Dr. Joseph R. Zehr

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/33340815
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-38905

Notes:

ZEHR. - Dr. Joseph R. Zehr was born in Perth. Co., Ont., Aug. 28, 1848; died of dropsy in Tavistock, Ont., Sept. 28, 1915; aged 66y. 1m. In 1871 he was married to Mary Roeschli, and lived in matrimony 12 years. To this union were born 7 children, 3 of whom preceded him to the great beyond. In 1883 he was again married to Elizabeth Albrecht, with whom he lived in matrimony 32 years. To this union 9 children were born. Five of these also preceded him to the great beyond. He leaves to mourn his departure a sorrowing wife, 4 sons, and 4 daughters; also 17 grandchildren, a brother, and a sister. The sons are Jacob, Peter, Moses, and Emory. The daughters are Mary, Katie, Clara, and Elvira. He was the son of the late Dr. Peter Zehr, and has been practicing medicine from his youth. He was buried Oct. 1 at the East Zorra Mennonite Church. Funeral services were conducted at the house by Jacob R. Bender; and at the Church by the brethren, C. Kropf, M.C. Jantzi, and C. Schultz. Text, Rom. : 10-33; II Tim. 2: 5. Bro. Zehr was a member of the East Zorra A.M. Church. He suffered from dropsy for over seven months. He expressed himself at peace with God and man. May he rest in peace.

Gospel Herald, Oct 28, 1915

Joseph married Elizabeth Albrecht 1883. Elizabeth was born Abt 1860, Of, Topping, Perth Co., Ontario; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Joseph married Mary Reschly 1871. Mary (daughter of Joesph Reschly and Anna Schweitzer) was born 9 Oct 1847, , Alsace Lorraine, France; died 18 Mar 1883; was buried , East Zorra Mennonite Cemetery, East Zorra Township, Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Barbara Roth
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-38900

Barbara married Moses Roth Sep 1911, , Ontario, Canada. Moses (son of Daniel D. Roth and Catharina L. "Katie" "Catherine" Jantzi) was born 10 Oct 1884, East Zorra Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada; died 23 May 1912, Tavistock, East Zorra Twp., Oxford County, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Catherine Brenneman
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-175981

Catherine — John L. Brenneman. John (son of John S. Brenneman and Catherine Lebold) was born 11 Mar 1879, , Perth Co., Ontario, Canada; died 8 Oct 1951, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , East Zorra Mennonite Cemetery, East Zorra Township, Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-38942

Notes:

DOUBLE FUNERAL
Held Sunday, May 26, 1912

A sorrowful accident occurred in the village of Tavistock, Ont., Thursday morning, May 23, when Bro. Moses Roth was instantly hurled into eternity, and Bro. Daniel Zehr, son of Dr. Jos. R. Zehr, was so badly injured that he died on Friday, May 24, shortly after noon.
It appears the young brothers were driving into the village and as they came to the Hope Street Crossing the way freight from Stratford was in the yard and was shunting some cars into the Milling Co. siding. The engine and a couple of cars had passed them on the main line and the unfortunate brothers with their attention attracted to the receding train got directly in front of two cars that were being dropped into the siding. The buggy was caught by the oncoming cars, dragged about fifty yards along the tracks. Bro. Daniel Zehr was picked up about twenty-five feet from where the cars struck the buggy. He was conscious to the minute of his death. His right limb above the knee was crushed to a pulp and his left one was broken above the ankle. When the cars stopped Bro. Moses Roth and the buggy had been dragged about fifty yards. His body was twisted up in the wreckage and terribly mangled.

The funeral, which was held in the East Zorra Church, was the largest ever held in the history of the church, fully two thousand people being present. The church was crowded to the doors and outside were more than enough to have filled the house twice over before the funerals arrived.

Bro. Moses Roth was the son of Daniel and Katie Roth and was born in 1884; died May 23, 1912; aged 27 y. In Sept., 1911, he was married to Sister Barbara Zehr (sister of then deceased Daniel Zehr) but she went to the spirit world, April 12, 1912, just one day less than six weeks before his death. He leaves to mourn his departure father, mother, grandparents, 6 sisters and 1 brother.

