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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.

 1999 - A to B

    Aeschliman, Lois L.;   Aeschliman, Viola Frances Rupp;   Beck, Elsie L.;   Beck, Ivah R.;   Beck, Phyllis A;.   Beck, Ronald E.;  Berkey, Lucille Hess; . . Bowers, Lois L.;    Buzzard, Nellie Mae Nusbaum

Aeschliman, Lois L.

Lois L. Aeschliman, 75, Wauseon, was fatally injured Saturday afternoon, Nov. 6, 1999, in an automobile accident near Archbold.

Born Aug 30, 1924, near Archbold, she was a daughter of Harley and Fannie (Aeschliman) Nofziger, and married Galen Aeschliman on Aug. 26, 1945.  She lived most of her lifetime in the Wauseon area, was a homemaker, and worked at the former Vernier Hardware, Archbold, prior to her marriage.  She was a volunteer at Care & Share, a quilter at Sauder Village and a member of the Central Mennonite Church, near Archbold.  She was active in the church's women's sewing group and other various committees.
           
Survivors include her husband, Galen; three sons, John (Lisa) Aeschliman, and Philip (Lisa) Aeschliman, Wauseon; and Brian (Lori) Aeschliman, Archbold; four daughters, Mrs. Doug (Gloria) Gingrich, Canby, Ore.; Mrs. Phil (Shirley) Crossgrove, and Mrs. Ron (Charlene) Roth, Wauseon; and Mrs. Mike (Linda) Stuckey, Archbold; 20 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; one brother, Loyal (Donnabelle) Nofziger, Archbold; three sisters, Mrs. Vern (Evelyn) Nafziger, Archbold; Mrs. Elon (Lorene) Eash, Marshall, Minn.; and Mrs. Willard (Valetta) Frey, Archbold.
           
Memorial services are Friday, 3 p.m., Central Mennonite Church.  Wayne Pipkin and Jeffrey Smith are the officiating pastors.  Burial precedes the service in the Pettisville Cemetery.  Friends may call in the Central Mennonite Church Fellowship Hall from 6-9 today, Wednesday, and from 2-9 p.m., Thursday.       

Obit: Archbold (Ohio) Buckeye, 10 Nov 1999
Submitted by: Mona Mann


Aeschliman, Viola Frances Rupp
 
Viola Frances (Rupp) Aeschliman was born on February 7, 1912 near Archbold, OH, the daughter of Frank and Lydia (Lugbill) Rupp.  She died on January 5, 1999 at her home at the Glencroft Retirement Community, Glendale, AZ, within 31 days of turning 87 years.
   
She accepted Christ as her savior as a young girl and was baptized as a member of the Central Mennonite Church, Archbold, OH.  When her older brothers left home she became her father's chief helper on the farm.
   
On June 10, 1931 she was married to John G. Aeschliman.  Two children, Mona and Merlin, were born to John and Viola while they lived in Archbold.  During World War II she supported and cared for the family for two years while John was in a Civilian Public Service camp. 
   
In 1946 they helped to plant the Bancroft Mennonite Church in Toledo, OH, moving there in 1948.  Here she taught Sunday School, Bible studies for neighborhood children, and enjoyed singing in various special music groups, as well as the Toledo Choral Society.
   
After John's retirement for health reasons in 1976, they moved to Phoenix, AZ.  While here Viola continued her vocation as a certified nursing assistant until she was 75 years old.  In 1982 John and Viola were among the first residents to move into the Towers at the Glencroft Retirement Community.  They greatly enjoyed their many friends and the community life there.
   
After moving to Phoenix John and Viola became members of the Sunnyslope Mennonite Church and Viola enjoyed her friends and involvement there as long as her health allowed.
   
She is survived by a daughter, Mona (Mrs David) Mann of Phoenix, AZ, and a son, Merlin (and wife Kathleen) of Salem, OR; 6 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren, 3 great, great-grandchildren; and one brother, Mahlon Rupp of Wauseon, OH.  She was preceded in death by her husband, John; twin grandsons, Stephen and Thomas Mann, and one great-grandson, Todd Beamer.
   
A memorial service was held on January 9, 1999 at the Sunnyslope Mennonite Church, Phoenix, AZ, in charge of Stanley Weaver and Ray Keim.

[Obituary by family]
Submitted by: Mona Mann
 
Beck, Elsie L.
 
Elsie L. Beck, 78, Stryker, died Friday, Aug 27, 1999, at Community Hospitals of Williams County, Bryan.
           
