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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.

1997  S


Sauder, Erie J.; . . Sauder, Huldah M. Baer; . . Sauder, Lillian M. Nafziger; . . Seiler, Ralph E.; . .Sherman, Vesta M. Spicher; . . Short, Donovan G. (Cederic); . . Short, Kathryn M. Nofziger; . . Short, Martha I.; . . Shoup, Owen E. ; . . Smith, Delores A. Nofziger; . . Stalter, Wilma L. Klopfenstein; . .   


Sauder, Erie J.

   
Erie J. Sauder, 92, rural Archbold, died in his home Sunday, June 29, 1997.     Born on Aug. 6, 1904, he was a son of Daniel and Anne (Schrock) Sauder. He spent his entire lifetime in the Archbold area. In 1927 he married Leona Short, who died in 1974. In 1976 he married Orlyss Short, who survives.
   
At the time of his death he served as board chairman of Sauder Woodworking Co., the ready to asssemble furniture company he founded in 1934. He was also a board member of Sauder Manufacturing Co., another company he founded. In 1976 he founded the Sauder Farm and Craft Village, now referred to as Sauder Village.
   
Over the years he was an active member and teacher in several area Mennonite Churches, including Central Mennonite, Tedrow Mennnonite, Bancroft Mennonite, and currently Pine Grove Mennonite.
   
A founding member of Mennonite Economic Development Association (MEDA), he made 18 trips to help Paraguayan Indians and European refugees develop colonies in the South American country.
   
In the past he served on boards of directors of the Farmers &, Merchants State Bank, Sunshine Children's Home, Ohio Mission Board, Oaklawn Center, Goshen College, and Defiance College.
   
In 1969 he was named Archbold Citizen of the Year, and in 1992 he was presented Ohio's highest honor, the Governor's Award. In 1986 he was inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizen's Hall of Fame, and the Hall of Honor of the Area Office on Aging. He received the Ohio Designer Craftsmen Achievcment Award in 1987.  He was also honored by the Maumee Valley Girl Scout Council and the Ohio 4-H Foundation.
   
Northwest State Community College, Defiance College, and Ohio State University presented him honorary doctorate degrees.
   
Other survivors include: three sons Delmar, Maynard (Carolyn), and Myrl (Freida), Archbold; one step-daughter, Mrs. Dave (Elaine) Graber, Stryker; nine grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Lucretia Rupp, Archbold; and Herma Rychener, Smyrna, Tenn.
   
Visitation is from 2 to 9 p.m. today, Wednesday, in Founder's Hall, Sauder Village, rural Archbold. A memorial service is 4 p.m. tomorrow, Thursday, at Founder's Hall, with Terry Shue and David David as the officiating pastors. Burial is in Pettisville Cemetery.
Obituary: Archbold (Ohio) Buckeye, 1997
Submitted by: Mona Mann




Sauder, Huldah M. Baer


Huldah M. Sauder, 87, rural Archbold, died Sunday night, Dec. 28, 1997 at Heartland of Wauseon, where she had resided since Dec. 13, 1997.
   
Born Nov. 20, 1910 near Pettisville, she was a daughter of Joseph and Katie (Schrock) Baer, and married Floyd Sauder on Nov. 19, 1933. A lifelong resident of the Archbold/Pettisville area, she and her husband made noodles under the trade name of Marge's Noodles.
   
She was a member of the Central Mennonite Church, Pettisville Pioneers, and former member of the Pettisville Leaf & Petal Garden Club.
   
Survivors include her husband, Floyd; three sons, David (Sharon) Sauder, rural Wauseon, Charles (Sandra) Sauder, Archbold, and James (Judith) Sauder, Indianapolis, Ind.; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Cora Baer, Archbold, and Rosella Schell, Milledgeville, Ill.
   
