Anabaptist World
January - March 2024
Mennonite World Review & The Mennonite merged September 2020
Anabaptist World, January 2024, pages 46-47, Vol. 5, No. 1.
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Voth, Leland W.
January 27, 1929 - December 1, 2023
Voth-. Leland W., 94, of Harrisonburg, Va., died Dec. 1, 2023. He was born Jan. 27, 1929, to Rev. William C. and Matilda (Kliewer) Voth. He attended Bluffton College and graduated from Ohio State University in agricultural education. His master's degree was from Cornell University. On Sept. 2, 1950 he married Joanne Buhler, daughter of Gerhard G. and Leucile G. (Steiner) Buhler, at First Merronite Church, Bluffton, Ohio. Leland grew up for nine years in China, where his parents were missionaries with the General Conference Mennonite Church. He graduated in 1947 from Lorraine High School in Kansas. Leland's goal was to live for Jesus, and he was in church leadership wherever he lived.
He taught agriculture at Freeman Junior College in South Dakota for four years, and then he and Joanne went to South Korea with Mennonite Central Committee to work at the Mennonite Vocational School for orphan boys after the Korean War. He supervised the MVS farm and became director of the orphanage and the school principal. In his 10 years there, Leland brought in improved rice, wheat, trees and animals for 10 area villages, about 5,000 farmers. After turning the MVS work over to Korean leadership, Leland joined the U.S. State Department's Agency for International Development in Korea, and the family remained in Korea for five more years. He served as agricultural adviser to governors in three provinces.
He then transferred for four years each to Laos, Zaire (now DR Congo), Jamaica and twice in the Washington, D.C., area at the U.S. State Department, providing leadership on USAID projects in Jordan and Morocco and improving agricultural programs in Egypt, the West Bank and Gaza. He was the principal agricultural coordinator of the research and cooperative development programs between Israel and its Arab neighbors, an outgrowth of President Jimmy Carter's Camp David Accords.
He and Joanne retired to Bluffton, Ohio, in 1993. They moved in 2000 to Harrisonburg and joined Harrisonburg Mennonite Church. After Joanne's death in 2021, Leland also worshiped at Horizon Fellowship in Harrisonburg. Surviving are four children, Nancy (Jerry) Suter, David (Laura) Voth, Pamela (Merlin) Shank and Kevin (Sandra) Voth; nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
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Horst, Laverne Marie Shetler
May 2, 1918 - December 2, 2023
Horst-. Laverne Marie (Shetler) Horst, 105, died Dec. 2, 2023. She was born at Cheraw, Colo., the second in a family of 11 children born to Milton and Ada (Miller) Shetler. The family moved to Hesston, Kan., in 1930, and she graduated from Hesston Academy in 1937. She married Frank Horst of Peabody, Kan., in 1940.
In 1941 they moved to Culp, Ark., where Frank pastored Bethel Springs Mennonite Church. Seven children were born in Arkansas, where the family began singing together at home, which expanded to singing for churches and hospitals. They moved to Hubbard, Ore., in 1960, where Frank co-pastored Meadowbrook Community Church. In churches along the way from Arkansas to Oregon, the family gave programs of singing, and Frank preached. More family programs were given in churches in the Willamette Valley during the next three years. In 1963 the family moved to Filer, Idaho, where Frank pastored Faith Memorial Church. In 1967 they moved to Warden, Wash., when Frank was called to pastor Warden Mennonite Church.
He retired in 1978. They later lived near Newport, Wash., (Spring Valley Mennonite Church) and Aberdeen, Idaho, (First Mennonite Church) while Frank was interim pastor. LaVerne enjoyed traveling by car, back-packing and camping, bicycle trips with family and hiking into the Grand Canyon. She visited most of the states as well as Canada, Mexico, Bolivia and Peru. In 2012 she moved to Warden to live beside daughter Phyllis Dorsing and her husband, Curt. She enjoyed playing the piano and singing, tending her flowers and vegetables, sewing, putting together puzzles and reading. She lived independently in her own home until the last few weeks of her life. With a joyful spirit and positive outlook, she was a blessing and inspiration to her family.
