Anabaptist World 2026
The obituaries below were published in Anabaptist World,
January to December, 2026, Vol. 7. Transcribed by John Ingold.
Alphabetical Index:
Gunden, Gabrielle (born
Gabriel James) 2004-2025
Gunden, Gabrielle (born Gabriel James), 21, of Sellersville, Pa., died
unexpectedly Nov. 10, 2025, in Goshen, Ind., leaving family and friends
devastated. She was deeply beloved and a good friend to many. Her
friendliness and contagious sense of humor brought joy to the lives of those
around her. Born Jan. 22, 2004, in Sellersville, Pa., Gabrielle grew up the
youngest of three siblings. She enjoyed many happy times with her family in
Pennsylvania and Indiana and looked forward to annual family vacations in
Maine.
Gabrielle was a junior at Goshen College, majoring in social work.
She wanted to pursue a career where she could make a positive change in
people's lives. Before Goshen, she studied history at Temple University in
Philadelphia, and in 2022 she graduated magna cum laude from Dock Mennonite
Academy, where she earned an award in technology and made many lifelong
friends. Gabrielle had many hobbies, including listening to music on vinyl
records, shooting hoops with friends, analog film photography and learning
about ancient history. She enjoyed cooking and eating delicious food and was
often found cooking late-night batches of fettuccine alfredo. She spent a
lot of time gaming with friends on the computer she designed and built.
Gabrielle worked and volunteered in humble ways, including cleaning
at the Souderton Ten Thousand Villages store and Dock Mennonite Academy. She
also volunteered at both places and participated in service projects at
Bethany Birches Camp in Vermont and Academia Menonita Betania in Puerto
Rico. She was a baptized member of Zion Mennonite Church in Souderton, Pa.
and enjoyed fellowship and activities with friends at Blooming Glen
Mennonite Church in Hilltown Township, Pa.
She is survived by parents James and Suzanne Gunden; siblings Erica
and Michael Gunden; grandmother Esther (Martin) Clymer; uncles Eric Clymer,
James Marshbank and Geof Landis; aunts Elizabeth Gunden and Mary Jean
Gunden; and cousins Andrew, Ashley (Joyce) and Finn Landis. The service will
be at 11:45 a.m. Jan. 3 at Zion Mennonite Church. Livestream:
zionmennonite.org/worship/live-stream.
(AW, January 2026, p. 50)
Huber, Lois Kae (Friesen)
1950-2025
Huber, Lois Kae (Friesen), 75, who served God and her community in
ministries of music and education, died Nov. 14, 2025, in Hutchinson, Kan.
She was born Oct. 14, 1950, in Fowler, Kan., to Isaac (Ike) L. and Kathryn
M. Friesen, and grew up on a dairy and wheat farm and attended church in
Meade, Kan.
She was preceded in death by older brothers Lloyd and
Clyde who both died in infancy. Her father died in 1951, two weeks after her
first birthday, and she and her mother formed an inseparable bond.
Lois was baptized at Emmanuel Mennonite Church in Meade,
where already in junior high she began accompanying congregational singing
and performing special music on organ and piano. She would share these
God-given talents for the rest of her life. She enrolled at Tabor College in
Hillsboro, Kan., in 1970, where she met her partner in music and life, Jay
Huber. They were married Aug. 19, 1973, in Meade. After graduating from
Tabor with degrees in music and education in 1974, she began her career
teaching at schools in western Reno County, Kan. The couple moved to South
Hutchinson in 1978.
Lois taught 1,004 children, including her sons, in her
kindergarten classroom at South Hutchinson Elementary School. She introduced
students to letters, numbers, Stone Soup, teddy bear picnics, churned butter
on Kansas Day, basic concepts in treating others as you would like to be
treated and Christmas programs she directed and accompanied on piano at the
same time.
She retired after three decades but couldn't stop
teaching, graduating to junior high as a paraeducator assisting in math and
English classrooms. At South Hutchinson Mennonite Church, now known as
Journey Mennonite Church, Lois could be found at the organ and piano for
four decades. She accompanied hymns and choirs, shared preludes and special
music and planned worship services and Christmas programs.
She was preceded in death by her brothers and parents and
is survived by her husband, Jay; sons Tim (Heidi) in Newton and Jonathan
(Jessica) in Wichita; and three grandchildren.
(AW, January 2026, p. 50)
Kauffman, Sherman 1943-2025
Kauffman, Sherman, 82, died Dec. 6, 2025, at his home in Goshen, Ind., after
along battle with pulmonary fibrosis. He was born June 5, 1943, in Fairview,
Mich., to Ira and Glada Kauffman, one of six children.
After graduating from Fairview High School, he left for Voluntary
Service through the Mennonite Church in Anzac, Alberta. There he worked for
the Northland School Division that served children in some of the
northernmost parts of Alberta, as well as community development. There he
met his lifetime partner, Betty Yoder, from Kokomo, Ind., also serving in
VS. Following his first pastorate in Three Rivers, Mich., Sherm attended
Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries and Goshen College, receiving a
bachelor degree and certification.
For the remainder of his life, Sherm served the church in Sarasota,
Fla., as associate pastor at Bayshore Mennonite Church and in Goshen as
executive secretary and executive conference minister for Indiana-Michigan
Mennonite Conference. During this time, he completed a master's degree in
nonprofit administration at Notre Dame. He also served on the boards of
Sarasota Christian School and Goshen College. After retirement he served as
a transitional minister in Ohio, Indiana and Nebraska. He also volunteered
with Mennonite Disaster Service in Florida.
