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.

1991  W to Z

Harry Robert Weaver was born in Wakarusa IN to Menno and Minnie Mae Hartman Weaver on Sept. 10, 1910. His father, Menno had been born in a log house on Beech Road in St. Joseph County, IN, which was built by Harry's grandfather, David B. Weaver, Harry used to tell how his grandfather had walked from [Juniata Co.,] PA to Ohio before migrating to northern Indiana.

Harry's father and mother were married when she was 17 years of age. She died on February 12, 1915, at the age of 35, after giving birth to nine children: Amzey
(father of Howard, Harold and Don of the Prairie Street Congregation [plus James at Locust Grove and Richard in Colo.]), William Harvey, Mabel, Golda, Sam Ray, Florence Viola, Harry, Lincoln, and Walter. With the passing of Harry the siblings are now all deceased.

Harry was only four years old when his mother died. For a time Aunt Lydia Weaver came and kept house for the family. His father drove to work in Elkhart with a horse, staying until Friday evening. Harry's father, Menno, then married Maude Bechtel in 1920. She made a good home for the family. They soon moved from Wakarusa to Elkhart, where they resided on Lane Avenue. In 1932 they had a son, Max Gene, who was therefore Harry's half brother. Menno died in 1941 and his second wife, Maude, in 1968.

When Harry was a baby he contracted polio from which he recovered. As a youth he became acquainted with Claude Leininger at Prairie Street Menn. Church, who became a powerful influence in his life. He remembered helping Claude distribute Christian literature to fire station employees and others before the Belmont Menn. Church was started. He later worked for Claude in his furniture repair shop. There he learned the upholstery trade which he pursued later in life. At a certain point each day Leininger laid aside his work and took Charles, his son, and Harry, into the house for a period of Bible study and prayer.

Harry became acquainted with Clara J. Burkey, at Prairie Street, where they both attended. They were married on June 14, 1936 by John Gingrich at his home. After their marriage they lived on a farm near Marcellus, MI. The going there was rough so they soon moved to the Shipshewana, IN area where Harry was engaged in farming and carpenter work. They lived there about 20 years.

In 1969 they moved back to Elkhart where Harry was engaged in trailer factory work, including employment at Layton Homes. At a certain point he became a carpet-layer for his son-in-law A. J. Miller, an occupation he continued until his retirement in 1982. Carpet laying can be strenuous work. But in spite of his small build, Harry proved to be a very good carpet installer.

He was baptized at Prairie Street in his youth. After attending the Shore Menn. Church for twenty years, he and Clara transferred back to Prairie Street on Jan. 4, 1970. He took his Christian life seriously and was always concerned that the church remain faithful to the Lord. He was in church and Sunday School the Sunday before his death. [Harry did have a heart attack in 1982]

In recent months he complained concerning chest discomfort. A few days before his death on May 7, 1991, he refrained from his regular exercise program. On Monday night, or Tuesday morning early, he quietly passed away in his sleep. At age of 80.

Surviving in addition to Clara, his wife of nearly 55 years, are his three children; Mrs A. J. (Verda) Miller, Elkhart; Mrs Stephen (Miriam) Thompson, Ithaca, N. Y. and Ronald D, Weaver, Union, MI; There are also five grandchildren and four great grandchildren plus the half brother, Max, in Kirkwood, MO.

The funeral was held at Prairie Street on Friday, May 10, 1991, with Harold Yoder and Russell Krabill officiating. Burial was in the Prairie Street Cemetery.

R. R. K.

[This was apparently written by Russell Krabill. Corrections and/or additions are in brackets and were added in hand-writing by a family member.]

Transcribed and submitted by: Thelma Hoover Martin