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Mennonite Weekly Review - January 2007

 Andres, Ronald J.;    Bender, Dorothy Lucille;  Bontrager, Buetta Mae;   Claassen, Paul G.;   Ediger, Albert M.;  Friesen, Anna K.;  Senner, Robert William;    Waltner, Verna R.;   Weaver, Velma B.;   Zehr, Bertha M.  
Mennonite Weekly Review - January 1, 2007 - 85th Year, No. 1 - p. 8

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Verna R. Waltner, 79, of Moundridge, Kan., died Dec. 19, 2006, at Memorial Home. She was born Sept. 3, 1927, at Hillsboro to Reinhard and Anna (Hiebert) Funk.
After graduating from high school, she held several jobs in Hillsboro. One of the most enduring influences of her young adulthood was the summers she spent in voluntary service in Gulfport, Miss., and in Rosthern, Sask.
She married Waldo Waltner on Jan. 3, 1957, at Hillsboro. Together they were co-owners of Central Kansas Hatchery. She was in charge of the labor that was needed on hatch days and did a number of other tasks.
She faced many challenges throughout her life but always met them with a smile. She was patient, kindhearted, loving and even-tempered. She loved to play with her grandchildren and spent many hours with them.
She was a member of Eden Mennonite Church, rural Moundridge.
Survivors include a son, Jerome Waltner and his wife, Keri, of Newton; a daughter, Dianne Waltner of Wichita; two sisters, Lillian Peters of Hillsboro and Alice Schmidt of Goessel; and two grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Waldo, on July 30, 2004.
Services were held at Eden Mennonite Church. Burial was in the Eden cemetery.

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Buetta Mae Bontrager, 71, of Hesston, Kan., died Dec. 22, 2006, at Schowalter Villa. She was born Oct. 28, 1935, to Harold and Cora (Nofziger) Wyse at Archbold, Ohio.
She married Marion G. Bontrager on June 11, 1960, at Archbold.
She graduated from Archbold High School. She graduated from Goshen (Ind.) College in 1959 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and received her master’s degree in educational psychology from Wichita State University in 1981. She taught elementary school at Pettisville, Ohio, and Goshen, Ind. She taught gifted special education in Wichita for 14 years.
She was baptized at Lockport Mennonite Church in Stryker, Ohio. There she sang in a women’s quartet. She taught vacation Bible school in southern Ohio and for a summer in various rural Alberta communities. She sang in Goshen College choirs, singing the soprano solo in Brahms’ Requiem. She enjoyed singing in the Messiah Community Chorus at Lindsborg, Kan. She was a member of Hesston Mennonite Church.
Survivors include her husband, Marion; two daughters, Elizabeth Bontrager and her husband, Phil Waite, of Moundridge, and Sonja Bontrager and her husband, Michael Aumack, of Wichita; a son, David Bontrager and his wife, Melissa, of Omaha, Neb; five brothers, Dean Wyse of West Unity, Ohio, Denton Wyse of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Sanford Wyse of Archbold, Allen Wyse of College Station, Texas, and Ned Wyse of Camden, Mich.; four sisters, Rosemary Reimer of Goshen, Byrdalene Horst of Formosa, Argentina, Norma Wyse and Sara Wyse-Wenger, both of Boston, Mass.; three grandchildren and a step-grandchild.
Memorial services were held at Whitestone Mennonite Church in Hesston.



Mennonite Weekly Review -
January 8, 2007 - 85th Year, No. 2 - p. 8


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Paul G. Claassen, 89, of Beatrice, Neb., died Dec. 8, 2006, at Beatrice Community Hospital. He was born in Beatrice and lived in the Beatrice area most of his life. He was a graduate of Beatrice High School.
He married Ruby M. Schonewise on May 30, 1941, in Beatrice. They farmed west of Beatrice until moving into Beatrice in 1976.
He was a member of Beatrice Mennonite Church and had served on numerous committees of the church. He was a former member of the Mennonite Hospital board, Beatrice Community Hospital board, Beatrice Public School board, Homestead Village board, Regency Retirement board, Farm Bureau, Southeast Nebraska COOP board and a former member and past president of the DHIA. He enjoyed woodworking, reading, needlepoint, traveling and volunteer work.
Survivors include his wife, Ruby; four sons, John D. and his wife, Carol, Alan P. and his wife, Janet, Rob and his wife, Rosie, all of Beatrice, and Nathan and his wife, Cheryl, of Lincoln; a daughter, Rhoda Frasier and her husband, Robert, of Abilene, Kan.; a sister, Dorothy Orendorff of Flannigan, Ill.; a brother, Donald of Beatrice; 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Carl and Waldo Claassen.
Memorial services were held at Beatrice Mennonite Church. Burial was at the Mennonite Cemetery of rural Beatrice.

