Peter Unruh

Pete Unruh was born to Peter J. and Katie Irene Smith Unruh in Montezuma, Kansas on July 29, 1931. He peacefully passed away at the age of ninety on November 18, 1921, at Oakwood Manor in Brooksville, Mississippi.  In our dad’s early childhood, he with his parents, moved from Montezuma, Kansas to Galva, Kansas also living a brief time at Burns Kansas, he there received most of his formal education and grew to adulthood.     In his early teenage years, our dad answered God’s call to salvation and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite on May 18, 1947, by Min. Ervin Harms. He remained steadfast his whole life. He often expressed praise to his wonderful God. Dad was not a perfect man, but his intention was to do what he knew was right. He continued to let the Lord work in his life until the very end.   He married Georgarene Schmidt on February 2, 1958. Their early married life was spent in Montezuma, Kansas. In 1965, Dad and Mom moved to Mississippi with their two small children. There the new life of farming in the south awaited. In the following years two more children were born. Dad enjoyed having a few livestock and raised catfish for a time. He always had time for carpentry as part of livelihood. Dad loved to travel. He and mother took trips to Europe, Brazil, and Africa. He also traveled North American, at one time going to Prince Edward Island, Canada with friends.  Our dad was a man of conservative values knowing how to make possessions last. Many will remember his small red grain truck. It was not a question but to live within his means. He was a man of true grit and talented with his hands. The difficulties of life did not cause him to be deterred. He also gave much of his time in voluntary service to many projects in the church and community. One fond memory was our parents’ time helping the congregation in Maine build their first church building.  He lovingly cared for his wife as she failed in physical and mental health. It was another time in his life that God used the circumstances of life to soften his spirit. He wanted to care for her at home which he did with help of nurses until she passed away in February 2019. Left to cherish memories are three sons and one daughter, Greg of Leland, MS and his children Peter and Leann, Garren and Emily, Taylor, and Joanie; Pam Koehn of West Point, MS; David and Kimberly of Ulysses, Kansas and their children, Erica and Joel Mastre, Tressa and Justin Koehn, Grant and Greta, Kallie; Travis and Lazetta, Macon, MS and their children, Logan and Shandyn, Lacey, Allison, and eight-great-grandchildren. Also surviving two sisters, Ormah and Arnold Giesbrecht, Brooksville, MS and Fern and Harold Schmidt, Brooksville, MS; one brother, Larry and Sharolyn Unruh, Grifton, North Carolina; one sister-in-law, Elaine Unruh, and one brother-in-law, Howard Nichols.     Our family wishes to express heartfelt to Oakwood Manor for graciously extending love and kindness to our dad. We also thank Gladwin and Judy, and Orin and Gail for your help through the years. Preceded in death by his parents, his wife, one infant grandson Charles Jon, one daughter-in-law Martha, one- son-in- law Nelson Koehn, eight brothers, and two sisters.

Pete Unruh's funeral service will be held on Monday, November 22,2021 at Brooksville Mennonite Church at 10:30 A.M.. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the church.