Anabaptist World
July - September 2022
Mennonite World Review & The Mennonite merged September 2020
Anabaptist World July 8, 2022, page 43, Vol. 3, No. 9.
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Blosser, Glendon Lee
December 14, 1930 - June 14, 2022
Blosser-. Glendon Lee, 91, died June 14, 2022, at his home on Mount Clinton Pike in Harrisonburg, Va. A longtime leader in the Mennonite church, he was a devoted father, grandfather, cattle farmer and neighbor. He and twin sister Glennys were born Dec. 14, 1930, to Pauline (Heatwole) and Mahlon Blosser, all of whom preceded him in death. Glendon married Dorothy Nice on May 12, 1951, and for over 50 years they shared an extraordinary love for family and church and the land. She preceded him in death in 2004. Their four children survive: Floyd (Janet) Blosser of Harrisonburg, Diane (Ruel) Burkholder of Linville, Phil Blosser of Rockingham (Donna Blosser of Harrisonburg) and Myron (Rhonda) Blosser of Rockingham. His 14 grandchildren remember fondly the gatherings with him when they could discuss anything about life. He is also survived by 20 great-grandchildren.
As a young man, he responded to a call to ministry, an avocation that led him to pastor Zion Hill Mennonite Church in Singers Glen, to serve as overseer of the Central District of Virginia Mennonite Conference and to serve as moderator of the Mennonite Church. He was often invited to hold weeks of evangelistic meetings, where he touched the lives of many people with his creative and Spirit-filled preaching. A strong advocate for Christian education, he was also a charter board member for the Gemeinschaft Home.
After retirement, he and Dorothy spent a year in Trinidad, where they helped start a congregation and for a number of years provided resources to local church leaders. His love was large, and his roots were deep. He was a lifelong farmer who found satisfaction in being part of a family farm operation that spanned f1ve generations and was known for its good neighbor policies. A memorial service will be held in Harrrisonburg. Memorial contributions may be made to the Mennonite Church of Trinidad in care of Virginia Mennonite Missions, 601 Parkwood Dr., Harrisonburg, VA 22802.
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Swartz, Merlin L.
July 31, 1933 - February 21, 2022
Swartz-. Merlin L., 88, died Feb. 21, 2022, at Carleton-Willard Village in Bedford, Mass. He was born July 31, 1933, to Orbie and Anita (Sharp) Swartz in AuGres, Mich. He graduated from Eastern Mennonite College in Harrisonburg, Va., in 1955. He married Hilda Bender on July 8, 1955. He attended Eastern Mennonite Seminary and then Goshen Biblical Seminary in Indiana. While at Goshen he took a leave of absence to do relief work among Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, the Sinai Peninsula and Jordan with Mennonite Central Committee. He was a lifelong pacifist and conscientious objector and volunteered this work as an alternative to military service. Then he completed studies at GBS, earning a master of divinity in 1960. He pursued graduate studies at Harvard University, earning a doctorate in 1967. He and his family spent a year in Damascus, Syria, to conduct research in Syria and Turkey for his dissertation on a Fulbright-Hayes Research Fellowship. His first position as a professor was at American University of Beirut and the Near East School of Theology from 1967 to 1970. Then he taught at Harvard University from 1970 to 1972 as a research fellow at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies. He began at Boston University in 1973, becoming professor of religion and serving as department chair. There he trained graduate students, taught courses in Islam, Arabic and the Occidental religions. He published books and articles on medieval Islam and other topics in Islamic, Arabic and Middle Eastern studies. He and Hilda spent a sabbatical year in 1989-90 in Egypt, Syria and Turkey to do research for a book on a Fulbright Research Grant. He taught at Boston University until 2008. He and Hilda lived in Singapore for a semester in 2008-09, where he taught at the National University of Singapore. He was a founding member of the Mennonite Congregation of Boston and a member of First Parish in Bedford. Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Hilda; two daughters, Sondra (Souhil KassHana) and Wanda; two sons, Daryl and Kenton (Amy Horst); three sisters, Marian (David) Miller, Phyllis (Norman) Lind and Delores; a brother, Donald (Lorrie Larsen); one granddaughter and three grandsons; and one great-granddaughter. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. July 31 at First Parish in Bedford. Donations in his memory may be made to MCC or Doctors Without Borders USA.
Transcribed by: John Ingold
Anabaptist World, August 5, 2022, pages 46-47, Vol. 3, No. 10.
