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Dietrich K. Ensz

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Dietrich K. Ensz

Birth	:	6 Nov 1898 Inman, McPherson County, Kansas, USA
Death	:	23 Feb 1919 Greenland, Steinbach Census Division, Manitoba, Canada
Burial	:	Original Greenland Mennonite Church Cemetery, Sainte-Anne, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate	:	49.6190280, -96.7435600
Description	:	Son of Abraham G. and Margaretha Klassen Ensz from Inman, KS. Went to Canada with his parents during World War I as a conscientious objector. Died in the influenza epidemic of 1918-1919. Following is a letter written by Abraham G. Ensz to his children back in Kansas about the death of their brother Dietrich. It was translated from German by Henry A. Ensz: Greenland, Manitoba, Canada February 12, 1919 Beloved Children, I will try and write some more of our dear son, Dietrich. He is no more in this valley of tears. Praise God that he knew, and we also, that he went... Read More	Son of Abraham G. and Margaretha Klassen Ensz from Inman, KS. Went to Canada with his parents during World War I as a conscientious objector. Died in the influenza epidemic of 1918-1919. Following is a letter written by Abraham G. Ensz to his children back in Kansas about the death of their brother Dietrich. It was translated from German by Henry A. Ensz: Greenland, Manitoba, Canada February 12, 1919 Beloved Children, I will try and write some more of our dear son, Dietrich. He is no more in this valley of tears. Praise God that he knew, and we also, that he went home to his Savior who found him when he was yet young in years. He was always so obedient, and so honest, this with words I cannot bring. We pitied him so very much when he was so sick, yet never complained. We did not want to let it enter our minds that we would not be able to come together anymore to greet each other, but God’s ways are not our ways. Tuesday evening Mother and I came home late, the children had ice cream, and he had also eaten, yet had not gone to bed but waited for us to come home and help us unhitch the horses. That night he got sick but we didn’t know it till morning. He did not come down, wanted to stay in his bed upstairs. So he remained there till Thursday morning, then we told him it would be better if he would lay downstairs. He didn’t want to. I told him he better do that, so we could take better care of him. Then he consented, Mother made a bed for him on the lounge in our room. While he was yet upstairs he lamented and groaned severely by himself. Thursday night he often was delirious, but if we talked to him he got in the clear again. We thought that so many had been so very sick and also unconscious, and that he, as well as they, could get well again. Mother was always more willing to let Dietrich be relieved than I was. I said I could not allow myself to such thoughts. Often I went and bent my knees before God and in my agony brought my concern to Him, for if it was His will He could let Dietrich get well. Mother asked him the first day whether he was willing to die on which he freely answered, “yes,” adding yet that the Lord’s will be done. Friday night he was worse. Mother and I were at his bedside the whole night. He was restless, we had to replace his covers. When he was unconscious we talked to him, and he would calm down and answer so childlike, “alright”. He never talked anything evil while he was unconscious. That he did not want to die here in Manitoba he said nothing of, with which we also did not want to burden him yet. We made every effort in every way they use here to help him. When he was yet well we bought a bottle of blood purifier for his pimples. Friday night he requested to call the Doctor. We comforted him somewhat till in the morning, because it is very inconvenient here to drive with horses at night. In the morning we called the Doctor from Lorette. Wiebe wanted to get him, but we decided he should hire a vehicle and come immediately. He came in the forenoon and thought his condition was not so dangerous. One lung was quite sore and if it would not go to the other he could get well. His only complaint was when he was breathing that his right side was sore. But the medicine was of no avail. Saturday night was a very weighty night. Mother and I were very tired, we wanted to change off and sleep, but no sleep entered our eyes. We wanted Dietrich to remain with us. With a sad heart I walked from one room to another, off and on we knelt down and prayed. Dietrich wanted to kneel down too, but we told him God would answer his prayer while lying down. Sunday morning Rev. Wiebe wanted me to go along to Steinbach, which I flatly refused. Friday evening Wiebes were here. They were the only visitors we had while Dietrich was sick. In one way we preferred not to have so much company, and it wasn’t known that he was so sick. Uncle Wiebe asked him a few questions, upon which he said, by the grace of God he hoped to be saved. Such decent answer he gave. Of a sudden he was unconscious again. Sunday forenoon was the weightiest hour in all our life, oft we knelt before the Lord, which he appreciated very much. We sang several songs, which we barely could because of weeping. The song My Jesus I Will Not Leave, he helped sing the whole song. At 11:00 A.M. it was given us of God to commit him to the Lord and that He could receive him through death. So I told the whole family, “Now we want to kneel down and thank God for the victory, and pray that he would take our dear son Dietrich home, to that heavenly home.” Soon he started to breathe slower till his last breath left him. All were willing to give him up except Justine and Helen who were calling, “Dietrich, you shall not die yet.” Jake was sick and lying upstairs till Sunday morning, then he came down and lay on the couch. Did he ever weep. Children, it was very hard for us. We felt very fortunate that we could take care of him till his end. Sunday morning when he was so low, and yet we did not know how long he would have to suffer, we decided to send you children a telegram to let you know of his sickness so that you could pray for us all and share your brother’s suffering. I had already drawn up the telegram and called Barkman to send it off. While talking with him Mama said I should wait just a little, and sure enough, death, the last enemy, came and soon he was not with us anymore. Then many tears were shed. Our eating dinner was forgotten of as formerly when Grandma died. Then we were all alone, but soon we got company and Dietrich was taken care of. They put his gray suit on and carried him in a cool room. Then I sent a telegram to Abe, because I thought it was the quickest way. How happy were we, that, already Monday evening we had the answer that Henry and Anna were coming. That lightened our burden. Henry can help us a lot. Mary do not take it ill, we would have gladly seen that you could have come too. We counseled and prayed about it and decided as the telegram reads. They do not embalm here. The man must come from Winnipeg for that and it takes quite a long time, and since it is no difference where his body lies we decided to bury him in the Greenland cemetery. It’s not sure whether Jake and Anna will be well enough to be at the funeral. The coffin is being built in Steinbach. Costs $13.00, very like the factory make. His corpse measures 6 feet. Jake and Anna are improving very fast. I and Mama are so overtaxed and tired. Sarah and I are doing the outdoor chores, which works fairly good. If the weather will be fair it will be a very large funeral. Children, how dearly God loves us. I felt so closed for a while, but Dietrich has paved the way for us, so from now on our aim in our walk of life shall be more toward Heaven. Oh, that I had water enough for tears to weep because of the great sadness, but also joy. Children, do not take this too hard. Pete, be comforted, for Dietrich your brother is better off than we all are. And you, Kathryn, just hold to the hand of the Lord, He has done it well. Dietrich once said if he should yet have a lengthy sickness, then it would be better if he could die now. Oh dear beloved Johnny, how will you regret that you can never see your loving brother Dietrich anymore? Be calm and content for we are altogether in the hands of an Almighty God. Johnny, repent and give your heart to the Lord, you can also have the joy that God has forgiven your sins. Then if you die you shall go to the place where your loving brother Dietrich is. I read this letter to the family yet, it caused much weeping. This letter can be read where ever it is for a benefit. I would that you children would save it. Also the last letter that Dietrich wrote. I don’t know where he sent it. I wish you would save it. Just now we went with Wiebe’s children to see Dietrich. He sleeps so peacefully in his grey suit, he looks just as when he was alive, but he is dead. Oh children, (I mean the Dietrich G. Ensz family now) all of you make a full consecration, go through a full cleansing, and get rid of all your sins. Your sister Marie also came here and shared our burden with us. We had a blessed forenoon together. We all confessed our wrongs. Dietrich could not grasp this anymore, but we believed it would help him yet. So let’s altogether commit ourselves to the Lord and His saving grace. Prepare and get ready for that Heavenly home. Amen