In retirement, he enjoyed wood-turning, creating wood bowls and
vases. He loved the church and spending time with his family and
grandchildren. He was a man of strong faith with a deep sense of justice and
the importance of caring for God's creation.
He is survived by his wife, Betty; daughter Shana (Marty) Hodel; son
Jeff; six grandchildren; and siblings Polly Kauffman, Sandy Kauffman, Kathy
(Wayne) Hochstedler and Bert Jacklitch. He was preceded in death by brother
Merrill, sister-in-law Linda Kauffman and brother-in-law Jim Jacklitch. He
maintained a strong bond with Jerry Boucher, considered family through
lifelong connection. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Dec. 27 at
Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship in Goshen.
(AW, January 2026, p. 50)
Krehbiel, Ronald 1931-2025
Krehbiel, Ronald, 94, of Hesston, Kan., died Dec. 9, 2025. He was born to
Olin and Dorothy Krehbiel on his grandparents' ranch in Porterville, Calif.
He spent his childhood in Lansdale, Pa. In high school, the family moved to
Berne, Ind., where he met Cynthia Kirchhofer. They were married June 3,
1951, and were blessed with 73 Wonderful years of marriage. They taught many
marriage seminars and followed these practices where they were in love and
dating all their lives.
He graduated from Bluffton College and the Mennonite Seminary in
Chicago. The General Conference Mennonite Church asked him to start a
congregation in Markham, Ill., and he accepted, going door to door until he
gathered a diverse group of people. After leading Markham Mennonite Church,
he pastored Deep Run Mennonite Church in Bedminster, Pa.; Bethel Mennonite
Church in Mountain Lake, Minn.; Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church in Goessel,
Kan.; West Zion Mennonite Church in Moundridge, Kan.; and Salem Mennonite
(South) Church in Freeman, S.D., as well as an interim pastoral position
with Eden Mennonite Church in Moundridge.
Known for his engaging sermons, he was never afraid to speak his mind
and always emphasized love and empathy. He wasn't just a preacher; he was a
great listener. He loved nature and was an avid reader, especially of
history and science. He was never rigid; his understanding and sympathy grew
with the years. He wasn't afraid to change his mind or broaden his vision.
He traveled the world, pastored in Lesotho, joined a Mennonite
delegation to the Middle East and served as vice president of the General
Conference Mennonite Church. He earned his doctorate in pastoral ministry
from San Francisco Theological Seminary.
Ron was a devoted husband and father who loved to laugh and play with
his children. He was deeply loved by the many friends and family members
whose lives he touched and enriched.
He is survived by his wife, Cynthia; children Deb (George) Lehman,
Tom (Susan) Krehbiel, John (Rita) Krehbiel and James (Melissa) Krehbiel;
daughter-in-law Rhonda Krehbiel; 11 grandchildren and eight
great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by son Tim Krehbiel; daughter-in-law Julie
Waltner Krehbiel; sister Beverly (Glen) Grandlinard; and sister-in-law Jean
Kirchhofer. A celebration of life service will be held at
10:30 a.m. Jan. 31 at Hesston Mennonite Church. Memorials may be made to
Hesston Mennonite Church and Schowalter Villa Good Samaritan Fund.
(AW, February 2026, p. 46)
(see full obituary
here)
Schrag, Myron Dave 1937-2025
Schrag, Myron Dave, 88, pastor and follower of Jesus, a sojourner whose
ministry carried him from India to Indiana, died Dec. 6, 2025, at his home
in Goshen, Ind. Born Jan. 10, 1937, in Norwich, Kan., he was the fifth of
six children of Dave and Adina Schrag.
He credited his rural upbringing for shaping his character and work
ethic. His faith was nurtured at Bethany Mennonite Church, where he was
baptized as a teenager. In later years, he described baptism as the
beginning of a lifelong journey of discipleship, rooted in Jesus call to
peacemaking, justice and the "upside-down kingdom" of the Sermon on the
Mount.
At Norwich High School, Myron excelled in football, basketball and
track. At Bethel College in North Newton, Kan., he initially prepared for a
career in teaching and coaching but developed a deepening interest in Bible
and religion courses, while also setting a school record in the 120-yard
hurdles. After graduating in 1959, Myron served through Mennonite Voluntary
Service in Ontario, working with troubled youth.
A summer with Mennonite Central Committee in Nashville and time at
Koinonia Farm with Clarence Jordan strengthened his commitment to a
gospel-rooted faith expressed through racial justice, nonviolence and shared
community. These experiences led him to Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical
Seminary in Elkhart, Ind. There he met Ericka "Rickey" Koop. Married in
1965, they shared more than 60 years of partnership in life and ministry.
Myron served congregations in Kansas, India and Minneapolis, where he
helped found People of Faith Peacemakers, and concluded his pastoral career
at Eighth Street Mennonite Church in Goshen. In retirement, Myron and Rickey
continued to serve, including teaching in China. Following a second cancer
diagnosis, Myron lived fully and faithfully until his death.
He is survived by his wife, Rickey; three sons; seven grandchildren;
siblings; and extended family. Myron will be remembered for his humility,
warmth, love of sports, devotion to family and enduring witness to the
peaceable way of Jesus.
(AW, January 2026, p. 50)
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Used with permission by the Archives of the Mennonite Church, Goshen,
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