Irvin Zehr

1905 - 1930  (25 years)

• Name	Irvin Zehr
  Born	19 Dec 1905	, Perth Co., Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Gender	Male
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40649817
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-160431
  Died	20 Dec 1930	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Buried	East Zorra Mennonite Cemetery, East Zorra Township, Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Person ID	I160431	Generations
  Last Modified	10 Jul 2025

  
  

  Father	Jacob R. Zehr,   b. 28 Dec 1872, East Zorra Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. 23 Jan 1940  (Age 67 years)
  Mother	Annie Ruby,   b. Abt 1870, Of, South East Hope Township, Perth Co., Ontario ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F18689	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Viola Rosetta Katie Kipfer,   b. Feb 1908, South Easthope Twp., Perth Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. 12 Apr 1992, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age ~ 84 years)
  Married	19 Sep 1928  [1]
  Children	1. Ruth Zehr,   b. 29 Sep 1930, South Easthope Twp., Perth Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. 13 Aug 2009  (Age 78 years)
  Last Modified	10 Jul 2025
  Family ID	F45755	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Kipfer, Zehr.-Abraham, son of John and Mary Kipfer, was born in Perth Co., Ont., Oct. 30, 1880. He confessed Christ and was received into the Church by Bishop Jacob M. Bender Oct. 7, 1900. On Nov. 5, 1903, he was united in marriage with Fannie Roth, which union was blessed with 3 sons and 4 daughters. He was killed in an accident at a railway crossing in Kitchener, Ont., Dec. 20, 1930; aged 50 y. 1 m. 21 d. He leaves his deeply bereaved companion, 2 sons, 4 daughters, 2 brothers, 2 sisters, and 3 grandchildren. His youngest son, Oliver, also met his death in the same accident with the father. Oliver, son of Abraham and Fannie Kipfer, was born in Waterloo Co., Ont., Mar. 16, 1918; died at Kitchener, Ont., in a railway accident Dec. 20, 1930; aged 12 y. 9 m. 4 d. He leaves his widowed mother, 2 brothers, and 4 sisters. "Brother, thou art sweetly resting, Cold may be this earthly tomb; But the angels sweetly whisper, 'Come and live with us at home.'" Irvin Zehr was born in Perth Co., Ont., Dec. 19, 1905. In 1920 he accepted Christ as his Savior and was received into Church fellowship by Bishop Dan S. Jutzi. Sept. 19, 1928, he was united in marriage with Viola Kipfer, to which union was born one daughter. Death came suddenly in an accident in Kitchener, Ont., when their car colided with a moving train. Aged 25 y. 1 d. "A husband lies in death's embrace, The grave is now his resting place; Oh, as I pass beneath the rod, Reveal thyself the widow's God." The three above named persons were laid side by side in one grave at East Zorra, Ont., A. M. Cemetery near Tavistock, Ont., where an unusually large funeral was held. Services at home by Bro. M. Kipfer and at the church by Bros. Peter S. Zehr, C. Schultz, D. S. Jutzi, Jacob R. Bender, and D. H. Stineman. Texts, Mark 13: 33-37; Psa. 39: 5, 6; Rev. 14: 13; Amos 3: 6. Gospel Herald - Vol. XXIII, No. 44 - January 29, 1931, pp. 943, 944 ________________________ Three Meet Death in Level Crossing Accident Abraham Kipfer, His Son and Son-In-Law Killed At Kitchener Stark, grim tragedy entered the home of a prominent farmer of this district when Abraham Kipfer, his 12 year old son, Oliver, and his son-in-law, Irvin Zehr, aged 25, were hurled into eternity at the Lancaster street C. N. R. crossing at Kitchener, the scene of so many fatal accidents in the past few years. The three had gone to attend the Kitchener Saturday market and thereafter were, it is believed, delivering farm produce for Christmas to private customers when the tragedy occurred. As all three are dead, little information can be gathered as to why the accident occurred. The car in which they were driving was hit by the passenger train, known locally as the 10.40 flyer, as this train was approaching Kitchener from Toronto. The car was hurled about fifty feet and Mr. Kipfer was apparently instantly killed. His son and son-in-law were rushed to the hospital, but died without regaining consciousness. The three bodies were brought to Becker's funeral parlor here and were later removed to the home of Mr. Kipfer, south of New Hamburg. The three victims of this fatal accident were laid to rest side by side in the 16th line East Zorra Amish-Mennonite cemetery on Wednesday forenoon. Services were held in the church adjoining. This tragic event has cast a gloom over this community and the deepest sympathy goes out to the bereaved family The late Mr. Kipfer was aged 50 years, 1 month and 21 days. He was born in Mornington Township near Poole, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Kipfer. After his marriage to Veronica Roth he resided for a short time in South Easthope and for the past twenty-five years occupied the farm known as the back Kerr farm on the 2nd concession of South Wilmot, about three miles south of New Hamburg. Besides his bereaved widow he leaves six children, namely, Mrs. Gideon Boshart, of South Easthope, Mrs. Irvin Zehr, widow of one of the accident victims, also of South Easthope and Nurias, Elmer, Mabel and Dorothy at home. Irvin Zehr was 25 years of age last Friday and was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob H. Zehr, who reside near the 16th line East Zorra Church where the victims of this sad accident were laid to rest. The boy, Oliver Gordon Kipfer was aged 12 years, 9 months and 4 days and was the third youngest member of the family. New Hamburg Independent, December 26, 1930

  
  

• Sources

  [S8] News - Gospel Herald, Obituary of Irvin Zehr - January 29, 1931, pp. 943, 944.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 19 Dec 1905 - , Perth Co., Ontario, Canada Died - 20 Dec 1930 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - East Zorra Mennonite Cemetery, East Zorra Township, Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth