Remembrance - Laura (Hilty) Kempf

September 15, 1895 - June 21, 1985

Remembrance - Louise (Haller) Patrick

January 15, 1895 - February 5, 1987

Louise Patrick

(Her last picture - Christmas, 1986)

Remembrance - Letha (Decker) Vorhees

July 31, 1891 - September 10, 1983

Remembrance - Ruth (Haspel) Killian

June 21, 1914 - July 18, 1993   

                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                         

Remembrance - Katharina Wolf

April 19, 1902 - May 13, 1984

Remembrance - Clara (Kuck) Bishop

August 6, 1899 - January 10, 1989

   

       

Liberty in Christ

    
     From the lofty belfry, our wonderful church bell continues summoning our congregation to worship every Sunday morning since 1887. Also during the decades resounding the joyful clamor of chimes celebrating Holy matrimony, the solemn toll of funerals, and beckoning calls of commemoration throughout our community.       
     Our sturdy, steadfast old bell is a replica of our Nation's Liberty Bell! Weighing 2,080 lbs., ordered from the McShane Bell Foundry, Baltimore, MD.
     Records show the bell cost $355.59, with $12.67 for freight, $1.50 for drayage* and $4.00 for installation labor.
     The Ladies Aid Society made this purchase possible, as they raised the money for this special gift.

 

 

     In rightful recognition of this achievement, the German inscription still visible on the bell reads as follows:

 

 

"Diese Glocke Wurde Bezhalt Von Dem Fruen-Verein Der Deutchen Evangelische Reformierte Gemeinde in Lima, Ohio, Beim Bau Der Kirche. A.D. 1887"

 

 

("This bell was purchased by the Ladies Aid Society of the German Evangelical Reformed Congregation in Lima, Ohio, at the building of the Church. A.D. 1887")



 

*The term "drayage" originally meant the transport of goods on a side-less cart, or dray. These carts were pulled distances by horses, with a fee considering physical limitations and care for the animals.  

    

Remembering Beda

    
     As we commemorate Memorial Day honoring our brave soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect and defend our Freedom, we should also pay tribute to the families through the generations who have suffered the heartbreaks of war and burdens of military service.
     Beda Shafer was a remarkable lady who gave (and also lost) so much...a Faithful life dedicated to God, Home & Country. Following in the footsteps of her forefathers, she left behind a wonderful legacy...

BEDA GRACE SHAFER, 86, died at 1 a.m. Nov. 16, 2006, at Lima Manor Nursing Home. She was born Jan. 24, 1920, in Putnam County to William D. and Rosa Basinger Goodwin, who preceded her in death. On Oct. 31, 1939, she married Paul T. Shafer, who died Jan. 1, 1993. Mrs. Shafer had been a dietary supervisor and nurse’s aide at St. Rita’s Medical Center. She was a member of First Evangelical and Reformed Church and its Ladies Aide Society. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Colonial Dames XVIIC, Daughters of Union Veterans, Daughters of 1812, Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America, the Colonial Clergy, Women Descendants of Ancient Honorable Artillery and the National Society Magna Charta Dames. She was also a member of the First Families of Allen County, First Families of Putnam County, the Allen County Genealogical Society, the Ohio Genealogical Society and the Allentown Historical Society. She was a member of the 173rd Airborne Society (SEP), the National Committee Person Republican Party, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6741 Auxiliary, Elida, American Legion Post 96 Auxiliary, and its America Gold Star Mothers, and the Vietnam Veterans of American LZ89. She was a registered genealogist and taught piano. She was a graduate of Columbus Grove High School and Bluffton College. Survivors include a son, William M. (Judy) Shafer, of Lima; a daughter, Joanne E. Shafer Reese, of Elida; nine grandchildren, Jeffrey C. (Bonnie) Shafer, Pamela S. (John) Moser, Heidi L. Kavick, Scott D. (Melissa) Shafer, James W. (Michelle) Shafer, April L. (Ronald) Reese-Engstrom, John E. (Debra) Shafer, Paul W. (Dawn) Shafer and Rebecca S. (David) Smith; 15 great-grandchildren, Ryan Kavick, Sean Kavick, Wolfgang T. Shafer, Clara Moser, Elsa Shafer, Jacob Shafer, Anthony M. Reese, Casimiro R. Martinez, Ella Moser, Ruby Moser, Maxwell Shafer, Samuel Shafer, Kylie Shafer, E. Nicole Reese and Regan Arin Engstrom; two stepgrandchildren, Todd (Jennifer) Geren and Brian Geren; four stepgreat-grandchildren, Arielle Geren, Taylor Geren, Ciann Geren and Ian Geren; a daughter-in-law, Kathleen Shafer; and a granddaughterin-law, Emilia Reese. She was preceded in death by two sons, Sgt. James D. Shafer, who died in Vietnam in 1967, and George Ronald Shafer, who died in 1995; a grandson, Staff Sgt. Aaron T. Reese, who died in Iraq in 2003; and two sisters, Alice J. Miller and Ima Louise Staltman. Services will begin at 1 p.m. Sunday at Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home. The Rev. Ed Rhinehart will officiate. Burial will be in Allentown Cemetery, Allentown. Friends may call from 3 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
(Obituary: Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home)

"To perpetuate the noble principles for which they fought & died."

