An expanded obituary project of
MennObits. Includes additional information of obituaries
appearing in
The Mennonite and other newspapers. Source of
individual obituaries given with each record. Project managed by
Thelma Martin.
2024
T to V
Troyer, Lawrence L.
November 4, 1929 - March 25, 2024
Lawrence L. Troyer, 94, Goshen, died Monday, 6 a.m., Monday, March 25, 2024, at Greencroft Healthcare. He was born November 4, 1929, in Martland, Nebraska, to Joseph A. & Edna E. (Augustine) Troyer. On June 3, 1951, he married Evelyn M. (Tyson) Troyer.
Surviving are his wife, Evelyn, Goshen, 4 children, Keith (Renita) Troyer, Elkhart, Dawn Troyer, Goshen, Jane (Rod) Swick, Florida & Joan Troyer, Goshen, 6 grandchildren, Sheila (Kenny Tinkel) Troyer, Joe (Jen) Troyer, Darrel (Misty) Troyer, Andrew Swick, Ben Swick & Clayton Swick, 5 great-grandchildren, Chandler, Kennidi, Breece, Kinze & Jaxon, 1 great-great-grandson, Mason and a sister, Wilma (Dick) Dean, Pennsylvania.
Preceding him in death are his parents, 1 son, Kent Arlen Troyer, 4 siblings, Delores Esh, Wynona Harrington, Maynard Troyer & Lyle Troyer and a daughter-in-law, Ruthie Troyer.
Lawrence was a farmer; worked at trailer factories for 23 years and was a plumber for 21 years. A member of Yellow Creek Mennonite Church, he sang in the men’s quartet and was a member of the cemetery committee. Lawrence loved fishing, camping and being outdoors.
Visitation will be 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Monday, April 8, 2024, at Yellow Creek Mennonite Church, 64901 CR 11, Goshen, Indiana. Burial will be 1st at 12 p.m. at the church cemetery, followed by a memorial service in the church at 12:30 p.m., also on Monday. Pastor Wes Bontreger will officiate. Memorial donations may be directed to Yellow Creek Mennonite Church.
Rieth Rohrer Ehret Funeral Home, Goshen, is handling arrangements.
Troyer, Raymond L.
December 4, 1945 - January 31, 2024
Raymond "Ray" L. Troyer, 78, of LaGrange, (district: 10-1), died at 10:35 am on Wednesday, January 31, [2024] at Life Care Center, LaGrange. He was born on December 4, 1945, in Goshen, to Enos S. and Edna L. (Troyer) Troyer. On December 11, 1971, in Middlebury, he married Lorene C. Bontrager, she survives.
Survivors in addition to his wife are four sons, Leonard (Ruth) Troyer of Howe, Enos (Susan) Troyer of LaGrange, Chris (Carolyn) Troyer of LaGrange, and Jerry (Susie) Troyer of Howe; daughter, Lisa (Nelson) Chupp of White Pigeon, MI; 22 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Vernon (Ida Mae) Troyer of Goshen and Gerald (Elsie) Troyer of Shipshewana; brother-in-law, Levi (Esther) Yoder of Millersburg; sister-in-law, Erma Troyer of Topeka.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Mary Ellen Yutzy and Pauline Yoder; brother, Wayne Troyer; brother-in-law, Eli Yutzy.
Ray was a member of the Old Order Amish Church. He was ordained as minister on October 17, 1999, and then as Bishop in 2013.
Visitation will be after 2:00 pm on Thursday, February 1, and all-day Friday, February 2, at the Enos Troyer Residence: 1640 S. 250 W., LaGrange. Funeral services will be at 9:30 am on Saturday, February 3, at Elite Metal Supplies: 1245 S. 250 W., LaGrange. Services will be conducted by Bishop DeWayne Bontrager and the home ministers. Burial will be in Beechy Cemetery, LaGrange.
Ulrich, Donna Lou Martin
April 18, 1939 - January 5, 2024
Donna Lou Ulrich, 84, of Metamora, IL, passed away peacefully in her home on Friday, January 5, 2024 at 11:11 pm.
