Rev. Jakob Bletsch, the well known pioneer preacher in the Chicago German Conference was Tuesday morning at 9:45 o’clock, on October 1, 1907, suddenly called home.  He was ailing during his last days and on that morning had gone to a doctor who lived just across from the Centennial Church to be treated by him.  Being somewhat exhausted as he entered, difficult breathing began and in a few minutes he was dead.  Rev. J. U Diekmann, preacher of the Centennial Congregation in Chicago, with which Brother Bletsch was affiliated, shares with us the following:  “Sunday, the 29th of September, he still attended four worship services and spoke after the evening service a powerful prayer.  In the class period before the evening worship service he spoke about premonitions of dying.  Monday morning in good spirits he met some Brother Ministers in the Book Concern.  Brother Bletsch was one of the most excellent men in German Methodism, pious, faithful, and entirely dedicated to the task of saving precious souls.  In our congregation during these 12 years, where like a father respected and beloved by all, he went in and out among us, he will be very much missed.”  The funeral service was held on Tuesday afternoon in the Centennial Church.

 Thus is thinning the ranks of our elder (ministers) preachers.  When Brother Jakob Bletsch attended the funeral of his brother August Bletsch on July 3rd, here in Cincinnati, he appeared in fairly good health and we had no foreboding that in such a short time we would hear the sad news of his death.  He was on August 7, 1831, born of catholic parents in Waldorf, Baden and lost his parents in early childhood.  In his 22nd year he traveled with his three brothers and one sister to America and was already in the next year after his arrival in Cleveland, Ohio, under the ministry of Rev. E. F. Schneider simultaneously with his brother August at the same prayer altar mightily converted to God.  Immediately he began to witness for his new Lord and Master and entered in the year 1858 in the Rock River Conference.  He remained 36 years in the active ministry and entered retirement the last 13 years.  The Lord had given him many souls, and he has with rich robes entered the eternal Kingdom of his Lord Jesus Christ.

(This is a translation from Der Christliche Apologete made by Mrs. J. L. Konz, wife of the Lutheran Minister in Marlin and a good friend of Laura B. Kendrick.)

(The following was a translation for the short obit that accompanied Jakob Bletsch’s picture in a later edition of the magazine.  This was also translated by Aunt Laura’s friend.) 

 Regretfully, we were not in a position in the last number of the “Apologeten” concerning the homegoing (obituary) of Rev. Jakob Bletsch to accompany it with his picture.  We do so now herewith.  We said last week, that he for 13 years, after 36 years in the active ministry, had been in retirement; this account is not quite correct in that he had for 15 years lived in Superannuation (beyond the age of retirement).  In these years he was active in one way or another so that one really cannot speak of his retirement.  Four years he served two mission congregations in Chicago, substituted for the officiating elder during the Lord’s supper assembly and preached for his brethren when these were serving elsewhere or were sick.  49 years Brother Bletsch announced with few intermissions the glorious Gospel of the grace of God in Christ Jesus.