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Shetler, Margaret Anne Pursley
March 18, 1922 - June 13, 2022
Shetler-. Margaret Anne, 100, of Silverton, Ore., died June 13, 2022. She was born March 18, 1922, to Courtney and Thelma Rae (Taylor) Pursley in Oroville, Wash. Her family migrated to where there was work, eventually settling in Salem, and then moving to the Aurora area. She graduated from Canby High School in 1940. She was not raised in a Christian home but attended Sunday school on her own. She put her faith in Jesus as her Lord and Savior and joined Hopewell Mennonite Church. She became a member of Zion Mennonite Church in Hubbard in 1967 and remained so the rest of her life. She attended Hesston College in Kansas, graduating in 1943. She worked as secretary for the president of the college. There she met Ralph Shetler, and they were married on May 30, 1943. They lived most of their married life in Oregon, near Hubbard, and then in the Scotts Mills area. She worked for several years as a medical secretary for Dr. Pickering, first at the medical school in Portland and later at Oregon Regional Primate Research Center in Beaverton. She was a member of the Oregon Mennonite Historical and Genealogical Society. She authored and co-authored several books and finished writing her life story at the age of 90. Her faith in the Lord shaped her life, through her love for her family, service at church and hospitality to many invited into their home. She was dedicated to her work as a historian and archivist. She loved making quilts and quilting weekly with her church's quilting circle. Survivors include six children, Marvin (Shirl) Shetler of Aumsville, David Shetler of Fort Pierce, Fla., Howard (Rosie) Shetler of Scotts Mills, Jerold (Joan) Shetler of Scotts Mills, Ruby (Tim) Honan of Depoe Bay and Lawrence (Flo) Shetler of Lakeside, Mont.; 29 grandchildren; 86 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a stillborn son, Daniel, in 1956; her husband, Ralph, in 2004; and three siblings, Myron, John and Dorothy.
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Wenger, Elizabeth A.
August 18, 1946 - July 9, 2022
Wenger-. Elizabeth A., 75, died at her residence in Goshen, Ind., on July 9, 2022. She was born Aug. 18, 1946, to J.C. and Ruth Detweiler Wenger and lived her whole life in Goshen. She was a graduate of Bethany Christian High School and attended Goshen College. She was an artist, specializing in needlepoint. She relished the opportunity to engage in conversation on literary, artistic and theological topics with those who passed through her door. She was a member of College Mennonite Church. Survivors include a brother, Daniel (Anita) Wenger; a sister, Mary (J. Denny) Weaver; nieces, nephews and a wide variety of friends. She was preceded in death by a brother, John Paul Wenger. Donations in her memory may be made to the Encircling Fund at College Mennonite Church, Goshen, or Center for Teaching Peace in Washington, D.C. A memorial service is being held at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 2 at College Mennonite Church.
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Redekop, Calvin Wall "Waldo"
September 19, 1925 - July 20, 2022
Redekop-. Calvin Wall (Waldo), 96, died July 20, 2022. He was born Sept. 19, 1925, to Jacob and Katherine Redekop in Volt, Mont. He spent his early years in Montana, Oregon and Mountain Lake, Minn. He graduated from Goshen College in 1949. In July 1949 he joined Mennonite Central Committee and spent six months doing peace witness and education in Alberta and Akron, Pa. In January 1950 he sailed for Europe and served as Pax program organizer and Mennonite Voluntary Service director until December 1952. In 1953 he returned to the U.S., spent one semester at Goshen College Seminary and studied for a master's degree at the University of Minnesota. He taught social science at Hesston College from 1955 to 1962 and earned a doctorate in sociology and anthropology from the University of Chicago in 1959. While in Europe he met Freda Pellman, and they were married in 1955. In 1962 they moved to Richmond, Ind., where he taught at Earlham School of Religion and Earlham College. In 1967 they moved to Goshen, Ind., where he taught at Goshen College as professor of sociology, and at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart. During 1971-72 the family lived in Paraguay while he researched Indigenous-Mennonite relations. In 1976 they moved to Hillsboro, Kan., where he served as vice president and dean of Tabor College before spending the final 10 years of his academic career at Conrad Grebel College in Waterloo, 0nt., retiring in 1989. Starting in the 1970s, he and Freda led tours, many with an Anabaptist focus, in Europe, Central and South America and Jamaica. In 1989 they moved to Harrisonburg, Va., where they spent many years before Freda died in 2011. There he was a founding member of the Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center, a founding member of the Anabaptist Center for Religion and Society, a supporter of Willow Run farm and a member of Park View Mennonite Church. During his academic career he was an invited lecturer at numerous Mennonite colleges and published many books and articles on Anabaptist/Mennonite topics. He was involved in numerous ventures and organizations, public and private, business and civic, Mennonite and non-Mennonite. His first major business venture was to join a startup, Excel Industries Inc., a turf equipment company with which he and Freda remained affiliated the rest of their lives. He was a founding member of Sunflower Energy Works, one of the first solar energy companies in Kansas. He was a board member of EnerSource, a Canadian solar energy company; Secure Futures, a Virginia solar company; Wood Composites Inc., a recycled decking company; and Real Associates Inc., a real estate company. He was instrumental in the formation of the "second MEDA" (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) and served as founding editor of The Marketplace, the publication of MEDA. He and his family created the JustPax Fund and Redekop Family Endowment, charitable organizations devoted to economic, gender and environmental justice. Survivors include three sons, Bill (Diana), Ben (Fran) and Fred (Ria); a brother, Jacob; two sisters, Ella and Bertha; and a granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his wife, Freda; a sister, Rosa; and a granddaughter.
