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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.

 1996 - L

Lauver, J. Clayton "Sonny"; . . Leitzel, Elizabeth F. Kratzer; . .

Lauver, J. Clayton "Sonny" 65, of Mifflintown, PA died Friday, November 29, 1996 at his residence of natural causes. He was born in Mifflintown July 26, 1931, a son of the late Clayton II and Minnie [Brubaker] Lauver. He married the former Glendora, A. Apple March 8, 1952.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Timothy E. Lauver and Glenn D. Lauver, both of Mifflintown; three daughters, Jean D. Graybill, Richfield, Doris S. Kauffman, Mt. Pleasant Mills, and Lucinda J. Lauver, Mifflintown; a brother, Raymond C. Lauver, Mifflintown; four sisters, Anna Saner, Bunkertown, Ellen Apple, McAlisterville, Elizabeth Yoder, Mifflinburg, and Bessie Frymoyer, Mifflintown; and nine grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son, Mark C. Lauver, in 1986; a brother, Chester Lauver, in 1966; and a sister, Ruth Graybill Hoffman, in 1981.

He attended Fayette elementary and high schools, McAlisterville. He was a lifelong dairy farmer, operating his own farm in Fermanagh Township,
Juniata County, until his retirement in 1993. He had also been a seed corn and fertilizer dealer and earlier in life had hauled milk for Sheffield Farms.

The funeral service was held December 3, 2011 at Crossroads Mennonite Church, Richfield, with Bishop Raymond Harnish and Minister Marvin Freed officiating. Interment followed in Lauver's Mennonite Cemetery, Evendale, PA.

Funeral arrangements were handled by the Ronald C. Sheaffer Funeral Home, McAlisterville, PA.

Source: The Juniata Sentinel, Mifflintown, PA
December 4, 1996.
Submitted by: Leon Hertzler


Leitzel, Elizabeth F. Kratzer, 76, of Richfield, PA died Wednesday, October 2, 1996, at Evangelical Hospital, Lewisburg, PA. Born July 15, 1920 in Monroe Township, Juniata Co., PA, to Harry P. and Mary Graybill Kratzer.

September 6, 1941, she married Roy Edward Leitzel, who survives.

Mrs. Leitzel was a member of Richfield Mennonite Church and Richfield Ambulance League.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sons, Stanley A. Leitzel, Lebanon, and Warren G. Leitzel, Richfield; five daughters, Eunice A. Leister and Ella Jane Varner, both of McAlisterville, Eleanor F. Wochley, Mt. Pleasant Mills, Juniata M. Hess, Freeburg, and Nancy L. Wagner, Lykens; four brothers, Lloyd Kratzer, Cocolamus, Leon Kratzer, Richfield, Glenn Kratzer, Beavertown, and John Kratzer, Harleton; three sisters, Marian Judd, Corte Maderia, CA, Phyllis Ebright, Richfield, and Margaret "Susie" Sheaffer, Freeburg; 17 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Leitzel was preceded in death by a son, Alfred Lee Leitzel, on October 6, 1994, and a brother, Russell Kratzer.

The funeral service was conducted Saturday, October 5, 1996 from Richfield Mennonite Church, with Rev. Jerry R. O'Connell officiating. Interment was in Richfield Union Cemetery, Richfield, PA

Funeral arrangements were by the George P. Garman Funeral Home, Inc., Mt. Pleasant Mills.

Source: The Juniata Sentinel, Mifflintown, PA
October 9, 1996.
Submitted by: Leon Hertzler


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