Donna was born on April 18, 1939, in Hopedale, IL, to Orva and Verna (Kennell) Martin. She was united in marriage to Leonard Ulrich on November 27, 1958. They had recently celebrated 65 years of marriage.
She is survived by her husband, Leonard; two sons, Roger (Joyce) Ulrich of Metamora, IL and Duane (Loretta) Ulrich of Benson, IL; two daughters, Phyllis (Rick) Zoss of Canon City, CO and Diane (David) Kennell of Sarasota, FL; sixteen grandchildren; thirty great-grandchildren; two sisters, Loretta Ulrich of Washburn, IL and Marilyn Davis of Cazenovia, IL; and two brothers, John Martin of Tampico, IL and Delmar Martin of Delavan, IL.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Ron Martin, two sisters, Carol Martin and Susan Christner, two brothers-in-law, Jim Ulrich and Karuna Davis, and one granddaughter, Alysha Ulrich.
Donna was a homemaker and did the book work for their business. She blessed many people with her love for baking. Her grandchildren remember her reading books, playing games with them, and always having cookies or ice cream bars to snack on.
After retirement, she and Leonard enjoyed working together at Choice Books. Then, spending their winters in Florida.
She accepted Christ in her youth and was a lifetime member of the Linn Mennonite Church. The family expressed appreciation to the kind staff at Compassus Hospice.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 am on Thursday, January 11, 2024, at Linn Mennonite Church, 1594 County Road 1700 N, Roanoke, IL with church ministers officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 and also one hour prior to services on Thursday, both at the church. Burial will be in Stewart Harmony Cemetery, County Road 1300 E, Metamora. Memorials may be given to Choice Books, 10100 Piper Lane, Briston, VA 20136.
Ulrich, Leonard Raymond
August 18, 1937 - March 12, 2024
Leonard Raymond Ulrich, 86, of Metamora, IL, passed away at Carle Health-Methodist Hospital in Peoria, IL on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at 10:04 pm.
Leonard was born on August 18, 1937, in Shelbyville, IL, to Elmer and Lydia (Hostetler) Ulrich. He was united in marriage to Donna Lou Martin on November 27, 1958. She passed away on January 6, 2024. They had recently celebrated 65 years of marriage.
He is survived by two sons and two daughters, Roger (Joyce) Ulrich of Metamora, IL, Duane (Loretta) Ulrich of Benson, IL, Phyllis (Rick) Zoss of Canon City, CO, and Diane (David) Kennell of Sarasota, FL; sixteen grandchildren; and thirty great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, three brothers, three sisters, and one granddaughter, Alysha Ulrich.
Leonard was the owner of Ulrich Oil Company in Metamora. He enjoyed water skiing, boating, and spending time helping people in the community. After retirement, he and Donna enjoyed working together at Choice Books. Then, spending their winters in Florida.
He accepted Christ in his youth and was a lifetime member of the Linn Mennonite Church.
The family expresses appreciation to the kind staff at Carle Health-Methodist Hospital.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 am on Sunday, March 17, 2024, at Linn Mennonite Church, 1594 County Road 1700 N, Roanoke, IL with church ministers officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2024 and also one hour prior to services on Sunday morning, both at the church. Burial will be in Stewart Harmony Cemetery, County Road 1300 E, Metamora. Memorials may be given to Choice Books, 10100 Piper Lane, Briston, VA 20136.
Unruh, Douglas Keith
November 20, 1962 – April 02, 2024
Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 8, 2024, at Plainview Mennonite Church. The committal service will be at Plainview Mennonite Cemetery under the direction of Sevier Funeral Home.
Visitation will be held at Sevier Funeral Home in Chickasha, Oklahoma from Thursday, April 4, 2024, 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. until Saturday, April 6, 2024, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Douglas Keith Unruh, my husband, our dad and grandpa, was born to Gilbert and Erma Jean (Schmidt) Unruh on November 20, 1962, in Chickasha, Oklahoma. He peacefully departed this life to be with his Lord and Savior on April 02, 2024, at our home, surrounded by his family.
His first years were spent in the parental home east of Chickasha, and he attended the first three years of school in the Friend school system. After the 3rd grade, he moved to the Pioneer area and attended the Pioneer Public School through the 8th grade. Though this completed his formal education, he later received his GED. He was a lifelong learner, always enjoying finding or figuring out something new.