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Alderfer, Ralph C.
June 20, 1940 - June 29, 2022
Alderfer-. Ralph C., 82, of Souderton, Pa., and formerly of Salford, died June 29, 2022, at Souderton Mennonite Homes. He was born June 20, 1940, to Isaiah L. and Lavina (Clemens) Alderfer in Sellersville. He was the loving husband of Doris S. Kolb for two years. He graduated from Christopher Dock Mennonite High School in 1958. He graduated from Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va., in 1963 and the University of Iowa in Iowa City in 1967. He was employed as a music and math teacher for Iowa Mennonite High School for three years and Christopher Dock Mennonite High School for 19 years. He was a self-employed painter and paperhanger for more than 30 years. He was a member of Ambler Mennonite Church, where he served on the ministry team, as chair of the worship commission and as a song leader. He was conductor of the Franconia Lancaster Choral Singers since 1995. He was a board member of Lansdale Community Concerts. He had a great passion for music, which he expressed through conducting, teaching, song leading and attending concerts. His other interests included watching the news and sports, reading and planning family vacations. He was a man of few words who exemplified integrity, humility, Christian service and a love for all people. Survivors include his wife, Doris; five children, Daniel L. (Alicia) Alderfer of Schwenksville, Cindy D. (Ray) Derstine of Harleysville, Rhonda R. (Joseph Tedesco) Alderfer of Long Beach, N.Y., Mark T. (Denise) Alderfer of Souderton and Denise A. (Tom) Koch of Harleysville; three sisters, Rhoda (Gerald) Benner of Souderton, Lois (Mervin) Zook of Millersville and Rachel (Bruce) Hartzler of Mount Gilead, Ohio; a brother, David (Maryann) Alderfer of Broomall; 15 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his stepmother, Irene B. Alderfer; and his first wife, Doris (Long) Alderfer. Funeral services were held at Towamencin Mennonite Church. Burial was in Towamencin Mennonite Church Cemetery.
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Burkholder, Mary Jane "Janie" Myers
February 27, 1931 - June 29, 2022
Burkholder-. Mary Jane (Janie), 91, of Baltimore, Md., died June 29, 2022. She was born Feb. 27, 1931, to Reuben and Mary (Denlinger) Myers in Bird-in-Hand, Pa. She married Harold E. Burkholder on June 16, 1951. In 1953, she and Harold were asked by Eastern Mennonite Missions to move to Baltimore to help establish a Mennonite congregation, that is now known as Wilkens Avenue Mennonite Church. She spent many years serving in youth activities, Youth Haven and teaching Sunday school. She loved her many years volunteering at Ten Thousand Villages in Fells Point. She loved gardening, bird watching, family camping trips, canoeing, puzzles, baseball and NASCAR. Survivors include four children, Ruth Ann (James) Gochnauer, J. Michael (Carolina) Burkholder, Barbara S. (Stephen) Liberto and David K. (Rosemary) Burkholder; two sisters, M. Jean (Norman) Graham and E. May Shenk; a brother-in-law, Charles (Aleda) Burkholder; and a sister-in-law, Susan Burkholder; 12 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold; three sisters; a brother; five brothers-in-law; a sister-in-law and a great-grandchild. Memorial donations may be made to Mount Claire Christian School in Baltimore or Mennonite Disaster Service.
Transcribed by: John Ingold
Anabaptist World, August 26, 2022, pages 46-47, Vol. 3, No. 11.