She is survived by five children, Annada (Dick) Pedersen of Eugene Ore., Salome Horst of Spokane, Wash., Phyllis (Curt) Dorsing of Othello, Wash., Ferne Flaming of Terrebonne, Ore., and Patricia (Bob) Tilden of Moscow, Idaho; 16 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank, in 2005; two children, Karen Haury and Tim Horst; and one grandchild. A celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m. June 15 at Warden Community Church in Washington.
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Brunk, H. Nelson
October 7, 1927 - December 11, 2023
Brunk-. H. Nelson, 95, of Harrisonburg, Va., died Dec. 11, 2023. He was born at home in Hyattsville, Md., on Oct. 7, 1927, to Henry and Nora (Kraus) Brunk. They moved to Hubbard, As a young adult, he joined Civilian Public Service, cutting trees and building roads. He was president of Peoples Supply Co. in Bladensburg, Md., the family business established by his father.
He married Ruth Detweiler on March 11, 1950. Together they helped start Hyattsville Mennonite Church. Later he and Ruth were deeply committed to Bahia Vista Mennonite Church in Sarasota, Fla., and Beth-El Mennonite Church in Colorado Springs, Colo. They volunteered in numerous Mennonite Central Committee assignments and church camps and worked alongside Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter building Habitat for Humanity homes in Mexico.
He was a resident of Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community for 10 years. Nelson was a man of many talents. He played golf for many years, which expanded his friendships and gave him a place to share his stories and jokes. He was a gentle, caring and generous man. All these qualities produced a life well lived.
Surviving are three children, Carol (Bob Harnish), Judy (Gary Blosser) and Brad (Patti King); seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; brother Henry (Edna Ebersole); and sister-in-law Mary Louise (Ours) Brunk. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth (Detweiler); sisters Esther (Norman Loux), Ellen (Griffin), Ruth (Ray Horst) and Alma (Leonard Baer); and brothers Perry (Fern) and Joseph. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Jan. 15 at Harrisonburg Mennonite Church.
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Yoder, Elva M.
May 26, 1925 - December 9, 2023
Yoder-. Elva M., 98, of Goshen, Ind., died Dec. 9, 2023, at Greencroft Healthcare. She was born May 26, 1925, in North Lima, Ohio, to William Ray and Emma (Horst) Yoder. She was a 1943 graduate of North Lima Schools. In 1948 she began attending Winter Bible School, a six-week Bible course, in Canton, Ohio. She would attend each winter for five years. This led her to work for Mennonite Publishing House in Scottdale, Pa., primarily working with the Gospel Herald magazine.
After 42 years of service, Elva retired and moved to the Greencroft Community in Goshen in 1994. At Greencroft she remained active, completing over 9,000 hours of volunteer work. She enjoyed participating in activities and made many dear friends, both residents and staff alike. She was known for her kindness and dry sense of humor.
She is survived by cousins Amy and Kent VonGunten Clemens of Ellicott City, Md., Doug and Jolene VonGunten of Goshen, who also served as a "granddaughter" and caretaker, and Peter VonGunten and Melissa Longley of Niles, Mich. She was preceded in death by three sisters, Verna Irene Yoder, Ruth Eva Yoder and Elsie Viola Yoder; a brother, Robert Henry Yoder; and a cousin, Sara VonGunten. A funeral service was held Dec. 21 at North Goshen Mennonite Church, where she was a member. Memorial gifts may be directed to North Goshen Mennonite Church or Mennonite Mission Network.
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Miller, Ira S.
January 27, 1917 - October 29, 2023
Miller-. Ira S., 106, of Dryfork, W.Va., died Oct. 29, 2023. He was born Jan. 27, 1917, in Yoder, Kan. One of 12 children, he only had an eighth-grade education because he needed to work on the family farm, where he developed a great work ethic. His skills included farming, carpentry, trucking and masonry, but he was best known for being a beloved bus driver. During World War II he helped in the construction of Skyline Drive in Virginia and was later an orderly at Greystone Hospital in New Jersey, where he met and cared for Norman Rockwell.
In 1956, he and his wife, Mary Olive, and three oldest children moved from Delaware to Dryfork to help with a church plant. They only had $75 in their pockets. He loved his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and allowed the Lord to use him by serving others. He was a man of faith and a prayer warrior. His hobbies included card games, weaving baskets, diamond art and packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.
