Back to MennObits Main Menu

Mennonite Weekly Review - February 2009

Obituaries are emailed to MennObits before MWR is printed. Wording may vary in printed version.


   Abrahams, Norman E.;   Kandel, Clayton Mast;    Knarr, Irma D. Gahman;   Liechty, Adam J.;   Troyer, Norma L.  Reber;  


Mennonite Weekly Review - February 2, 2009 - 87th Year, No. 5 - p. 9

------------------

Abrahams, Norman E.


Norman E. Abrahams, 85, of North Newton, Kan., died Jan. 8, 2009. He was born Jan. 16, 1923, to Cornelius and Anna (Dalke) Abrahams in Goessel.
He married Ethel Grace Ewert on Sept. 26, 1944.
He served in Civilian Public Service at Colorado Springs, Colo., and at the National Service Board in Washington, D.C. He was an optometrist in Hillsboro until his retirement. He helped establish a program in which optometrists traveled to underdeveloped countries to provide eye care and dispense used glasses — Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity.
Survivors include his wife, Ethel; three children, Nan Graber and her husband, Don, of Monument, Colo., Dwayne Abrahams and his wife, Ruth, of Newton, and Nadine Abrahams and her husband, Norman Epp, of Denver, Colo.; two brothers, Ray Abrahams and Chuck Abrahams, both of Hillsboro; six grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by a son, David E. Abrahams, who died in 1962, and by a sister, Verna Koehn.
There was a private burial service on Jan. 12. A memorial service is planned for Feb. 1 at Bethel College Mennonite Church of North Newton.

--------------

Knarr, Irma D. Gahman


Irma D. (Gahman) Knarr, 70, of Bechtelsville, Pa., and formerly of Telford, died Dec. 15, 2008, at Grand View Hospital. She was born to Harvey and Maggie (Derstine) Gahman in Doylestown.
She was married to Allen Knarr for 45 years.
She graduated from Christopher Dock High School in 1955. After high school she served in the voluntary service program in Albuquerque, N.M., in 1962, where she met Allen, her future husband.
She was a seamstress at the former Sackman’s in Telford. She was a foster parent for Montgomery County Children’s Aid Society for 20 years at her residence in Telford. She worked with the Mennonite Central Committee International Visitor Exchange Program for 19 years. Throughout her life she worked as a secretary at Rockhill Mennonite Church, where she was a member and part of the ladies sewing circle and taught vacation Bible school. She loved the piano and played accordian with the late Joseph Clemmer’s musical group. She enjoyed reading, crocheting, quilting, listening to music, traveling, babysitting and collecting Precious Moments memorabilia.
Survivors include her husband, Allen; a son, Kenton Knarr and his wife, Beatrice, of Bechtelsville; a daughter, Kristal Bitner and her husband, Mike, of Pennsburg; a brother, Harold Gahman and his wife, Lucille, of Telford; and six grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at Rockhill Mennonite Church of Telford. Burial was in the adjoining cemetery.
---------------


Troyer, Norma L.  Reber


Norma Louise Troyer, 78, of Mio, Mich., died Dec. 28, 2008, after a short battle with cancer. She was born Sept. 14, 1930, to Elmer and Alice (Kauffman) Reber in Fairview.
She lived in the Fairview area her entire life. In her youth, she accepted Christ and was a faithful member of Fairview Mennonite Church.
On Sept. 15, 1950, she married Emmerson Troyer of Mio.
Being a wife, mother and grandmother were important to her. She was employed at Fairview Area Schools for 24 years. After retirement, she enjoyed doing volunteer work, reading, gardening, quilting and cooking.
Survivors include her husband of 58 years, Emmerson; four children, Ardis Miller and her husband, Dean, of Mio, Rodney Troyer and his wife, Sherry, of Mio, Brenda Kauffman and her husband, David, of Fairview, and Kyle Troyer of East Tawas; and seven grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Alton and Grant Reber; and four sisters, Mavis Esch, Katherine Esch, Melva Maris and an infant sister.
Funeral services were held at Fairview Mennonite Church. Burial was in Fairview Cemetery.
-------------------