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Bontrager, Mary L. Yoder
November 1, 1932 - July 24, 2022
Bontrager-. Mary L., 89, of Goshen, Ind., died July 24, 2022, at Greencroft Healthcare. She was born Nov. 1, 1932, to Daniel E. and Magdalena Yoder in Honeyville. On Dec. 23, 1950, she married Alvin Bontrager in Topeka. Together they farmed for many years near Millersburg. He preceded her in death on April 6, 2015. She was a 1950 graduate of Topeka High School and of Goshen College in 1973. She taught elementary school for 20 years at Millersburg and in Westview School Corporation. She was active in church activities at Maple Grove and Topeka Mennonite, and later at College Mennonite Church, where she served as a Stephen Minister.
Always curious, she was knowledgeable about birds, trees and wildflowers and became a longtime volunteer for children's groups at Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center. She loved to cook and hosted countless meals in her home for family, friends and strangers alike, most of which ended with her fine homemade pies. An avid gardener, she nurtured long rows of vegetables and berries, as well as beautiful perennial flower gardens.
Survivors include five daughters, Debra (Robert) Kauffman, Rebecca (Kenneth) Horst, Patricia (Dale) Shenk, all of Goshen, Joyce (Jon) Yoder of Salem, Ore., and Ginny (Ray) Miller of Chambersburg, Pa.; a son, Thomas Bontrager of Bremen; a sister, Lucille Blue of Goshen; 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin; two brothers, John and Orva Yoder; six sisters, Catherine Miller, Ida Yoder, Maggie Yoder, Ruby Wyse, Elma Eichorn and Alta Yoder; and a great-granddaughter, Alice Rose Hanby. Memorial services were held at College Mennonite Church. Memorial gifts may be directed to Merry Lea or the Bontrager Music Together Endowment at Goshen College.
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Hug, Lyman Joseph, Jr.
May 27, 1948 - July 24, 2022
Hug Jr-. Lyman Joseph, 74, of Goshen, Ind., died July 24, 2022, at Goshen Hospital. He was born May 27, 1948, to Lyman Joseph Sr. and Irene May (Meade) Hug in Sturgis, Mich. On June 2, 1990, he married Sherry Ann Strong in Goshen. He was the owner and operator of ShutterHugs Custom Framing in Goshen until his retirement in 2014.
He loved spending time with his family, often taking his grandchildren camping, to the zoo or out for a movie. He and his wife, Sherry, shared a love of photography, particularly birds and nature photos. He often attended area air shows, where he loved to capture action photos. His creativity and talent were demonstrated through his photography and his hobby in woodworking. He engaged with people wherever he went. He was well known for his sense of humor and caring nature.
Survivors include his wife, Sherry; three daughters, Elizabeth (Douglas II) Clark of Sturgis, Mich., Kimberly (Tracy) Gilbert of Waterboro, Maine, and Kristene (Mark) Miller of New Castle; two stepdaughters, Kimberly (Chet) Menczynski of Goshen and Lisa (Max) Reyes of Elkhart; a sister, Joan Beers of Sturgis, Mich.; 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Visitation was held at Yoder Culp Funeral Home, followed by a funeral service.
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Regier, Rosella Wiens
December 2, 1933 - May 30, 2022
Regier-. Rosella Wiens, 88, of North Newton, Kan., died May 30, 2022. She was born Dec. 2, 1933, to Henry W. and Anna Enns Wiens of Inman. After graduating from Bethel College in 1958, she taught in public schools in Indiana, Mississippi and Newton and Walton, Kan. In 1957 she married Harold Regier. They spent the 1960s in Gulfport, Miss., in a mission-service assignment. She was summer Bible school superintendent, supervising volunteers who taught as many as 1,000 students. She taught youth in winter Bible classes, helped create a community library, facilitated a "Fresh Air" program, taught in Head Start and in public school the first year of school integration in Mississippi when racial tensions were running high.
Returning to Newton in 1970, she concentrated on family life but balanced this with a return to the classroom. She taught at Northridge, Suncrest and Walton schools. Her love for teaching and children led her from public schools to the Christian nurture of children. In 1984 she became director of children's ministry for the General Conference Mennonite Church. In 1990 the Anabaptist Curriculum Publishing Council invited her to be executive director of a new children's curriculum for six Anabaptist denominations.