Since turning 100, he packed 1,986 OCC shoeboxes. Additionally, he went snowmobiling and zip-lining and rode in a hot air balloon. He loved spending time with family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Among his beloved traits were his humor and quick wit. When someone asked how he felt, he would respond, "With my fingers"; or how he slept, "With my eyes closed"; or how old he was, "Old enough to vote."
He is survived by his children, Mary Lou Edmands of Hagerstown, Mo., Debbie (David) Welch of Oakland, Mo., David (Susan) Miller of Dryfork, Keren (Rodney Palmer) Miller of Accident, Md., and Naomi (Sheldon) Martin of Lancaster, Pa.; daughters-in-law Rose Miller of LaGrange, Ind., and Michele Miller of Sarasota, Fla.; 17 grandchildren and 17 great- grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his 11 siblings; his first wife, Ellen (Swartzendruber); his second wife, Mary Olive (Yoder); sons Philip and Jonathan; and sons-in-law Eric Osborne and Danny Edmands.
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Gleysteen, Jan
July 16, 1931 - December 25, 2023
Gleysteen-. Jan, 92, died Dec. 25, 2023, at Jenning's Terrace nursing home in Aurora, Ill. In the last years of his life, he suffered from dementia and failing health. He was born July 16, 1931, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to Jan Gleijsteen and Gerritje (Nowee) Gleijsteen. He attended the Royal Dutch Academy of Fine Arts in Amsterdam before coming to the United States in 1953 to study at Goshen College and Eastern Mennonite College.
On June 30, 1955, he married Barbara Ellen Detweiler, and they moved to Scottdale, Pa., where he worked for Mennonite Publishing House as an artist, author, illustrator, book designer and Anabaptist history lecturer until his retirement to Goshen, Ind., in 1995. Jan was a world traveler and will be remembered for his joke telling and his love of art, design, photography, history, books and trains. Having grown up in the occupied Netherlands during the Second World War, he was a lifelong advocate for peace.
He was a founding partner of TourMagination, a travel company that took tour groups to visit Anabaptist heritage sites in Europe with Jan serving as one of the regular tour guides. He wrote two monthly columns and many magazine articles. He was the author of three books. His art and design skills were used by Laurelville Retreat Center, Menno Hof, Penn Alps Restaurant, Crown Metal Products and businesses in St. Jacobs, Ont. He served on the board of directors of Herald Publishing Co., the publisher of Mennonite Weekly Review.
He is survived by a daughter, Linda (Bob Boltz) Gleysteen of Aurora; a son, David (Laura Bruno) Gleysteen of Kalamazoo, Mich.; two grandchildren; sisters-in-law Lola Detweiler Miller of Denver and Mary Erb Detweiler of Newton, Kan. He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara; sisters Gerrie Gleijsteen of Santpoort, the Netherlands, and Erika Gleijsteen of Wissembourg, France; brother Marijn; and in-laws Joseph and Polly (Swartzendruber) Detweiler, James and Phyllis Detweiler, Chris Miller and Joe Detweiler. Memorial service plans will be announced later. Memorial gifts may be made to Mennonite Central Committee.
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Bair, Lillian Rita Oswald
June 22, 1927 - December 24, 2023
Bair-. Lillian Rita (Oswald), 96, of Elkhart, Ind., died Dec. 24, 2023. She was born June 22, 1927, in Burghill, Ohio, to the late Walter and Nora (Hershberger) Oswald. She was baptized into the Christian faith as a young girl. On June 8, 1948, she married her high school sweetheart, Ray Bair. She graduated from Goshen College and studied at Associated (now Anabaptist) Mennonite Biblical Seminary. She enjoyed studying Scripture and was blessed in leading Bible study groups and classes and turning Scripture into songs and prayers. She participated in church responsibilities at Belmont Mennonite Church, Elkhart, Ind., where her husband pastored, serving three years as co-pastor with him.
For about 15 years she worked with an ecumenical group of women at Mother's Club, providing transportation, prayer team support and Bible studies. She worked alongside Ray with Youth Stewards, a program he created for city youth. For 10 years she and Ray volunteered with the Mennonite Board of Congregational Ministries as co-secretaries of stewardship, traveling across North America leading financial planning seminars. Receiving hospitality at many Mennonite churches, conferences and camps was a highlight of her life. She was dearly loved by her family and friends, who enjoyed her kindness, her laughter, her flowers and her homemade pickles.