As a young man of 13 years, the Lord Jesus called him to be His servant, and he answered that call and was converted to the Christian way of life. It was his choice to join the Plainview Mennonite Congregation, and on February 25, 1976, he was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, by Minister Chester L. Koehn. He remained faithful to his calling and his vows.
On March 17, 1985, he married me, Janifer Unruh, and we had the joy of welcoming two children into our home. Our son Zachary was born on February 10, 1997, and our daughter Jessica was born on October 9, 2004. A special time was gaining our daughter-in-law Alicia in 2018. Doug was my “rock” in so many ways. He always seemed to have the answers that I needed for the questions that come in life. It didn’t matter if they were spiritual or the natural questions that come; in his quiet way, he would find an answer.
During our marriage, Doug worked in several occupations to earn a living for his family: farming, carpentry, mechanic, and, for the last 16 years, owning and operating a trucking business. He was industrious, and it was a talent he had to figure out how things worked, making difficult jobs look easy. He liked to live the adage” work smarter, not harder.”
Being a Christian was his highest calling, and he felt a need to give time to spreading the Gospel. In the year 2000, the Church sent us, as a family, to Nicaragua. We were there for four years, returning home in 2004 with the added blessing of bringing our infant daughter Jessica home, born during our stay there.
Doug enjoyed visiting with others. He also had a special love for the Spanish language and Hispanic people. He often used Spanish when he could and enjoyed speaking it with people he met. He studied Spanish before going to Nicaragua, and being there immersed him in becoming conversant. His latest interest was the German language.
Doug was a willing worker in the congregation and served where needed. From song leader to usher, he was willing to do his part. He was a willing worker during our church remodel. He was civic-minded, serving ten years as a volunteer fireman on the Pioneer Fire Department.
If we wished to know about relationships between people, we asked Doug! Genealogy was a passion for him, and he answered many questions. He spent much time developing his extended family tree.
In May of 2021, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He fought this disease heroically and with an uncomplaining attitude. He prayed that he and his family could accept his lot in life and not grow bitter. His desire to live was not just for himself but for his family and grandchildren, whom he loved dearly.
Though many prayers were offered on his behalf, this was not to be. As his disease progressed and it became apparent that his time was drawing to a close, he thought more of Heaven and spoke of wanting to be there. His slow decline allowed him to review his life, and he approached this quietly and thoughtfully. He cleared his way with anyone whom he felt he owed an apology. He was keen to his condition, and on the last day of his ability to converse, he asked that his family be called so he could tell them goodbye. He spoke briefly to each one. He especially encouraged me (his wife) to not become bitter. After telling each of his children goodbye, he prayed with each one alone, whispering his prayer. The next day would have been too late. His last whispered words were, “Hey Jessi!”
He leaves behind his sorrowing family: his wife, Janifer, son Zachary and wife Alicia, and their two children, Kinzley Rayann and Kylan Ross. Daughter Jessica Raquel (Jessi), Father, Gilbert Unruh of Chickasha, OK. Siblings: Allen and wife Soonie, Brenda, and husband Mark Nightingale of Cement, OK. Marty and wife Kimberly, Clifford and wife Letha of Chickasha, OK. Brothers and sisters-in-law, Steve and wife Anita, Phillip and wife Tammy of Verden, OK. Shilly and husband DeVern of Helena, OK. And many special nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death were his four grandparents, his mother Erma Jean Unruh, Father-in-law Jesse Unruh, Mother-in-law Dorothy Unruh, niece Makenzi Unruh, and great-nephews Easton Schmidt and Skylar Nightingale.
We extend a special thank you to the Plainview congregation for your wonderful support during this difficult time. The prayers, food, visits, and helping hands have made a burden lighter. Thank you to our sister congregation, Prairie Hills, for their kind support. A special thank you to our niece Kara for helping us care for Doug during the last weeks of his illness. We especially thank his oncologist, Dr. Carla Kurkjian, for her compassionate care. Thank you to Lifeline Hospice for caring for Doug during his final weeks. It was much appreciated.