Retiring in 1999, she continued in Christian education as a presenter for the Church of the Brethren. For three years she traveled to congregations and districts with sermons, workshops and seminars. She stayed active in local church leadership as church moderator, chair of the 50th anniversary celebration committee for Faith Mennonite Church, president of mission circle and member of church council. She served on the Western District Conference Vision 2012 steering committee and as prayer partner coordinator. For 10 years she facilitated a sexual abuse women's support group. In 2009 she suffered a stroke that left her with acute aphasia. Robbed of words to communicate her thoughts, she painted some 250 pictures to tell her stories. Using an "aphasia-friendly reading" format, she was able to articulate a few words to participate in a co-reader technique to tell some of her own stories.
Survivors include her husband, Harold; a son, Steve (Marilyn); a daughter, Sharon; and three grandchildren. She was preceded in death by eight siblings, Nick, Leonard, Simon, Adolph, Eva (Ruben) Wedel, Mary (Bill) Goossen, Esther (Walt) Juhnke and Anna Grace Wiens; and four siblings who died in infancy. Memorials may be made to Spring Forth, a Sunday school curriculum, or Kidron-Bethel Village.
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Regehr, William R. "Bill"
January 11, 1930 - May 26, 2022
Regehr-. William R. ("Willie" or "Bill"), 92, of North Newton, Kan., died May 26, 2022, at Kidron Bethel. He was born Jan. 11, 1930, to Jacob T. and Marie Regehr near Inman. During the Korean War he entered alternative service, becoming a Mennonite Voluntary Service worker. He was the unit leader of hospital aides in Portland, Maine. He graduated from Bethel College in 1958. He married Lora Maurine Voth on July 26, 1955, at Bethel Mennonite Church, Inman. They spent a year in Canada, where he taught in a one-room school. Other schools he taught at included Welcome and Little Valley of rural Inman, Washington of Newton, Pleasant Acres and Suncrest east of Newton. In 1959 they moved to teach for the Indian Service at Berego Pass, N.M., with the Navajo, and Kykotsmovi, Ariz., with the Hopi for four years.
In 1966 the family moved to Hesston. He worked at Hesston College starting in 1974 as director of custodial service. He had a spirit of adventure, taking trips including touring with Kansas Mennonite Men's Chorus, fruit drying in California, and a big trip to South Korea, China, Tokyo and Hong Kong in 1987. He visited the Old Colony Mennonites in Mexico and went with his brother Dave to Paraguay. He enjoyed drawing, photography and ceramics, combining this love of craft with a love of his mother tongue, Plautdietsch. His mugs with Low German sayings were sold at the Kansas MCC sale.
He cared deeply for people and latched onto the term "leveling" to describe how God's love should lift up the lowly and bring the mighty down from their thrones. His politics shifted to support candidates who advocated for the poor and disenfranchised. He and Maurine moved to Kidron Bethel in 2015 and joined Faith Mennonite Church.
Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Maurine (Voth) Regehr; four children, Lowell Peter (Carol Sisson) Regehr, Mark David (Darlene Blair) Regehr, Kristine Kay Regehr and Paul "Jack" Lamar (Judy Naillon) Regehr; two siblings, Evelyn (Ed) Peters and David (Judy Voth) Regehr; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three adult siblings, Eldo (Mary Ann Balzer) Regehr, Lilly Ann (Herb) Neufeld and Ted (Alice Penner) Regehr; and three childhood siblings, Wilber, Leo James and Mary Jane. Memorial gifts may be given to Kidron Bethel Benevolent Fund, Faith Mennonite Church and Mennonite Central Committee.
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Shenk, Dorothy Wenger
August 7, 1939 - August 6, 2022
Shenk-. Dorothy Wenger, 82, of Harrisonburg, Va., died Aug. 6, 2022, after a life-long fight with respiratory diseases. She was born Aug. 7, 1939, to Benjamin David Wenger and Ethel Edmondson Wenger in Rockingham County. On Jan. 27, 1959, she married Clayton Otho Shenk of Elida, Ohio. She loved the Lord, her family, music and bluebirds. She was invited to the Mennonite church as a young teen by a caring friend, where she began her life journey with the Lord.
After her marriage, she served as a Sunday school teacher and music leader at Beldor Mennonite Church for 17 years. She also served as a leader in Bible Study Fellowship for 15 years. She was invited to Weavers Mennonite Church, where she served in children's ministry as well as worship music leader. She considered the times spent with family a precious gift, especially times spent with her two grandsons when they were young. Family gatherings with children, grandchildren and siblings were always a blessing to her. Her family was blessed not only by her love and godly role model, but also by her continual, faithful prayers on their behalf. She sang with the EMC College Chorale, Shenandoah Valley Choral Society and several church choral groups.
