Jacob Auernheimer
Jacob Auernheimer, 95, Readley, Calif. former Halstead resident, and brother of Roy Auernheimer, Halstead, died May 24, 2001.
He was born April 9, 1905, in Deer Creek, Okla., the son of Adolph and Clara Goebel Auernheimer. He moved to the Halstead area as a young child. He attended two country schools in Harvey County, Fairview, District 13, and Enterprise (Hardpan) District 14. He also attended Halstead High School.
On June 18, 1933, he married Bonnie Warnock at Sedgwick. She preceded him in death in 1985.
They lived for several years a mile east of Bentley. While there he did mechanic work and farmed. He was one of the first to irrigate crops. He set up a motor and irrigation pump in a small sand pit across the road from his home and irrigated 10 acres of corn. This was in the 1930s so there was very little corn grown at that time.
Because of his severe hay fever they moved to Reedley, Calif., in 1936. He then became a carpenter and built houses. He built a cabinet shop and made windows, doors, screens, kitchen cabinets, etc. Later he developed the Reedley Glass and Building Supply, including stained glass windows for churches.
When the Japanese-Americans came back to Reedley from the relocation camps, he and his wife helped them get settled again. A group of them started the United Methodist Fellowship Church. The Auernheimers' house served as the meeting place until the church was built.
They also provided home for over 120 students from 21 different countries who attended Reedley Junior College and for 11 people from a local hospital with depression problems.
Survivors include a son, Robert Bruce Auernheimer, Reedley, Colo [Calif}.; two daughters. Joy Karen Sweeting and Irene Healy, both of California; two other brothers, Walter Auernheimer, Derby, and Arthur Auernheimer, Glendale, Ariz.; three sisters, Florence Gomez and Selma Auernheimer, both of Reedley, and Ann Pankratz, North Newton; eight grandchildren; and ten great-grand-children.
The body was cremated. Memorial services were held at the church on June 16, 2001.