Services are tomorrow, Wednesday, 2 p.m. in the Central Mennonite Church with Wayne Pipkin, Charles Gautsche, Dale Wyse and James Roynon the officiating pastors. Burial is in the Pettisville Cemetery. Calling hours at Short Funeral Home, Archbold, after 2 p.m., today, Tuesday.

Obituary: Archbold (Ohio) Buckeye, 31 Dec 1997
Submitted by: Mona Mann




Sauder, Lillian M. Nafziger


Lillian M. Sauder, 83, Wauseon, died Monday morning, Nov. 10, 1997, at Fairlawn Haven, Archbold, where she had resided since Feb. 28, 1997.
   
Born Feb. 23, 1914, near Archbold, she was a daughter of Charley and Malinda (Rufenacht) Nafziger. She married Ray Sauder on June 25, 1936. A resident of Wauseon about 60 years, she and her husband, Ray, founded the Wauseon Woodworking Co. in 1937, where she worked with her husband in the mill room and in the office. Her memberships included Central Mennonite Church, and the Gideon's International Auxiliary.
   
Survivors include her husband, Ray, who resides at Fairlawn Haven; a son, James (Mona) Sauder, Wauseon; three grandchildren; two brothers, Earl Nafziger, Pettisville; and Vern Nafziger, Archbold; and one sister, Pauline Rossman, Wauseon.
   
Memorial services are tomorrow, Thursday, 4 p.m. at Central Mennonite Church with Wayne Pipkin and Mary Jo Rossman Bray as the officiating pastors. Burial precedes the memorial service in the Pettisville Cemetery. Friends may call at Short Funeral Home, Archbold, from 2-9 p.m. Wednesday, and from 10 a.m.-l p.m. Thursday.
Obituary: Archbold (Ohio) Buckeye, 12 Nov 1997
Submitted by: Mona Mann




Seiler, Ralph E.


Ralph E. Seiler, 82, died Monday, Dec. 15, 1997, at Betz Nursing Home, Auburn, Ind.
   
Born in Archbold on Oct. 9, 1915, he was a son of Simon and Sarah (Stamm) Seiler, Sr. He married Delilah Liechty Sept. 14, 1939, in Leo, Ind., and she survives. A member of the North Leo Mennonite Church, he was a self-employed farmer.
   
Also surviving are five sons: Ed (Carol) Seiler, Larry (Donna) Seiler, Roland (Teresa) Seiler, and Ralph (Charlene) Seiler, all of Auburn; and Ronald Seiler, Spencerville, Ind.; 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; and one brother, Simon Seiler, Jr., Montpelier.
   
Services are tomorrow, Thursday, 10 a.m., North Leo Mennonite Church with Doug Zehr and Charlie DeSanto, officiating. Calling at the church is from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., today, Wednesday, and for one hour prior to the service.
   
Burial is in Leo Memorial Park.

Obituary: Archbold (Ohio) Buckeye, 1997
Submitted by: Mona Mann



Sherman, Vesta M. Spicher
, 77, of Numidia, PA died Tuesday, June 10, 1997, at her home. Born January 10, 1920 in Kalona, IA, she was a daughter of the late Jess E. and Nancy [Ropp] Spicher. She married C. William [Bill] Sherman July 1, 1961 in Belleville. She was a member of Goodwill Mennonite Church, Thompsontown, PA.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by a daughter, Ruth A. Sherman, at home; brothers, Ray S. Spicher, Ozawkie, KS, and Glenn S. Spicher, Belleville; and a sister, Arlene M. Spicher, Chambersburg.

Funeral service was June 13, 1997 from Goodwill Mennonite Church, Thompsontown, PA. Burial was in Danville Mennonite Church Cemetery, Danville, PA. Officiating the services were Noah Rudolph, Vernon Weaver, James Newswanger, Laban Kauffman and David Kauffman.

Source: The Juniata Sentinel, Mifflintown, PA
June 18, 1997




Short, Donovan G. (Cederic)

Donovan G. (Cederic) Short
, 66, Archbold, died Monday evening, Sept. 29, 1997, at St. Vincent-Mercy Medical Center, Toledo, where he was admitted early in the evening.
   