She graduated from Eastern Mennonite High School and studied at Eastern Mennonite College and Madison College. She was a professional floral and cake designer. She and her husband, Clayton, owned Confectionately Yours, a gift and decorative accessory store. She later worked at VMRC Park Gables, in dining services; and at Traditions Family Restaurant, and volunteered at Gift & Thrift.
Survivors include her husband, Clayton; a son, Randy Shenk and wife Kelly (Krivsky) of Harrisonburg; a daughter, Carmen Shenk and husband Xaver Wilhelmy of Staunton; two brothers, William B. Wenger of Newport News and Robert D. Wenger and wife Orpha (Rohrer); a sister, Evelyn (Wenger) Kratz and husband Paul; two grandsons and a step-granddaughter. Memorial services were held at Weavers Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg. Memorial contributions may be directed to Weavers Mennonite Church Building Fund, Virginia Mennonite Missions, Mennonite Disaster Service or Mennonite Central Committee.
Transcribed by: John Ingold
Anabaptist World, September 23, 2022, pages 46-47, Vol. 3, No. 12.
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Houshower, Linda Beechy
December 27, 1951 - August 5, 2022
Houshower-. Linda (Beechy), 70, of Bluffton, Ohio, died Aug. 5, 2022, at University of Michigan Hospital after a short struggle with a rare, untreatable cancer. She was born Dec. 27, 1951, to Orin and Marie (Ramseyer) Beechy. She grew up in Wooster, where she was a member of Oak Grove Mennonite Church and the YMCA, where she taught swimming. During high school she was a counselor at Camp Friedenswald, where she developed her love of nature and met her life partner, Hans Houshower. They were married on April 14, 1973.
In 1974, she earned her BSRN from Goshen College in Indiana. A labor and delivery nurse, she helped deliver babies in Indianapolis, Ind., Seattle, Wash., and Lima and Bluffton, her home for 37 years. In 1985, she and her husband partnered with friends to establish The Food Store, a natural foods business in Bluffton where she was a managing partner for over 30 years. She didn't just serve customers; she got to know them and cared about them, as she did for the staff she mentored. She was involved in the Bluffton community, serving on the Village Tree Commission and university Nature Preserve committees.
A member of First Mennonite Church, she served on committees and as a trustee. She was the consummate baker, known especially for her cranberry scones. She loved to ride her bicycle, often logging over 2,000 miles per year and, with Hans, loved to explore natural areas including mountains, marshes and ocean beaches. She created and cared for beautiful flower gardens with a special love for daylilies, and when she wasn't gardening, she was knitting. She was a passionate birdwatcher, spending part of each day looking for birds and sharing sightings with her birding friends. She lived life and made friends with boundless energy and contagious enthusiasm and, above all, loved and cared for her family.
Survivors include her husband of 49 years, Hans Houshower; two sons, Sam (Eleanor Blume) and Nick (Khorshid Rahmaninejad); a sister, Carol (Katie Boardman) Beechy; and three grandchildren. Memorial services were held at First Mennonite Church, Bluffton. Memorial gifts are welcomed to support Camp Friedenswald and Black Swamp Bird Observatory.
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Martin, Roger Paul
August 31, 1946 - August 26, 2022
Martin-. Roger Paul, 75, of Lawrence, Kan., died Aug. 26, 2022, from complications related to Parkinson's Disease. He was born Aug. 31, 1946, to Esther and Arthur Martin in St. Louis. He worked 25 years at the University of Kansas as a research reporter, writer and editor. He founded Explore, an award-winning research magazine, and wrote commentaries about KU research for Kansas Public Radio. He was highly regarded for his ability to make complex scientific research accessible to lay audiences. He completed his career in the early 2000s as director of communications at both Kansas Action for Children and Kansas Health Institute.
He is known for a wide breadth of publications, including Cows Are Freaky When They Look at You: An Oral History of the Kaw Valley Hemp Pickers, co-edited with David Ohle and Susan Brosseau; and A Doubter's Guide to God. Reviewing the book in Mennonite World Review (anabaptistworld.org/book-review-a- doubters-guide-to-god), Michael A. King wrote: "Drawing on a broad range of scientific, literary and theological sources and ideas, Martin spies opportunities to give us surprising, unexpected, fresh perspectives on God, ourselves and each other.