Bro. Daniel Zehr was born in July 1891, and died May 24, 1912; aged 20 y. 10 m. On March 5, 1912, he was married to Sister Klarissa Hess. He leaves to mourn his loss a loving wife, father, mother, 4 brothers, and 5 sisters.

The two brothers were laid side by side in one grave. Both were members of the Amish Mennonite Church. The services at the house of Bro. Daniel Zehr was held by Bro. Michael K.Yantzi, and the services at the house of Bro. Moses Roth were held by Bros. Christian Gasho, Christian Litwiller and Jacob M. Bender.

This again reminds us that we have no abiding city here, for "the Son of man cometh in such an hour as ye think not." Therefore let us always be ready, always waiting for His coming, that our names will be written in the book of life and can take part in that enjoyable service, the song of Moses and the Lamb.
J. B. S.

Gospel Herald - Volume V, Number 11 - June 13, 1912 - page 175, 176

Daniel married Clarissa M. Hesse 5 Mar 1912, Tavistock, East Zorra Twp., Oxford County, Ontario, Canada. Clarissa (daughter of Joseph Hesse and Matilda Amacher) was born 20 Nov 1890, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 1984; was buried , Grace United (Zion Evangelical) Cemetery , Tavistock, East Zorra Township, Oxford Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Clara A. Brenneman
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-119504

Clara — Amos Brenneman. Amos (son of David L. Brenneman and Elizabeth Zehr) was born 15 Jun 1895, East Zorra Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada; died 14 Apr 1980, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Business: Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Zehr's Market
• Occupation: Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; store owner
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-119485
• Occupation: 1924, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Dealer in Cars

Notes:

ZEHR, Emory On Thursday, June 15, 1978, at the K-W Hospital, following a lengthy illness, Emory Zehr, aged 74 years of 373 Union Blvd. A member of Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church. He was the founder and partner of Zehr's Markets Limited.

Survived by Selena Zehr of Cambridge(P); father of Lester of Kitchener Clifford of Waterloo, Mrs. Douglas (Marjorie)

Witzel, of Waterloo; brother of Mrs. Amos (Clara) Brenneman of Cambridge(P); grandfather of Brenda, Donald, Gregory, Sandra and Gerald, Paul and Robert; one great-grandson Chad, also survives. He was president of the Retail Merchant's Association, 1954. Friends may call at the Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home, 621 King St. W., Kitchener, after 7 p.m. today, until noon on Saturday when removal will be made to Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church for funeral and committal service at 2 p.m. with Rev. Ron Rempel officiating. Interment Woodland Cemetery.

FOUNDER OF ZEHR's DIES AT 74

Emory Zehr, founder of Zehr's Markets Ltd., died today at K-W Hospital. He was 74. Zehr opened his first small supermarket with his sons, Lester and Clifford, on Highland Road West, Kitchener in 1950. For six years before that, he operated a grocery store in Ayr.

He and his sons exceeded their expectations by doing $3000 in business that first week on Highland Road. Zehr's now has more than 40 outlets.

Emory Zehr, who lived at 373 Union Blvd., Kitchener, retired in 1964 when Loblaw's purchased a controlling interest in the company. Funeral arrangements are incomplete. Surviving are two sons, a daughter and a sister.

The Kitchener-Waterloo Record 16 Jun 1978

Occupation:
Owner and founder of Zehr's Markets Limited.

Emory married Selena Kipfer 18 Dec 1924, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Selena (daughter of Christian W. Kipfer and Mary G. Kuepfer) was born 11 May 1905, Millbank, Mornington Twp., Perth County, Ontario, Canada; died 24 Jan 1979, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Woodland Cem., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63720157
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-472999

Notes:

Schwartzentruber, Elvera, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Albrect) Zehr, was born at Tavistock, Ont., Oct. 24, 1902; died at the Stratford, Ont. General Hospital, after a brief illness, July 12, 1966; aged 63 y. 8 m. 18 d. She was married to Edward Schwartzentruber, who died April 18, 1963. Surviving are one son (Gordon), one brother (Emory), one sister (Clara - Mrs. Amos Brenneman), and 2 grandchildren. She was a member of the Tavistock Church. Funeral services were held at East Zorra, with Henry Yantzi and David Schwartzentruber officiating.