Born Sept, 15, 1931, near Stryker, he was a son of Leland and Ruth (Beck) Short. He married Verda Eash on Oct. 4, 1953, and she preceded him in death on July 1, 1981. A lifelong resident of the Stryker and Archbold area, he worked at Dielman Inc., Archbold, since 1949.  A member of the Lockport Mennonite Church, rura1 Stryker, he was also a member of the Lockport Quintet, since 1958.
   
Survivors include a son, Scott (Jamie) Short, rural Archbold; a daughter, Mrs. Phil (Mary Jo) Miller, Ridgeville Corners; two grandchildren; two brothers, LaMar Short, West Unity, and Arlo Short, Stryker; two sisters, Mrs. Charles (Arva) Beck, and Mrs. Donald D. (Romaine) Beck, Archbold.
   
Memorial service was Friday, 11 a.m. at the Lockport Mennonite Church with Allen Rutter, Mark Miller, Wendy Miller, and David Voll AS [sic] the officiating pastors. Burial preceded the service in the Lockport Cemetery.                
Obituary: Archbold (Ohio) Buckeye, 1 Oct 1997
Submitted by: Mona Mann




Short, Kathryn M. Nofziger


Kathryn M. Short, 81, Archbold, died Sunday morning, Sept. 14, 1997, at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, Toledo, where she was admitted Saturday.
   
Born July 6, 1916, near Wauseon, she was a daughter of Moses and Ida (Nofzinger) Nofziger. She married Glenferd D. Short on Feb. 11, 1937, and he preceded her in death on Dec. 18, 1983. She lived all her married life in the Archbold/Pettisville area, and worked in housekeeping at Sauder Farm & Craft Village for a number of years. She also helped with  numerous community volunteer projects. A charter member of the Zion Mennonite Church, she served on a committee its WMSC.
   
Surviving are three sons, LaRue (Lana) Short, Duane (Barbara) Short and Thomas (Ruth) Short, all of Archbold; five daughters, Mrs. Frank (Mary Ellen) Gaeddert, Denver, Colo.; Mrs. Ronald (Marlene ) Nofziger, Archbold; Mrs. Byron (BeEtta) Folk, Mendon, Mich.; Mrs. Lynn (Bonnie ) Short, Archbold; and Mrs Allen (Margaret) Chirpich, Detroit Lakes, Minn.; 25 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; one brother, Daryl Nofziger, Wauseon; two sisters, Mrs. Chance (Ilva) Grieser, Pedro, Ohio, and Maynard (Berniece) Rufenacht, Archbold.
   
Memorial services were today, Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. at the Zion Mennonite Church with Ron Guengerich and Dee Swartz as the officiating pastors. Burial preceded the service in the Pettisville Cemetery.
Obituary: Archbold (Ohio) Buckeye, 17 Sep 1997
Submitted by: Mona Mann

Submitted by: Leon Hertzler



Short, Martha I.
, 89, formerly of Toledo, died April 7, 1997, at the Edgewood Nursing Home. Prior to moving to the nursing home she made her home with her niece, Colene Rich.
   
She was a member of the Toledo Mennonite Church and its Women's Missionary Service Auxiliary.
   
Services were held at Lockport Mennonite Church, near Stryker, April 9, with burial in the church cemetery.
Obituary: Archbold (Ohio) Buckeye, 16 Apr 1997
Submitted by: Mona Mann


 

Shoup, Owen E.
Feb. 23, 1931 - July 21, 1997

Owen E. Shoup of South Bend died Monday, July 21, at the age of 66, after a long illness of Renal Cell Carcinoma. He is survived by his wife, Eleanor of South Bend, a son, Steven of Oskaloosa, Iowa, and two grandchildren, David and Rosanna. He was preceded in death by an infant son, Michael. He was the youngest of nine children born to LeNora (Rothe) and Allen Shoup on Feb. 23, 1931, in Orrville, Ohio. He had a happy childhood growing up on the family farm. He was preceded in death by two sisters. He is survived by one sister, Ethel Miller of Berlin, Ohio; and five brothers, Ira of Wadsworth, Ohio, Arthur of Canton, Ohio, Harry of Bremen, Ind., Walter of Orrville, Ohio, and Roy of Aiken, S.C.

