and Esther Clemens) was born 1 Dec 1860, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 15 Aug 1932, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried 18 Aug 1932, Wanner Mennonite Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Lovina Groh
• Eby ID Number: 00007-0668
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Protestant
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite

Notes:

Lovina Bechtel "was born December 1st, 1860. She is married to Anson Groh. They reside on the old "Bear" farm between Preston and Hespeler. Their family consists of seven children".

Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

____________

Groh. - Lovina Bechtel, beloved wife of Anson Groh, was born Dec. 1, 1860; died Aug. 15, 1932; aged 71 y. 8 m. 14 d. At the age of 21 she was married to Anson Groh, in the neighborhood of Preston, Ont., where she resided until her death. To this union were born 6 boys and 5 girls. One of the girls, Elsie, died at the age of 18 years, 18 years ago. The others are Herbert, Mabel, Melvin, Norman, Mrs. Mennon Snyder, Esther, Mrs. David Lehman, Oscar, Ivan, and Harold, lately ordained minister and Sup't. Of the Mennonite Mission, Toronto, Ont. There are also 26 grandchildren. Sister Groh has one brother living (Noah Bechtel of Blackie, Alta.), 1 sister and 3 brothers having preceded her in death. She became a Christian during the series of meetings conducted by Bro. J. S. Coffman of Elkhart, Ind., about 45 years ago. Of her 44 descendants, only one preceded her. All her children, we trust, are serving the Lord whom she loved. She expressed faith that it was well with her soul, and that the Lord would accompany her "through the valley of the shadow of death." She is survived by the families of seven Christian homes, besides the one in which she lived. On March 4, the family celebrated the 50th or golden wedding anniversary. Funeral services were held at the Warner Church, near Hespeler, Ont., conducted by S. F. Coffman and S . M. Kanagy. Text, II Cor. 5: 11. Interment in the cemetery nearby.

Gospel Herald - Volume XXV, Number 26 - September 29, 1932 - page 559, 560.