Gospel Herald - Volume LIX, Number 32 - August 16, 1966 page 738

Elvera married Edward Schwartzentruber 22 Oct 1924, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Edward (son of David Schwartzentruber and Rebecca Kuepfer) was born 20 Oct 1904, Mornington Twp., Perth Co., Ontario, Canada; died 18 Apr 1963, Stratford, Perth Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried , East Zorra Mennonite Cemetery, East Zorra Township, Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Business: Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Zehr's Market
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-50329
• Residence: 1953, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Co-founder of Zehrs Markets remembered as 'kind, generous and genuine'

WATERLOO REGION - Lester Zehr, the co-founder of Zehrs Markets, is being remembered as a humble and generous friend and businessman.

"What you saw is what you got; there was no falseness about him, he was just him," said Pat Herzog, a family friend whose late husband Bill Herzog worked as vice-president of finance at Zehrs.

"The three words that kind of say it best are kind, generous and genuine."

Zehr, who lived in Waterloo, died on Tuesday at the age of 91. He leaves behind his wife of 67 years, Elva, his three children, Brenda Eudoxie, Don Zehr and Gregory Zehr, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Lester, who helped build a number of companies, is best known for starting the Zehrs Markets grocery store chain with his father and brother. The first store opened on Highland Road in Kitchener in 1950. There are now more than 40 Zehrs across southwestern Ontario.....

Booth, L. (2018). Co-founder of Zehrs Markets remembered as 'kind, generous and genuine'. TheRecord.com. Retrieved 16 March 2018, from https://www.therecord.com/news-story/8331952-co-founder-of-zehrs-markets-remembered-as-kind-generous-and-genuine-/

Lester — Elva Shantz. Elva (daughter of Elmon R. Shantz and Elizabeth Roth) was born 17 Feb 1926. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-219258

Clifford — Jean. Jean was born 1931; died 2009. [Group Sheet]

Marjorie — Douglas Brian Witzel. [Group Sheet]

Marjorie — Lawrence Allan Bingeman. (son of Dr. Marshall Oberholtzer Bingeman and Erma Shantz) [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/102107792/

Notes:

Mr. Gordon Edward Schartzentruber, age 58, of 291 Glastonbury Dr., Stratford, passed away, at Stratford General Hospital, on Friday, Jan. 3, 1997.

He was born in Wellesley, son of the late Edward Schwartzentruber and the former Elvera Zehr. He has been employed at Sealed Power Corp. as a sales representative. He was a member of the Tecumseh Masonic Lodge, Stratford-on-the-Avon Shrine Club, the Mocha Temple Motor Corps. and the Royal Canadian Legion, Stratford Branch No. 8.

Beloved husband of Marilyn Schwartzentruber; loving father of Mark Schwartzentruber and wife Bonnie of Huntsville, Paul Schwartzentruber and wife Lisa of Stratford, Steven Schwartzentruber and friend Denise Blackmore of Abaco, Bahamas and Laurie Lahey and husband Tim of Kitchener; dear grandfather of Donna Schwartzentruber. He is also survived by his mother and father-in-law, Elsie and Cycil Brooks of Stratford; several sisters-in-law; brothers-in-law; nieces and nephews; cousins and aunt, Sylvia Schwartzentruber of Milverton. Predeceased by a sister, Audrey June Schwartzentruber and a grandson, Ian Schwartzentruber.

Friends and relatives may call at the W.G. Young Funeral Home, 430 Huron St., Stratford, on Saturday, Jan. 4, 1997 (today) from 6-9 p.m. The funeral service will be held at Avon Mennonite church on Sunday at 2 p.m. Rev. Bill James-Abra will officiate. Cremation to follow with interment at Avondale Cemetery.

As expressions of sympathy, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, the Mennonite Relief Fund or Stratford General Hospital, Palliative Care Unit.