BODE, Cornelius, Rev. 1843-1917

BODE, AMMERMAN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 10/5/2013 at 07:08:46

Native of Germany--Engaged in Ministry Thirty-Eight Years

Rev. C. Bode was born near Emden, Ostfriesland, Germany, Aug. 12, 1843 and died Wednesday, May 16, 1917, at the age of 73 years, 9 months and 4 days. He came to America with his parents in 1854. In Jan. 1868 he was married to Miss Hilkea Ammerman, who survived him. This union was blessed with seven children, the youngest of which died 24 years ago. His children all hold prominent places in civil and religious life. All his four sons have official standing in the church; John is elder in the Kesley church, Richard is deacon in the Ackley church, Henry is pastor near Freeport and William is President of the college at Grundy Center. Mamie is married to Peter Limburg at Austinville and Anna to J. C. Arends of Alexander. Six of his grandsons and one nephew are named after him and five bear his full name.

Rev. C. Bode graduated from the theological seminary at Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1879. He served His Master faithfully in the following charges: Nijkerk, Michigan about 8 years; Harris, S.D., about 4 years; Ackley about 12 years and Kanawha about 14 years.

He was a faithful pastor, a pastor with missionary zeal and organized more congregations or assisted in their organization than any other pastor of the church, and although advanced in years, beloved by young and old even to the last. He had an amiable character, a friendly disposition, a sympathetic heart, a devoted Christian spirit one who was not ashamed to testify of the Lord's goodness to all men. It was his wish to die, fighting for His Lord, and his wishes were fulfilled. The Sabbath previous to his death, he served two congregations. Ascension day, he was to preach at Wright in the morning and in his own church in the afternoon and had his sermons ready, but the evening before he went to be forever with the Lord.

Services were held at Kanawha church, Saturday, Prof. J. Timmermann of Grundy Center having charge of the meeting, assisted by Rev. Share of Kanawha. The remains were conveyed to Clarion per auto and then brought to Austinville where he was laid to rest in the family lot of the Christian Reformed cemetery near Austinville. Services near Austinville in charge of Rev. Ahuis, Rev. Plesscher, Rev. Schnucker, Rev. Agena, and Rev. Gruessing. Long live his memory. May he rest in peace.

--Ackley World Journal (Ackley, Iowa), 31 May 1917