And the fact that he didn't grow up in the tradition allows him to offer astute observations about Mennonite faith and culture." His essays appeared in Echoes from the Prairie of the Great Plains Writers Group and in newspapers and magazines. From 1973 to 1985, he and David Ohle published an underground newspaper, The City Moon. The Roger Martin Collection is housed at the Spencer Research Library at KU.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara Yoder; a sister-in-law, Carol Martin; the extended Yoder-Jensen-Dutton family; and his fellow seekers at Peace Mennonite Church. He was preceded in death by his only sibling, Robert. A memorial service was held at First Baptist Church, Lawrence. Donations may be made to Peace Mennonite Church, the United Negro College Fund or Kansas Public Radio.
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Longacre, Henry William
August 21, 1941 - August 7 2022
Longacre-. Henry William, 80, of Telford, Pa., died Aug. 7, 2022, in Ocean City, N.J. He was born in Quakertown to Horace W. Longacre and Elizabeth M. (Goshow) Longacre. He was the spouse of Carol L. (Swartley) Longacre, with whom he shared almost 60 years of marriage. He graduated from Christopher Dock Mennonite High School. He was employed and a partner in the family business, Longacre's Poultry.
As a lifelong member of Swamp Mennonite Church, he served in many capacities throughout the years. He was also passionate about Spruce Lake Retreat and Mennonite education, serving on the board at Christopher Dock Mennonite High School for over 20 years. He was a philanthropist who supported many organizations and individuals in the community.
Having an entrepreneurial spirit, he was involved in starting up several businesses, including Bakers Best and First Service Bank. He received joy in buying and selling, starting by going to farmer's markets as a boy and continuing even in retirement, having a table at Rice's Market, where he loved interacting with people. Most important, he was a man who lived his life to honor God, devoted to his family and community.
Survivors include his wife, Carol; three sons, H. William (Catharine) of Quakertown, G. Robert {Lorena} of Telford and Cory L. (Linda) of Telford; and 11 grandchildren. Memorial services were held at Swamp Mennonite Church. Memorial contributions may be made to Swamp Mennonite Church or Spruce Lake Retreat.
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Bixler, June Elizabeth Gerber
July 9, 1934 - August 18, 2022
Bixler-. June Elizabeth (Gerber), 88, of Ann Arbor, Mich., died Aug. 18, 2022. She was born July 9, 1934, to Earl and Susan (Schumacher) Gerber in Dalton, Ohio. She was raised on a dairy farm and graduated from Dalton High School. She attended one year at Bluffton College and upon her return home worked at the livestock auction at Kidron Auction in Ohio. On Sept. 9, 1956, she married Jim Bixler in Kidron.
They moved to Ann Arbor in 1960. She worked at the University of Michigan Dental School library and as an administrative assistant at the Center for Human Growth and Development for many years. She was then employed at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital until her retirement. She selflessly and lovingly managed a busy household with three children while working full-time. She was a supportive friend and confidant to her family and many friends and made her home a welcome gathering place for many. She loved gardening and delighted in the flowers from her garden.
After retirement, she enjoyed traveling with Jim to Europe. Her steadfast faith was evident throughout her life, from her Mennonite upbringing to becoming a member of First Presbyterian Church in 1983, where she sang in the choir and served as a deacon. She quietly served the underserved by making a mission trip to Haiti, volunteering at Mennonite Central Committee's Ten Thousand Villages store and at Friends In Deed, an organization dear to her heart, dedicated to helping others in the community.
Survivors include two daughters, Caroline Bixler and Ingrid (Barry) Stoltzfus; and three grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; a son, Grant Bixler; and siblings Grace Lehman, Paul Gerber, Frank Gerber and Doris Gerber. A memorial service was held at First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor. Donations may be made to Friends In Deed, Ypsilanti.
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Bixler, James Leslie
April 8, 1930 - November 9, 2021
Bixler-. James Leslie Bixler, 91, of Ann Arbor, Mich., died Nov. 9, 2021. He was born April 8, 1930, to Allen and Ellen Bixler in Orrville, Ohio. He graduated from Goshen College in 1952 with a degree in music. He then went as a conscientious objector to Germany in the Pax program from 1952 to 1954 to rebuild homes and farms of German Mennonite refugees that were destroyed in World War II.