In addition to her husband, she leaves behind four children, Dan (Peggy) of Forest City, N.C., Becky (Rocko) Smucker of Asheville, N.C., Joy (Ron) Martin of Apex, N.C., and Jim (Maggie) of Elkhart; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a sister, Ann (Lowell) Schrock of New Carlisle, Ind. She was preceded in death by brothers James and Evan Oswald and grandson Seth Bachtel. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Jan. 27 at Belmont Mennonite Church in Elkhart, with Feb. 3 as an alternate date in case of extreme weather. Memorial donations may be made to Mennonite Mission Network, Mennonite Central Committee or the Belmont Church Love Fund.
Transcribed by: John Ingold
Anabatist World - February 2024
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Baumgartner, Phyllis J. Hartzler
June 26, 1925 - January 4, 2024
Baumgartner-. Phyllis J., 98, died Jan. 4, 2024. She was born June 26, 1925, to Mahlon E. Hartzler and Verda M. (Zook ) Hartzler in Goshen, Ind. She married Howard E. Baumgartner on Aug. 17, 1947, and he survives. Phyllis was an alumna of Bluffton University. She sang in the Chancel Choir and the Mennonite Choral Society at First Mennonite Church and was a member of Emmaus Road Mennonite Fellowship in Berne, Ind. She served as a member of the Swiss Village Board of Directors, a member of the Board of Trustees of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, vice president of Central District Conference of Mennonite Church USA and was a co-founder of the women's retreat at Camp Friedenswald. She provided leadership with Women in Mission (Mennonite Women) and the Mennonite Central Committee International Trainee program and was a longtime active member of the Berne Mothers Club. She was a substitute teacher for many years at South Adams Schools. She and Howard enjoyed traveling and spending time with their family. She is survived by her husband of 76 years, Howard Baumgartner, of Berne; five children, Barbra J. (James Myers) Gant of East Liberty, Ohio, Jean (Wendell) Miller of Bluffton, Ohio, Joyce (Marvin) Hall of State College, Pa., James (Naomi) Baumgartner of Goshen and David (Tanya) Baumgartner of Berne; 11 grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren and a step-great-grandchild.
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Good, Carl L.
June 7, 1940 - December 29, 2023
Good-. Carl L., 83, of Landis Homes, Lititz, Pa., died Dec. 29, 2023. He was the son of the late Ira M. and Ruth H. Weaver Good. He was married to Lois M. Zimmerman Good, who survives, for 59 years. He earned a bachelor's degree from Eastern Mennonite College, a master of divinity degree from New York Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee. He was ordained in the Mennonite Church. He worked as a school psychologist, in health care administration for Mennonite Health Services and as a counseling and consulting psychologist for Masonic Village and in private practice counseling. One of his lifelong commitments was how institutions such as hospitals and colleges were fed and nurtured and accountable to the church. His work as a psychologist and administrator was visionary in facilitating these relationships. He and Lois were leaders and mentors at Good Shepherd, Fox Street, Steelton, Blossom Hill and James Street Mennonite churches. He was known for his gentle, caring spirit, his wit and dry sense of humor, and his unique tastes, often different from the mainstream. Recently, he sang in Sing for the Moment, a chorus for people with dementia. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Trudy Good (Michael Pratt) of Boston, Jan Good-Bollinger (Jonathan Bollinger) of Lenexa, Kan., and Peter Good (Deanna Notaro) of Duluth, Minn.; brothers Leon Good (Elaine), Merle Good (Phyllis ), Luke Good (Marian), Howard Good (Gloria) and Linford Good (Terri ); sister-in-law Betty Good-White; and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother, Nelson Good.