 Jakob Bletsch was born at Waldorf, Baden, on 7th August 1831.  In his ninth year he was, with his nine siblings, orphaned.  But the catholic, pious mother had lived long enough, particularly for the little Jakob to be taught the holy teachings of the church.  Accompanied by his brothers August and Peter, he came as a 23 year old lad in the year 1854 to Cleveland, Ohio.  Here he became acquainted with our church.  Through searching he recognized that the here announced blessings were the answer to his yearning of many years and soon he found through a glorious conversion the rest for his soul.  The church began to notice the diligent young missionary who now must immediately tell everyone what had made him so blessed, and soon the church recognized him as an instrument for the Lord.  Without certain academic or theological finishing education, but in the power of his clear experience, in the glow of his zeal of salvation, and in the certainty of his divine calling, he began in the year 1858 his holy office.  In the 36th year of his activity, Brother Bletsch belonged to three Conferences:  the Rock River, the Northwestern, and Chicago German.  He served 13 fields, two of them twice, and served one term in Fond du Lac (later Oshkosh now Appleton) District.  Following is his distinguished service record:  Iowa City, Ia. 1858 to 1860; Blue Island, Sandridge and Bremen, Ill., 1860-62; Michigan City Ind., 1862-63; Madison, Wis., 1863 to 1865; Claybourn Ave., Chicago, 1865 to 1868; Milsarkee, Wis., Second Congregation 1865 to 1868; Milwaukee, Wis., Second Congregation, 1868 to 1871; Watertown, Wis., 1871-74; Emanuel Cong. Chicago, 1874-77; Portland Avenue, Chicago, 1877-1880, Ashland Ave., Chicago, 1880-81; Fond du Lac District 1881-1883; Emanuel Congregation, for the second time, 1883-86; Claybourn Ave., for the second time 1886-89; Robey 1889-92.  On all fields Brother Bletsch had a conspicuous success, and many memorable occasions of which the people still after 30 years speak with enthusiasm.  In one field, where he with the sainted Fritz Rinder worked together, he won an entire Lutheran Congregation together with their pastor.  In the year 1892, Brother Bletsch retired from the active office, but he remained over the 15 years as a senior citizen consistently active.  Four years long, he served two mission congregations in the state, Avondale and Oakpark, assisted very other the officiating elder at Lord‘s supper assembly and preached for his Brothers, when they were serving elsewhere or were sick.  49 years he, with few intermissions, announced the Gospel.  Brother Bletsch had many qualities that endeared him to preachers and congregations alike.  His hearty friendliness, his appropriate tactfulness, his untiring diligence--these influenced everyone, and combined with his upright sharing in the joys and sorrow of his members, won for him in his work in every congregation the intimate friendship, which after 30 and 40 years has lost nothing in warmth.  Brother Bletsch possessed a benevolent heart.  He considered it impossible to begrudge anyone their good fortune nor could he fail to feel anyone’s misfortune.  To give the sorrowing solace, the depressed cheer, and the friendless personal attention, this was his element.  Brother Bletsch was thoroughly modest.  He considered each of his brothers more great than himself, and we believe that he, in his humility, considered his own gifts and performances in too low esteem.  He maintained a noble manliness that would at all times come to the defense of the right.  As preacher, Brother Bletsch had meaningful accomplishments.  Bible-grounded, Word-trusting, rich in experience with a wealthy treasure of hymns and key-verses he was equipped, with a full heart that must overflow--so did he stand 49 years in the German pulpit.  And if his sermons were no a precise pattern of exegetical handling of the text, they did, and this is more important, arrive at  his aim--the sinner’s heart was pierced with the dart of repentance and then was shown the healing Jesus.  Straightforward uprightness and deepest earnestness were the trademarks of his pulpit performance.  His greatest success Brother Bletsch reached in his pastoral activities.  Here he was a master.  It was at his funeral service mentioned by more Brothers that he likely had led more souls to the Lord than any other Brother in the conference.  What greater laurels could a servant of the Lord wish!  Wonderfully he understood how with  people to talk about their soul’s salvation; so naturally and sincerely, but also so unresistibly, till most would have to acknowledge:  You have persuaded me and I have let you persuade me; you became too strong for me and you have won me”.   Also in his last years did he consider this work foremost.  In all congregations he visited his old acquaintances and if they were sick and exercised at not small cost such concern for souls for those who had fallen away from church and grace.  In  the last year he preached each Thursday evening to the old folks in Brother Frank Henning’s Old Folks Home.  To such extent did he love the Lord’s work and the people’s souls that despite bodily afflictions he untiringly must remain active.  For 15 years he went in and out of the Centennial Congregation in blessing.  Here he was respected and loved by all as a father.  Despite a far distance from church he, until last year, visited the Lord’s supper assemble regularly.   As most of the Chicago congregations are rejoicing at his successful ministry, so we should edify ourselves with the quiet preaching of his pious old age.  From our midst, there is a great power gone.
 On 25th January 1857, Brother Bletsch entered wedlock with Elizabeth Jost.  Seven children were given them, of these four died early.  The nine years ago his spouse, with who he had lived 41 years in happiest wedlock, died and a heavy shadow fell across his life which never completely left.  The death of his precious son August in the year 1900 opened new deep wounds in his heart; and a few months ago his youngest brother, August Bletsch died, so he had only one wish, “I want to go home!”  On Sunday evening, the 29th of September, he spoke in the class hour about this deep yearning.  He did not know and we had no premonition how near his wish was to fulfillment.  On Monday, in good spirits, he met his brother preachers in the book store.  On Tuesday morning, as he visited a doctor, the Lord took him in a quick, easy death at the age of 76 years, 1 month, and 23 days to himself.  He leaves behind one son, William , and two daughters, Minnie and Clara, a sister Frau (Mrs.) Hoffmann, three grand-cyildren, and a large circle of spiritual children and friends, who rejoice in his rest and thank God that this noble man had brought so many saving blessings into their lives.  The funeral service was held on Thursday, the 3rd of October in  the Centennial Church.  The Brothers J. U Mulfinger, J. J. Keller, E. F. Morf, Kark Keck, H. Wegner and the undersigned took part in the service.  Six of his Brothers carried him to the grave in the beautiful Rose Hill Cemetery.  God’s worker is fallen, but his work goes forward, until all the world has become our God’s and his Savior’s. 

       J. U. Diekmann

(This is a translation from Der Christliche Apologete made by Mrs. J. L. Konz, wife of the Lutheran Minister in Marlin and a good friend of Laura B. Kendrick.)

A copy of each of these written in German and the translation was sent to my father by his Aunt Laura.