He married June Gerber on Sept. 9, 1956. They moved to Ann Arbor in 1960 for him to study French horn at the University of Michigan. He was offered a job by the university to record lessons by foreign language professors, and he remained at the university in the Modern Language Building for 34 years with a recording studio and assisting the university with ever-changing audio and video needs. He was an excellent technician with a skilled ear and eye. He sang in many choirs, as well as a quartet with his twin brother John and cousins Don and Mahlon, for over 50 years. He collected classical music records and spent hours enjoying his favorite music.
He was an avid bird and butterfly lover, planting a garden to attract all pollinators. He was a train enthusiast and member of the Ann Arbor Model Railroad Club. Photography was another passion. After retirement he found joy in cooking. He and June enjoyed traveling to Europe. He loved sports and was a little league coach in Ann Arbor. He was a dedicated Tigers, Lions and Wolverines fan. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor since 1983, singing in the choir and traveling to Haiti for mission trips.
Survivors include his wife of 65 years, June Bixler; daughters Caroline Bixler and Ingrid (Barry) Stoltzfus; twin brother John of Iowa City, Iowa; and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son Grant Bixler; and a brother, Robert Bixler. Memorial donations may be sent to First Presbyterian Church Local Missions.
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Nofziger, Donald D.
November 28, 1937 - June 25, 2022
Nofziger-. Donald D., 84, of Goshen, Ind., died June 25, 2022. He was born Nov. 28, 1937, to Dennis and Ella (King) Nofziger in Archbold, Ohio. On July 16, 1960, he married Vietta K. Cender in Fisher, Ill. He was a Mennonite pastor for nearly 30, years in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kansas, then a truck driver for 10 years, traveling across the eastern half of the Nofziger United States. He was a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Counselors.
Survivors include his wife, Vietta; four children, Kathy (Michael) Nofziger Yeakey of Goshen, Sylvia (Bill) McBride of Milford, Donna Risser of Goshen and Bruce (Patty) Nofziger of Goshen; two sisters, Nola (Melvin) Harnish of Waynesboro, Pa., and Marlene (Edward) Baer of Archbold, Ohio; three brothers, Peter (Shirley) Nofziger of Archbold, Ohio, Milton (Donna) Nofziger of Bryan, Ohio, and Edward (Carol) Nofziger of Archbold, Ohio; 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Louise Zimmerly and Mary Lou Hershberger; and a son-in-law, Troy Risser. A memorial service was held at Eighth Street Mennonite Church in Goshen. Memorial gifts may be directed to Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary.
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Finger, Thomas N.
May 12, 1942 - August 31, 2022
Finger-. Thomas N., 80, of Evanston, Ill., died Aug. 31, 2022, at The Merion Retirement Community. He was born May 12, 1942, to Sherman W. Finger II and Maxine Nixon Finger in Evanston. He graduated from Wheaton College with a bachelor's degree in 1965. He received a master of arts in theological studies at Gordon Divinity School (now Gordon-Conwell) in 1968 and a doctorate from Claremont Graduate School in 1974. This included a one-year grant to study in Munich, Germany, in 1972-73.
From 1974 to 1976 he taught philosophy and theology at Eastern Mennonite College, Harrisonburg, Va. He then taught at Northern Baptist Seminary in Lombard, Ill., from 1976 to 1986, while the family related as intentional neighbors to Austin Community Fellowship in Chicago. After serving as pastor of North Bronx Mennonite Church in New York City from 1986 to 1988, he returned to Harrisonburg to teach at Eastern Mennonite Seminary until 2000.
He served as theological liaison from Mennonite Church USA to the National Council of Churches. Fellow Mennonite theologian Ted Grimsrud said: "Tom Finger played a central role in an era of creative and lively theological debate in the Anabaptist/Mennonite world toward the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st centuries. His prolific writings include A Contemporary Anabaptist Theology (InterVarsity, 2004), which presented a distinctively peace-oriented approach to the big theological themes and stimulated others to present their alternatives.
He was extraordinarily skilled at analyzing the various intellectual options that were part of the discussion. Tom was a warm, friendly person. We disagreed about many things, but with good humor and mutual respect." Nancy Heisey, EMU professor emerita, added: "Like a generation of seminarians, I was introduced to the broad range of Christian theology in Tom's Christian Theology: An Eschatological Approach (Thomas Nelson, 1985; Herald Press, 1989). His interest in early Christian theologians such as Clement of Alexandria pointed me toward my own work."
Survivors include two sons, Ted Evan and Brent Frederick; two siblings, Sherman Finger and Robert Finger; four grandchildren; and the mother of his children, Lareta Halteman Finger. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Oct. 15 at First Presbyterian Church, Evanston.
Transcribed by: John Ingold