He was a member of Kern Road Mennonite Church. He was a graduate of Smithville High School in Ohio. He received a BA degree from Goshen College and an MA degree from Indiana University. He was a Biology teacher for 32 years.

Friends and family may call from 6 to 9 p.m. today, July 23, and 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 24, in the Kern Road Mennonite Church, 18211 Kern Road, South Bend. a graveside service will be at 9 a.m. Friday, July 25, in Olive Township Cemetery, 61081 County Road 3, in Elkhart County followed by a memorial service at 10:30 a.m. in the Kern Road Mennonite Church followed by a noon meal in the Church Fellowship Hall. Officiating will be the revs. David and Janice Sutter and Andre Gingerich Stoner, all of the Kern Road Mennonite Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given for computers at either Parish Resource Center or Global Gifts, both of Mishawaka, or to fund the moving of the organ at the Kern Road Mennonite Church. Rieth-Rohrer-Ehret-Lienhart Funeral Home in Wakarusa is in charge of arrangements.

South Bend Tribune [IN] 7/23/1997
Submitted by: Thelma Hoover Martin




Smith, Delores A. Nofziger


Delores A. Smith, 56, Alvordton, Ohio, died Tuesday, April 1, 1997, at her home.
   
Born April 5, 1940, in Wauseon, she was the daughter of Irene (Short) and Clifford E. Nofziger. She was a 1968 graduate of Pettisville High School, and lived at her present address since 1965.
   
For 31 years she was employed at Metal Forge Company, Stryker, retiring in August, 1996. She was it member of the North Clinton Mennonite Church, Wauseon.
   
She was united in marriage to Paul Smith, on Aug. 19, 1961, and he survives. Also surviving is one daughter, Mrs. Jay (Joyce) Waidelich, Sugarcreek, Ohio; two brothers, Denver, Nofziger and Dean Nofziger, Wauseon; one sister, Mrs. Donelda Richer, Wauseon; and three grandchildren.
   
Memorial services were Friday, 12 noon, at the North Clinton Mennonite Church, with Gary Blosser as the officiating pastor. Burial preceded the services at West Franklin Cemetery, Fulton County.
Obituary: Archbold (Ohio) Buckeye, 9 Apr 1997
Submitted by: Mona Mann




Stalter, Wilma L. Klopfenstein


Wilma L. Stalter, 78, Wauseon, died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 1997, at Heartland of Wauseon, where she had resided since September 30, 1992.
   
Born April 8, 1918, at Milford, Neb., she was the daughter of Myron and Lydia (Steckley) Klopfenstein. She married Daniel H. Stalter on Dec. l5, 1935, and he preceded her in death on April 24, 1994. For about 26 years she lived in West Unity and the Archbold area then at Phoenix, Ariz. for 24 years before moving to the Wauseon area in 1992.
   
She and her husband, owned and operated the Homestead Nursing Home at Phoenix, for about four years.  She was a member of North Clinton Mennonite Church, Wauseon.

Survivors included one daughter, Mrs. Denver (Evelyn) Nofziger, Wauseon; one son, Larry (Dana) Stalter, Wakarusa, Ind.; 14 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; and one brother, Alton Klopfenstein, Archbold.
   
Memorial services were Friday, 3 p.m. at the North Clinton Mennonite Church with Gary Blosser as the officiating pastor. Burial preceded the service in the Pettisville Cemetery.
Obituary: Archbold (Ohio) Buckeye, 5 Mar 1997
Submitted by: Mona Mann


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