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Robert William Senner, 94, of Lawrence, Kan., died Dec. 17, 2006, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. He was born March 19, 1912, to William J. and Elizabeth Graber Senner in Freeman, S.D.
He married Rachel Epp on Aug. 15, 1943, in Henderson, Neb.
He graduated from Bethel College in 1942 and received a master’s degree from Wichita State University in 1951. He did additional graduate work at San Diego State University and the University of Minnesota.
He was director of choral music at Buhler High School for 30 years. He was a member of numerous professional organizations and judged music contests extensively in Kansas and surrounding states. He sang with the Robert Shaw Chorale as part of his graduate work and later in retirement in San Diego, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Minn., Toronto, Ont., and Tallahassee, Fla. He received the Kansas Music Educator’s Association Hall of Fame Award in 1978 and the Harry Robert Wilson Award for outstanding contribution to the choral music profession in 1981.
Survivors include his wife, Rachel; two sons, John W. of Little Rock, Ark., and Stan and his wife, Pat, of Anchorage, Alaska; two daughters, Roberta Senner Hofer and her husband, Rod, of Lawrence, and Rachel Van Wingen of Washington, D.C.; a sister, May Juhnke of McPherson; and eight grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by an infant brother, Harold, a brother, Raymond, and two sisters, Kathryn Senner and Hazel Buhler.
Memorial services were held at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home of Lawrence and later in Freeman. Inurnment was in Freeman.


Mennonite Weekly Review - January 15, 2007 - 85th Year, No. 3 - p. 9
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Ronald J. Andres, 83, of Elbing, Kan., died Oct. 28, 2006, at Newton Medical Center. He was born Oct. 4, 1923, to John G. and Matilda (Claassen) Andres.
He spent his childhood days on the family farm and graduated from Whitewater High School in 1941.
On Sept. 1, 1947, he married Ruth Wedel at Zion Mennonite Church in Elbing, where they were both members. He served the church on various committees and on the church council as deacon and treasurer. For many years he was a Sunday school teacher.
He was a retired dairyman and a member of several farm and dairy organizations. Local history was of great interest to him, and he was a past board member of the Remington Area Historical Society. He enjoyed photographing family and church events and outdoor life. He had a strong intellectual curiosity and was an avid reader. He had a great love for his family and always looked forward to spending time with them.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth; a daughter, Carol Reece and her husband, Robert, of Turon; two sons, Dennis and his wife, Vickie, of North Newton and David and his wife, Karen, of rural Newton; a brother, Edwin Andres of Elbing; a sister, Thelma Wedel of Burns; and four grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Dwight, and a brother, Irvin Andres.
Services were held at Zion Mennonite Church in Elbing.

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Bertha M. Zehr, 100, of Eureka, Ill., and formerly of Foosland, died Dec. 25, 2006, at Maple Lawn Health Center in Eureka. She was born Dec. 21, 1906, to Peter B. and Susan (Christophel) Reedy near Freeport.
She married Albert R. Zehr on Aug. 18, 1927, in Cullom. He preceded her in death on Aug. 25, 1980.
She attended Normal University and taught elementary school for a few years. She was a member of East Bend Mennonite Church near Fisher and the Mennonite Women sewing group. She took great pride in sewing comforter squares together and also school kit bags that were filled with school supplies and given to children in need. She was still mending items for family and friends until this past June. She learned to use the computer at age 95.
Survivors include a daughter, Norma Schrock and her husband, Milton, of Foosland; three sons, Carl Zehr and his wife, Fran, of Plattsburgh, N.Y., Loren Zehr and his wife, Ethel, of Cape Coral, Fla., and David Zehr and his wife, Doris, of Grand Rapids, Mich.; 18 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert; three brothers; a grandson and a great-grandson.
Memorial services were held at East Bend Mennonite Church. Burial was in East Bend Mennonite Gardens near Fisher.

