© Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Last updated July 14, 2010)


  • Enns, Johann J., 1884-1966

    Title: Johann J. Enns fonds
    Dates: 1928-1965
    Extent: 8 cm of textual records
    Repository: Mennonite Heritage Centre Archives

    Historical note

    Johann J. Enns was born on 2 Nov. 1884 in Schoenbrunn, Schoenfeld, Russia to Jakob Herman and Susanna (Dueck) Enns. He married Anna Rempel (1884-1958) of Tiegenhof on 21 May 1909. He immigrated to Canada in 1924 and settled in Grunthal, Manitoba in 1926. He was baptized in Schoenbrunn, Russia in 1902 and received into the membership of the local Mennonite church in the Schoenfeld Colony. Shortly after settling in Grunthal, Manitoba the local Mennonites called and ordained him to preach. In 1943 Johann Enns was elected and installed as the bishop (Aeltester) of the Elim Mennonite Church, which he had helped organize out of all the scattered Mennonite immigrants in the Grunthal area. He served in this position until shortly before his death in Grunthal in 1965. His wife Anna died in 1958. In 1961 he married widow Helena Mandler (nee Klassen) (1891-1979). Aeltester Johann J. Enns did not have any children. He and his first wife were the foster parents of his two of sister's children -- Jacob Neufeld (1908-1987) and Justina Neufeld (1910-1999) -- as well as several other children that had lost their parents.

    Scope and content note

    This fonds consists of notes and notesbooks about the founding of Elim Mennonite Church in Grunthal, Manitoba in 1928 by the congregation's first bishop (Aeltester Johann J. Enns, 1884-1965), note books created by Johann Enns in the course of his leadership of the church (addresses of people he visited, notes taken at conferences including expenses, notes taken at events), and sermons prepared and delivered from 1928-1965.

    Index terms

    Subject terms

  • Elim Mennonite Church (Grunthal, Manitoba)

    Creators

  • Enns, Johann J., 1884-1966
  • Adjunct descriptive data

    Finding aids

    File inventory list

    Related material in this repository

    Elim Mennonite Church (Grunthal) fonds

    Notes

    Custodial history

    The materials were in the care of a nephew, Henry Rempel of Winnipeg, until they were given to his sister, Margaret Heese of Wymark in 2009.

    Language

    German - much in Gothic script but not all.

    Arrangement

    Arranged and described by Alf Redekopp, 14 July 2010.

    Restrictions on access

    None to access

    Immediate source of acquisition

    Margaret Heese, Wymark, Saskatchewan

    Other notes

    Acc. No. 2010-048

    Inventory File list

    Volume 5466
    1. Receipts from travel debt payments. – 1924-1939.
    2. Notebook – 1928-1932, 1958-1965. (bee keeping & honey sales, church organizations and development)
    3. Elim Mennonite Church list of significant dates and events. – 1931-1965.
    4. Elim Mennonite Church list of non-resident members and members over 60. – 1961.
    5. About the founding and development of Elim Mennonite Church (Grunthal, MB). – before 1965.
    6. Scripture texts given to baptism receipients (including names). – ca. 1946-1961.
    7. Sermon notes (loose pages) including a Bible dispensationalist chart.
    8. Notebook ca. 1942
    9. Notebook ca. 1946
    10. Notebook ca. 1958
    11. Notebook ca. 1960
    12. Notebook ca. 1961
    13. Address book (A-Z)
    14. Sermon notebook
    15. Sermon notebook
    16. Sermon binder (6 ringed – 6x 3½)
    17. Sermon binder (6 ringed – 6x 3½)
    18. Sermon binder (6 ringed – 6x 3½)
    19. Sermon binder (6 ringed – 6x 3½)
    20. Sermon binder (6 ringed – 6x 3½)
    21. Sermon binder (6 ringed – 6x 3½)