Back to MennObits Index Page
Lazarus Project

An expanded obituary project of MennObits.  Includes additional information of obituaries appearing in
The Mennonite and other newspapers.   Source of individual obituaries given with each record.  Project managed by Thelma Martin.

 1971 - N to Q

    Nissley, Ira;   Otto: Daniel E.;   PLANK: Joni L.;   
Nissley.- Bishop Ira Nissley was born Mar. 7, 1890, at Haven, Kansas, a son of Abe and Eliza (Kauffman) Nissley. He died in his home near Kalona, Iowa, June 28, 1971, at the age of 81 yr., 3 mo. and 21 days. He was married to Barbara Schlabach in Oklahoma, Dec. 14, 1911. She died June 8, 1933. On July 26, 1936, he was married to Ada Yoder, who survives. He is also survived by three daughters and two sons: Mrs. Henry (Irene) Bender, and Ellen Nissley of Kalona Iowa, Mrs. Edgar (Bertha) Helmuth, of Leon, Iowa, Eli of Millersburg, Ind., and David of Goshen, Ind.; two stepdaughters and two stepsons: Mrs. Tobias (Ruth) Miller, Mrs. Glen (Susan) Beachy, of Kalona, Iowa, Alvin Yoder of Hutchinson, Kans., Simon Yoder of Leon, Iowa; Two brothers and four sisters: David L. of Le Raysville, Pa., Eli of Staunton, Va., Mrs. Ida Miller of Hydro, Okla., Mrs. Susan Bontrager of Hutchinson, Kans., Mrs. Daniel C. Yoder and Mrs. T. C. Yoder of Kalona, Iowa; 28 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, 37 step grandchildren, 19 step great-grandchildren.

In his youth he united with the O. O. Amish church, in which faith he died. In 1919 he was ordained a minister in Wisconsin, and in 1930 as a Bishop in Oklahoma, and ably served in the church in that capacity; from 1936 on in the Kalona area. He was widely known and traveled extensively throughout the States. During World War II he visited most of the C.P.S. camps and contacted the boys that were in service there.

From: Amish-Mennonite Church, Herold der Wahrheit, August 1971, p. 177
Issue donated by: Chris Yoder, Saugatuck, Michigan
Transcribed by: Thelma Hoover Martin

Otto: Daniel E., son of Eli Y. and Eliza (Hostetler) Otto, was born May 2, 1892; died Jan. 13, 1971, age 78 years, 8 mo., and 11 days. Married Susana G. Kaufman, lived in matrimony 51 years, 2 mo., and 27 days; to this union were born 9 children, 29 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren. Eli, Leonard, Mo.; Gideon, Tuscola, Ill.; Jeff, Novelty, Mo.; John. Spencer, Okla. Preceding him in death were 2 daughters, Mrs. Andy Ray (Lena) Yoder, and Elizabeth; and one grandson. Harold Yoder; His parents, 2 brothers and 4 sisters. He was ordained to ministry Oct. 27, 1938.

From: Amish-Mennonite Church, Herold der Wahrheit, February 1971, p. 33
Issue donated by: Chris Yoder, Saugatuck, Michigan
Transcribed by: Thelma Hoover Martin

PLANK: Bro. Joni L. Plank died on Feb. 20, 1971, in his home near Arthur, Ill. He was born Feb. 26, 1878, near Shelbyville, Ill. A son of Jacob S. and Elizabeth (Schrock) Plank, and was almost 93 years old. He was married to Mary Bontrager Dec. 12, 1906, at Haven, Kansas.
He is survived by his wife and 138 descendants, five sons and six daughters, 65 grandchildren, and 59 great-grandchildren. Dan of Dover, Del.; Jacob, Joni Jr., and John of Arthur, Ill.; William of Plain City, Ohio; (Lizzie) Mrs. Eli J. K. Miller, (Barbara) Mrs. Henry R. Mast, (Mary Ann) Mrs. William Mast of Arthur; (Emma) Mrs. Sam Overholt of Kalona, Iowa; (Fannie) Mrs. Harvey Kaufman of Millersburg, Ind.; and (Anna May) Mrs. Willis Miller of New Glarus, Wis. Two sisters survive: (Lizzie) Mrs. Sam Petersheim of Haven, Kansas; (Susie) Mrs. Levi Bontrager of Hazelton, Iowa. One son, Lonnie, preceded him in death.
His funeral services were held in the family home on Feb. 24, 1971, by Bishop Menno S. Miller, and burial in the Miller cemetery near Arthur, Ill.

From: Amish-Mennonite Church, Herold der Wahrheit, April 1971, p. 81
Issue donated by: Chris Yoder, Saugatuck, Michigan
Transcribed by: Thelma Hoover Martin

  Back to MennObits Index Page
Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved - Mennonite Church USA Historical Committee & Archives
Permission granted to private family researchers to use selected portions of these files to tell their family stories.
May not be mass-produced in any form for commercial purposes.