Anabaptist World

October - December 2025

Mennonite World Review & The Mennonite merged September 2020


Hartman, Peter Eugene ; . . Lehman, Gay Maxene Hunsberger ; . . Yoder, Carroll D. ; . .

Anabaptist World, October 2025, pages 53-54, Vol. 6, No. 10.

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Yoder, Carroll D.
April 17, 1939 - July 17, 2025

Yoder-. Carroll D., 86, died July 17, 2025, at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community in Harrisonburg, Va., after living with Parkinson's disease, followed by a stroke. He was born April 17, 1939, in Wellman, Iowa, to Lester and Carrie Yoder.
He graduated from Iowa Mennonite School and Eastern Mennonite College, then spent a year in Brussels, Belgium, learning French and immersing himself in a family's life. He spent two years teaching in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Teachers Abroad Program, volunteering with Mennonite Central Committee. He returned to Iowa to obtain a Ph.D. in French African literature from the University of Iowa. Experience in another culture encouraged him to promote Eastern Mennonite University's cross-cultural program. He taught and chaired the language and literature department at EMU for 34 years, teaching French, writing and literature. Highlights were leading, with his wife, Nancy, five semester-long cross-cultural student groups to France and Ivory Coast, with a total of 121 students.
During sabbaticals, he served as MCC country representative in Congo and as a Fulbright professor in Congo, Brazzaville. He started a Writers Read program for students, staff and community at EMU. His love for travel was surpassed only by his love for people. He formed lasting relationships in the classroom, his community and around the world. The first in his family to go to college, he influenced family members and friends to follow his example. He read widely and made a logical decision to become an academic.
In spite of not becoming a farmer, he was a serious gardener. A founding and current member of Shalom Mennonite Congregation, he served in various roles and took his church involvement seriously. He participated in hosting Congolese refugees to Harrisonburg. He enjoyed traveling to five continents, meeting and relating to people and eating a wide variety of cuisine.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Nancy; two sons Eric (Karina) and Joel (Chia Chi/Judy); six grandchildren; and brothers Wilbur, Milford and Galen. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Marcus.

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Lehman, Gay Maxene Hunsberger
September 21, 1949 - July 24, 2025

Lehman-. Gay Maxene (Hunsberger), 75, died July 24, 2025, after a nine-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was born Sept. 21, 1949, to Paul and Edna (Martin) Hunsberger in Noelville, Ont. When she was 10, the family moved to Goshen, Ind., so her parents could continue their education at Goshen College. On June 24, 1972, she married Sanford Lehman, whom she met at Goshen College. After graduation from Goshen College in 1971, she taught fifth grade in East Noble Schools in Indiana, Lowville Academy and Central Schools in New York and Goshen Community Schools in Indiana. She thoroughly enjoyed teaching her many fifth-grade students.
Upon retiring in 2010, her interests changed. She became involved in The Window, a non-profit organization that helps people facing financial struggles. She served on the board of directors, was chair for many years and helped as a Meals on Wheels dispatcher. She also enjoyed spending many hours creating, piecing and sewing all-fabric books for children called quiet books.
She enjoyed extensive travel with Sanford, her family and her friends. They took trips to India, Nepal, Indonesia, Europe, South America and many other countries. She and her family also took many trips to New York, Canada and New Mexico. She enjoyed hosting Goshen College inter-national students. Some stayed through the summer and Christmas break, but many spent several years in their home. She willingly opened her home and kitchen to these students and often felt she gained more than they did.
She was an active member of College Mennonite Church, where she served as a Sunday school teacher, sang with the Adult Chorale, served on the Discipling Commission and mentored many young students. Her faith, family, church family and large groups of friends brought joy to her life.
She is survived by her husband, Sanford, of 53 years; a son, Doug (Melissa) in Albuquerque, N.M.; a daughter, Angela (Andrew) Schwartz of Goshen; three granddaughters; and siblings Joy (Bob) Beiler, her twin brother Ray (Mary) Hunsberger of Goshen, Gloria (Jim) Schwartz of Aurora, Ohio, and Grace (Evan) Roth of Littleton, Colo.

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Hartman, Peter Eugene
November 8, 1934 - September 10, 2025

Hartman-. Peter Eugene, 90, of Hesston, Kan., died Sept. 10, 2025. Born Nov. 8, 1934, in Elkhart County, Ind., he graduated from Hesston Bible Academy in 1952 and Hesston College in 1955. There he met his wife, Marilyn Troyer. They married on Aug. 18, 1955, and moved to Hannibal, Mo., where he served as a hospital orderly for his 1-W service.
At the invitation of Hannibal Mennonite Church, he became the nursing home administrator of Beth Haven. He served faithfully for 18 years, overseeing growth from a 20-bed facility to a full continuing-care retirement community and dedicating a new 60-bed facility in 1972. Called to pastoral ministry, he pastored Carlsbad Mennonite Church in New Mexico from 1975 to 1992 and Yoder Mennonite Church in Kansas until 2000. Peter was dedicated to service. He served briefly as interim conference minister for South Central Conference. In retirement, he worked as hospice chaplain for nine years and served as interim pastor. He remained active as a volunteer chaplain.
He created walking sticks as gifts for those near death and was committed to prison ministry, maintaining relationships with prisoners for many years. He donated over 20 gallons of blood and donated his body to the University of Kansas Medical Center for research. Peter loved music and whistled while riding his bicycle. He spread the good news of the gospel through his contagious joyful spirit.
He is survived by his wife; children Treva (Leon) Greaser, Alice (Mark) Jantzen and Luke (Staci) Hartman; siblings Ralph (Carolyn) Hartman and Miriam Hartman; sisters-in-law Lenore Hartman and Viola Hartman; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Alice (Hartzler) Hartman; siblings Eunice (Byler), John, Lucinda (McGrath), Dennis and Leonard; three infants; and son Nathan Peter.

Transcribed by: John Ingold

 



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.
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