(Motto of the Gold Star Mothers)

 

 

Book of Remembrance

     


    

    

In May 1983, the Ladies Aid Society began the endeavor of creating a "Book of Rememberance" as a eulogy dedicated to their departed sisters in Christ.

   

                                                                                                                         It is noted, for nearly a decade Carolyn Arnett neatly compiled information in the 40-page album which includes obituaries clipped from newspapers, funeral cards, and thoughtful summaries written from a personal perspective.  

Carolyn recently went to be with our Lord in her Heavenly home on October 6th, age 94. 

This "Book of Remembrance" she completed on behalf of the Ladies Aid Society years ago serves not only as a special tribute, but also a vital resource of historical documentation.  

"Lest we forget..."

  

Ladies to the Rescue

     On January 3, 1867, a group of women met at the home of Rev. & Mrs. William H. Fenneman. Among these ladies were: Lizzie Naas Badertscher, Adeline Frail, Marie Rothe, Katherine Schnug, Rosa Schnug, and Katherine Stueber. 
     The cornerstone of the new building at Wayne & West Streets had been laid the preceding August, and construction had begun. 
     The women were determined to form an organization within the Church to raise funds covering the debt, bring Spiritual enrichment, and encourage good works.   
     A Constitution was written on that day, their mission accomplished.  
     This group would be called "Der Frauen-Verien" which translates to The Ladies Aid Society. Formed 4-months before the dedication of the first building, this is the oldest  organization in our Church. 
     The Ladies Aid Society remains active to this day; holding regular monthly meetings, promoting worthy projects, and supporting Spiritual growth. We greatly appreciate the devotion of these virtuous women.  

"She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy." 

~Proverbs 31:20 (NIV)

New Foundations

      In 1864, land was purchased from Hudson Watt at the cost of $400 to build a new Church on the the corner of Wayne and West Sts., located just beyond the Lima town limits. It is upon this ground our Church still stands today. 

      In March 1866, eighteen families pledged $900 to erect the sanctuary:  Heinrich Betz, John Gebhardt, Rev. W.H. Fenneman (our 2nd Pastor), Adam Zimmerman, Peter Schnug, Friedrich Schnug, William Snook, Wilhelm Schnug, Fred Herold, Johannes Weber, Friedrich Rothe, Christian Rothe, Heinrich Pfleger, C. Neubrecht, Johannes Neubrecht, John Frail, Geo. Getz, and Adam Schick.                     

     On August 26, 1866, the cornerstone was laid with impressive ceremonies as reported in The Lima Democrat newspaper:

 "On Sunday afternoon last in the presence of a large number of our citizens, the   cornerstone of the German Reformed Church of Lima was laid. The services on the occasion were of the most solemn and imposing character and very appropriate. Discourses were delivered in both the German and English languages." (August 29, 1866)             

                                                                                                                                 

 

     The Church was a plain 36 x 50ft. brick rectangular structure, seating about 200 people. The windows were not stained glass. Primitive on the inside, with a wood floor and crude benches. There was an aisle on each side of the small auditorium with a broad section of pews in the center. Very short pews were placed alongside the walls. It was customary for the men to sit on the east side of the church, and the women on the west side. Eventually the families would sit together. Two wood burning stoves provided heat, and oil lamps suspended from the ceiling provided dim lighting. There was no organ or musical instruments. Often a beautiful rosewood melodeon owned by Mrs. Anna Herold Zimmerman and Mrs. Margaret Herold Sullivan would be transported to and from church for special services and Holy Days. There were no offering plates. But instead, "Klingelbeutals" or black velvet "jingle bags" were attached to an 8ft. long stick used by the Deacons to collect the tithes, reaching across the people in the pews. Sometimes these sticks were used to gently tap the sleepyheads nodding off during service!

     The final cost of the building project was $3000. The Ladies Aid Society was organized on January 3, 1867, for the purpose of raising money to pay off the debt, which they did successfully.

     The small simple structure was dedicated on May 10, 1867. 

     And with the new building, came about 85 total Church members.