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Dietrich K. Ensz's memorial?
Dietrich K. Ensz's memorial is located at: Original Greenland Mennonite Church Cemetery, Sainte-Anne, Steinbach Census Division, Canada.
When did Dietrich K. Ensz death?
Dietrich K. Ensz death on 23 Feb 1919 in Greenland, Steinbach Census Division, Manitoba, Canada
Where are the coordinates of the Dietrich K. Ensz's memorial?
Latitude: 49.6190280
Longitude: -96.7435600

Family Members:

Parent

Siblings

Mary K Ensz Penner

(1895 - 1990)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Original Greenland Mennonite Church Cemetery
Sainte-Anne, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.6190280, -96.7435600

2. Greenland Church of God in Christ Mennonite
Greenland, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.6351190, -96.7323020

3. Blumenort Evangelical Mennonite Cemetery
Blumenort, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.6041260, -96.7192820

4. Hochfeld CMC Cemetery
Hanover, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5918670, -96.7675670

5. Blumengard Cemetery
Hanover, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.6067480, -96.7984270

6. Evangelical Mennonite Church of Blumenort Cemetery
Blumenort, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.6051800, -96.6895800

7. Blumenort E.M.C. Cemetery
Blumenort, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5896100, -96.6892100

8. Bergthal Chortitzer Mennonite Cemetery
Blumenort, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5741870, -96.7740270

9. Blumenhof Community Cemetery
Blumenort, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5896000, -96.6633200

10. Silberfeld CMC Cemetery
Hanover, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.6080890, -96.8449120

11. Old Silberfeld Cemetery
New Bothwell, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.6206035, -96.8527183

12. Prairie Rose EMC Cemetery
Landmark, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.6648210, -96.8326140

13. Saint Anne Roman Catholic Cemetery
Sainte-Anne, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.6688360, -96.6456770

14. Mitchell Memorial Gardens
Mitchell, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5339200, -96.7694000

15. Vollwerk Cemetery
Mitchell, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5310900, -96.7712200

16. Clearsprings Cemetery
Steinbach, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5556500, -96.6427670

17. Randolph CMC Cemetery
Randolph, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5455430, -96.8300100

18. Ridgewood Evangelical Mennonite Cemetery
Giroux, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5750710, -96.6149710

19. Evangelical Lutheran Brethren Church Cemetery
Mitchell, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5255970, -96.7672200

20. Steinbach Heritage Cemetery
Steinbach, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5326500, -96.6703100

21. Steinbach Pioneer Cemetery
Steinbach, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5249158, -96.6875950

22. Steinbach Memorial Cemetery
Steinbach, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5170200, -96.6928400

23. Osterwick Giesbrecht Cemetery
New Bothwell, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.6058830, -96.9229170

24. South Osterwick Cemetery
New Bothwell, Steinbach Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5911170, -96.9269670