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Hoover, Anna Mary Beiler
November 10, 1929 - January 10, 2024
Hoover-. Anna Mary (Beiler), 94, died Jan. 10, 2024, at Garden Spot Village, New Holland, Pa. She was born Nov. 10, 1929, to Isaac K. and Fannie Weaver Beiler in Morgantown, Pa. On April 7, 1951, she married Herbert J. Hoover of New Carlisle, Ohio. Anna Mary loved flowers, music, sewing and offering hospitality. She was "Mama" to many. She loved to sing hymns and was faithful in attending church. She knew and loved Jesus. She is survived by her husband and their children, James (Deborah ) of Green Lane, Pa., Mary (Aaron) Kolb of Williamsport, Pa., Herbert L. of Leola, Pa., Grace (Tony) Woodruff of Washington Island, Wis., Paul (Shirley) of Harrisonburg, Va., Ruth (David) Lehman of Urbana, Mo., Pearl Hartman of Harrisonburg, Va., Carol (Tim) Conrad of New Carlisle, Ohio, and David (Traeln) of New Carlisle, Ohio; 31 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; sisters Martha Dietrich, Naomi Keiper, Verna Mae Buckwalter and Arlene Gipe; and brothers Clarence and Elam Beiler. She was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Dwight Hartman; and two sisters, Ada Ginder and Irene Beiler. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Feb. 24 at Garden Spot Village Chapel, New Holland.
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Stutzman, Harvella Bauman
April 15, 1932 - January 11, 2024
Stutzman-. Harvella Bauman, 91, died Jan. 11, 2024, in Colorado Springs, Colo. Born April 15, 1932, in Champa, India, she was known for her positive energy that kept her at the heart of social events and hospitality. The fourth of five children born to medical doctors Harvey and Ella (Garber) Bauman, she grew up on the grounds of the Champa Christian Hospital, where her parents worked under the General Conference Mennonite Church. From 6 years old, she studied at Woodstock International School in Mussoorie, India. She thrived there with her siblings, Kenneth, Clara (Stauffer), Albert and Elizabeth (Shelly). Active in student government, Christian Endeavor, softball, choir and theater, she served as Class of '49 secretary for the rest of her life, nurturing the bonds among her international classmates. She graduated from Bluffton College in 1954. There she met Robert Stutzman of Carlock, Ill., and they married on Dec. 21, 1953. They lived in Chicago and Peoria, Ill., and Anchorage, Alaska, where Bob completed his alternative to military service. Most of their years were spent in Bloomington-Normal, Ill., where they raised six children. Harvella dedicated herself to the family, to worship and creative endeavors at the Mennonite Church of Normal and to volunteering at Mennonite Hospital in Bloomington. After earning a hairdressing license in the 1970s, she established a salon for hospital patients. She and Bob enjoyed hosting and traveling. Friends remember her homemade Indian feasts. Introducing Bob to her Indian "homeland" was particularly meaningful. In 1990, two years after Bob's untimely death, Harvella relocated to Colorado Springs, closer to her daughters. She served on the design team for the new Beth-El Mennonite Church building and was a member of the Beth-El quilters group. Her 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren treasured her focused attention and playful humor. In her family of origin, her younger sister, Betty, survives.
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Miller, James D.
February 27, 1937 - January 18, 2024
Miller-. James D., 86, died Jan. 18, 2024. He was born Feb. 27, 1937, in Hammett, Idaho, to Paul W. and Barbara D. Miller. He came to Glenwood Springs, Colo., through the 1-W service program through the Mennonite church. He started as an orderly at the Mountain View Nursing Home in 1956. After marrying the love of his life, Connie Miller, in December 1957, he changed to working in the maintenance department of Valley View Hospital for four years. He then joined J&M Pump Co., starting his career in the plumbing field. After working for J&M pump for 10 years, he bought K&B Plumbing in 1971, which he owned and operated until 1978. He continued to work there after he sold the business until 1984. He then worked for First National Bank in Glenwood, maintaining their facilities from 1986 to 1991. After leaving the bank, he rejoined Valley View Hospital, returning to the maintenance department, where Valley View used his master plumbing license from 1992 until he retired 2002. He enjoyed exploring mountain trails, hiking, camping, hunting, woodworking, cultivating gardens and flower beds and taking things apart to understand how they worked and fixing them. He is survived by his wife; daughter Charlene, (Levi) Troyer of Silt; sons Rob Miller of Idaho and Mark Miller of Fort Collins; brothers Don Miller of Silt and Duane (Jill) Miller of Iowa; sisters Mary (George) Summer of Pennsylvania and Lois Summer of Michigan; one grandchild and one great-grandchild. He was predeceased by a brother-in-law, Phillip Summer. A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. March 2 at Glenwood Church of Christ in Glenwood Springs.
Transcribed by: John Ingold