Kandel, Clayton Mast


Clayton Mast Kandel, 88, of Berlin, Ohio, died Jan. 8, 2009, at Aultman Hospital in Canton after a heart attack. He was born Oct. 5, 1920, to Joseph E. and Lydia (Mast) Kandel in Millersburg.
He married Doris Miller on Aug. 14, 1943. She preceded him in death on Jan. 25, 1990.
He was a life member of Martin’s Creek Mennonite Church and enjoyed traveling, including many trips with Wycliffe. He was the initiator of the first Mennonite Information Center in Berlin, and was founder, co-owner and salesman of Central Farm Supply of Wooster.
Survivors include seven children, Ethel Miller and her husband, Andy, of Walnut Creek, Shirley Kandel of Berlin, Kenneth Kandel and his wife, Rosalie, of Sugarcreek, Keith Kandel and his wife, Margaret, of Lisbon, Marlene Swartzendruber and her husband, Tom, of Shickley, Neb., Karla Kandel of Masillon, and Julie Stutzman and her husband, Mark, of Walnut Creek; two brothers, Forrest Kandel and his wife, Mary Ann, and Clifford Kandel and his wife, Joan, both of Millersburg; two sisters, Mary Troyer of Millersburg, and Ethel Miller and her husband, Clarence, of Orrville; a sister-in-law, Mary Kandel of Berlin; 17 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris; an infant son, Roger; a brother, Robert Kandel; and a sister, Fern Miller.

Mennonite Weekly Review - February 9, 2009 - 87th Year, No. 6 - p. 9

---------------

Friesen, Harry


Harry Friesen, 85, died Jan. 28, 2009, at St. Luke Hospital in Marion, Kan. He was born Sept. 30, 1923, to Jacob F. and Margaret (Isaac) Friesen in Meade, Kan.  He married Millie Brenner on June 1, 1945, in Durham. He had been a missionary. He was a member of Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church of Hillsboro.

Survivors include his wife, Millie; two sons, Steve Friesen of Newton and Phil Friesen of Concord, Calif.; four daughters, Marilyn Fast of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Grace Steele of Tyler, Texas, Joyce Herrington of Krasnodar, Russia, and Debbie Phillips of Rowlett, Texas; two brothers, Lee Friesen of Rosebud, Texas, and Dwaine Friesen of Fairbury, Neb.; two sisters, Lena Friesen and Ann Wiens, both of Reedley, Calif.; 17 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Services were held at Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church. There was a private family burial.

Mennonite Weekly Review - February 16, 2009 - 87th Year, No. 7 - p. 9

------------------

Liechty, Adam J.

Adam J. Liechty, 90, of Berne, Ind., died Jan. 14, 2009, from lung cancer. He was born June 24, 1918, to John H. and Clara May (Witmer) Liechty at Brinsmade, N.D.

He married Marcella Sprunger on Jan. 3, 1942. She preceded him in death on May 30, 1987. On Jan. 7, 1989, he married Julia G. Beitler.

He was a veteran of World War II, where he served in the Medical Corps and was attached to the 48th Armored Infantry of the 7th Armored Division. He was on the front line for eight months and was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, four Battle Stars, Good Conduct Medal and other decorations.
He came to Berne after being discharged in October 1945. He got a job at the 5 cent to $1 store in Berne. After a few years he bought the store and became owner and manager. A few years later he sold the business, went to Liechty Motors and sold cars. In 1962 he went to Home Dairy as a salesman for 17 years. His most recent venture was building Park Village and Continental Village Apartments, where he was part owner and manager. He was also responsible for Chalet Village Nursing Home coming to the Berne community. He was a member of Indiana Rural Rental Housing Association for 15 years. He retired at age 80.
He was a member of First Mennonite Church in Berne. He sang in the Mennonite Men’s Chorus for 25 years. He was a member of Gideons International for 58 years and placed many Gideon Bibles in hotels and motels from New York to Chicago and many cities in Indiana.

Survivors include his wife, Julia; three sons, Stanley W. Liechty and his wife, Shirley, of Port Huron, Mich., John Liechty and his wife, Peggy, of Ypsilanti, Mich., and Dallas C. Liechty and his wife, Jacki, of Osceola; two daughters, Anita C. Wenger and her husband, Daniel, of Berne and Audrey M. Kah and her husband, Gary, of Fishers; four stepchildren, Robert B. Beiler and his wife, Sharon, of Forest, Ohio, John S. Beitler and his wife, Brenda, of Kennet Square, Pa., Christine A. Nofziger and her husband, Laurence, of Alberta, and Stanley W. Beitler of Bluffton, Ind.; four brothers, Ezra, Jonathan, Silas and Reuben Liechty, all of Jamestown, N.D.; 15 grandchildren; 10 step-grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren and nine step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Marcella; a brother, Paul Liechty; and a sister, Ruth.
Funeral services were held at First Mennonite Church of Berne. Burial was in the MRE Cemetery of rural Berne.

No obituaries for Feb. 23, 2009


Back to MennObits Main Menu

Copyright 2003 - All rights reserved - Mennonite Publishing House, Scottdale, PA
Used with permission by the Archives of the Mennonite Church, Goshen, INDIANA
Permission granted to private family researchers to use selected portions of these files to tell their family stories.
May not be mass-produced in any form for commercial purposes.