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Dorothy Lucille Bender, 92, of Milford, Neb., died Jan. 2, 2007, at Crestview Care Center. She was born June 16, 1914, to David and Elizabeth (Rediger) Bender on a farm near East Fairview Mennonite Church.
As a young girl, she attended school district number 47. Many missionaries and church workers were welcomed into their home. She was called at an early age by the Lord for a special work and accepted Christ as her Savior in 1928.
In 1948 she entered Hesston (Kan.) College in the second semester, without high school, and earned her associate’s degree. She began a teaching career in 1950 that spanned 34 years. She taught in Nampa, Idaho, and Stapelhurst and Milford public schools in Nebraska. She also taught as a missionary in Nairobi, Kenya. She continued her education by receiving a bachelor’s degree from Goshen (Ind.) College and her master’s degree from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Her philosophy was “a teacher is a human engineer working with the most priceless undeveloped material in all God’s creation — the child.” Her life was enriched by students from Nebraska, Idaho, Africa and Puerto Rico, and by co-workers, dedicated faculty, members of her church and family.
She was a long and faithful member of East Fairview Mennonite Church and served for many years as a Sunday school teacher. She was a former member of District WMSC, MARP and the Seward County Historical Society. She served on the board of directors for the Et Cetera Gift and Thrift Shop in Seward and as a member of the Hesston College Alumni Board. In her spare time she loved to read, crochet, knit, quilt and enjoyed the outdoors.
Survivors include a brother,   Merle Bender of Hesston; and a sister, Barbara Reber of Goshen.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Merton.
Funeral services were held at East Fairview Mennonite Church. Burial was in East Fairview Cemetery of rural Milford.  


Mennonite Weekly Review -
January 22, 2007 - 85th Year, No. 4 - p. 8


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Albert M. Ediger, 91, of Inman, Kan., died Jan. 12, 2007, at Pleasant View Home. He was born July 21, 1915, to David J. and Annie Martens Ediger in McPherson County.
On May 12, 1939, he married Lydia Schmidt at Buhler.
He farmed in the Buhler area, moving to Inman in 1997. He was a member of Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church of rural Inman. He served on the Willis Grade School Board, as one of the early regional directors for Mennonite Disaster Service and as chair for the Mid-Kansas Mennonite Central Committee Relief Sale. He was a member of the Buhler Kiwanis.
Survivors inlcude his wife, Lydia; three sons, LaVon and his wife, Linda, of McPherson, Byron and his wife, Janet, of Newton, and Glen and his wife, Karen, of North Newton; a brother, Leo of Buhler; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by seven brothers, John, Art, Dave, Elmer, Irven, Roland and Raymond; and two sisters, Minnie Voth and Katherine Kasper.
Memorial services were held at Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church. Graveside service were held at Hoffnungsau Cemetery.

Mennonite Weekly Review - January 29, 2007 - 85th Year, No. 5 - p. 8

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Anna K. Friesen, 86, of Hesston, Kan., died Dec. 19, 2006, at Schowalter Villa. She was born Aug. 11, 1920, to Peter F. and Katherine (Cornelson) Isaac in Meade.
She married Cornelius (Cornie) Z. Friesen on Nov. 12, 1944, in Meade.
They lived in Meade most of their married life. She was supportive of his work at Friesen Windmill & Supply. In 1998 they moved to Hesston.
She loved to read books, including her Bible. Her other interests included crocheting, quilting, talking on the phone, baking and playing games, especially Scrabble and Skip-Bo. Her family was of utmost importance to her. She loved spending time playing games with and reading books to her grandchildren.
Survivors include her spouse, Cornie Z. Friesen of Hesston; three sons, Galen Friesen and his wife, Esther, of Kansas City, Mo., Leland (Lurch) Friesen of St. Joseph, Mo., and Weldon (Buck) Friesen and his wife, Margaret, of Meade; a daughter, Joyce Rosendahl and her husband, Dan, of Sweden; a brother, Jake K. Isaac of Reedley, Calif.; a sister, Lena K. Isaac of Hesston; 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Loren James Friesen; three sisters, Maggie K. Isaac, Katherine K. Isaac and Margaret K. Friesen; and five brothers, Abe K., Pete K., Corny K., Henry K. and John K. Isaac.
Funeral services were held at Schowalter Villa. Burial was in Garden Community Church Cemetery of rural Hesston.

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Velma B. Weaver, 72, of Manheim, Pa., died Jan. 3, 2007, at Lancaster General Hospital. She was born June 2, 1934, to Homer D. and Naomi Miller Bomberger.
She was the wife of Paul M. Weaver. She was an active member of Erisman Mennonite Church and was manager and volunteer at the Mount Joy Gift and Thrift Shop.
Survivors include her husband, Paul; a daughter, Tina M. Wenger and her husband, Ron E.; two sons, Jeff L. Weaver and his wife, Louann, and Jay Robert Weaver and his wife, Brenda; a sister, Joann Weaver; 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, John M. Bomberger.
Funeral services were held at Erb Mennonite Church of Lititz. Burial was in the adjoining cemetery.

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