View source for Unruh, Peter H. (1881-1943)

Peter Hermann Unruh: minister and elder; born 23 January 1881 in [[Goessel (Kansas, USA)|Goessel]], Kansas, USA, the eldest of six children of Peter P. Unruh (26 November 1852, Nikolaidorf, Molotschna Mennonite Settlement, South Russia - 7 March 1939, Harvey County, Kansas) and Anna (Klaassen) Unruh (7 March 1859, Elisabeththal, Molotschna, South Russia - 12 February 1901, Marion County, Kansas). He was married on 31 August 1905 in Hillsboro, Kansas to Susanna "Susie" Warkentin (11 October 1882, Marion County, Kansas - 28 January 1950, Alexanderwohl, Marion County, Kansas), daughter of Jacob Warkentin (1833-1903) and Katharina (Sommerfeld) Warkentin (1838-1903). Peter and Susie had two children, Elmer and Velma. Peter died at [[Goessel (Kansas, USA)|Goessel]], Kansas, 20 July 1943 and was buried in the Alexanderwohl Cemetery.

Peter was raised in Goessel, Kansas, where he attended the [[Marion County (Kansas, USA)|Marion County]] Public School. He graduated from the [[Bethel College Academy (North Newton, Kansas, USA)|Bethel College Academy]] in 1902. Upon graduation Peter taught as a public school teacher from 1902 to 1906 and farmed from 1907 until 1915.

Peter grew up in the [[Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church (Goessel, Kansas, USA)|Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church]] (GCM) and was baptized in this church on 26 May 1901. He served as an evangelist in the congregation from 1908 to 1910, was ordained a minister of the Gospel in 1910, and elder in 1915. He served as a Relief Commissioner to Russia under the [[Mennonite Central Committee (International)|Mennonite Central Committee]] (MCC) from November 1922 to June 1923 and was for some years a member of the MCC and its vice-chairman in 1942. 

Unruh was very active in the [[Western District Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Western District Conference]] of the [[General Conference Mennonite Church (GCM)|General Conference Mennonite Church]], serving as a member of the Home Mission Committee (1916-1923), secretary of the Exemption Committee (1917-1918), and a member of the Peace Committee. He also served the larger conference as treasurer of the General Conference Mennonite Church [[Emergency Relief Board (General Conference Mennonite Church)|Emergency Relief Board]] and as a member of the Committee of Doctrine and Conduct. As a member of this committee he authored ''What Mennonites Believe: Short Statement of Our Mennonite Faith''. Peter was also a member of the [[Bethel College (North Newton, Kansas, USA)|Bethel College]] board of directors and of the [[Mennonite Colonization Board (Newton, Kansas, USA)|Mennonite Colonization Board]], and served as a member and president of [[Herald Publishing Company (Newton, Kansas, USA)|Herald Publishing Company]].
== Bibliography ==
GRANDMA (The '''G'''enealogical '''R'''egistry '''an'''d '''D'''atabase of '''M'''ennonite '''A'''ncestry) Database, 7.04 ed. Fresno, CA: [http://calmenno.org/index.htm" California Mennonite Historical Society], 2013: #88553.

Warkentin, A. and Melvin Gingerich, compilers. Who's Who Among the Mennonites. North Newton, KS: Bethel College, 1943: 253-254.
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 4, p. 786|date=1959|a1_last=Bender|a1_first=Harold S|a2_last= |a2_first= }}