Born May 2, 1921, in Bryan, she was the daughter of Erma (Penrod) and James Eager.  She united in marriage to Floyd Beck on July 27, 1941, and he preceded her in death in 1998.  She was a resident of Stryker, and graduated from Montpelier High School.
           
She was a member of the Lockport Mennonite Church, a former girl scout leader in Stryker, and had written much poetry some of which was published in The Library of Congress.
           
Surviving are three sons, James (Margie) Beck, Weston, Ohio; Donald (Barbara) Beck, and Gregory Beck, Stryker; one daughter, Mrs. Rick (Judy) Humes, Hamilton, Ind.; 14 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren.
           
Services were Monday, 10 a.m., in Lockport Mennonite Church.  Allen Rutter, Walter Stuckey and Mark Miller were the pastors officiating.  Burial was in Lockport Cemetery.                                
Obit: Archbold (Ohio) Buckeye, 1999
Submitted by: Mona Mann

Beck, Ivah R. 
           
Ivah R. Beck, 88, Archbold, died Friday morning, April 30, 1999, at the Fulton County Health Center, Wauseon, where she was admitted Monday.
           
Born May 30, 1910, near Pettisville, she was the daughter of Aaron and Anna (Rupp) Frey.  She married Kenneth Beck on May 12, 1938, and he preceded her in death on Dec. 9, 1978.  A lifelong resident of the Pettisville and Archbold, she was a homemaker.  She was a charter member of the Zion Mennonite Church.
           
Surviving are two sons, Mervin (Nancy) Beck, Hawthorn Woods, Ill.; and Richard (Judy) Beck, Wauseon; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; three brothers, Elias (Katherine) Frey, Archbold; Jesse (Helen) Frey, Phoenix, Ariz.; and A. Dale Frey, Wauseon; two sisters, Mrs. Joseph (Ada) Schrock, Archbold; and Mrs. Charles (Velma) Camp, Ridgeville Corners.      
           
Memorial services were Monday, 11 a.m. at the Zion Mennonite Church with Ron Guengerich and Dee Swartz as the officiating pastors.  Burial preceded in the Pettisville Cemetery.                       
Obit: Archbold (Ohio) Buckeye, 5 May 1999
Submitted by: Mona Mann
 

Beck, Phyllis A.
           
Phyllis A. Beck, 62, Archbold, died Thursday morning, July 22, 1999, at medical College of Ohio Hospital, Toledo, where she was admitted Tuesday.        
           
Born March 10, 1937, at Grand Rapids, Ohio, she was the daughter of Bernard and Gladys (Aumend) Wade, and married Delmar Lee Beck on Oct. 29, 1961.  She lived most of her lifetime in the Archbold area, was a telephone operator at Wauseon, a homemaker, and head cook at Fairlawn Haven, Archbold, about 15 years.  She was a volunteer at the Fulton County Health Center, Wauseon, and Sauder Village, Archbold.  Memberships included West Clinton Mennonite Church, near Pettisville.
           
Surviving are her husband, Delmar Lee Beck; one son, David (Nancy) Beck, Toledo; one daughter, Mrs. Tom (Deanna) Rupp, Pettisville; five grandchildren; one brother, Marvin (Phyllis) Wade, Perrysburg; three sisters, Mrs. Kenneth (Esther) Gerdes, McClure, Mrs. Richard (Eileen) Rendoff, Estes Park, Colo., and Mrs. Roger (Mary Alice) Helberg, Napoleon.
           
Memorial services were Sunday, 3 p.m. at the West Clinton Mennonite Church.  James Roynon and Edward Diener were the officiating pastors.  Burial was in the Pettisville cemetery.                     
Obit: Archbold (Ohio) Buckeye, 28 Jul 1999
Submitted by: Mona Mann
 
Beck, Ronald E. 
           
Ronald E. Beck, 58, rural Archbold, died Thursday afternoon, March 25, 1999, from an apparent heart attack at his home.

Born Nov. 8, 1940, near Pettisville, he was a son of Dale E. and Meredith (Britsch) Beck, and married Carol Kauffman on Dec. 2, 1961.  A lifelong resident of the Archbold area, he farmed, and worked at Liechty Specialties, Archbold, about 12 years.  He was a member of the Zion Mennonite Church.

Surviving are his wife, Carol; one daughter, Mrs. Jeff (Lori) Coressel, Archbold; three grandchildren; his mother, Meredith beck, Archbold; three brothers, Garold (Neva) Beck, Archbold; Wendell (Bonnie) Beck, Onekama, Mich., and Conrad (Peggy) Beck, Temperance, Mich.; one sister, Mrs. Merle (Marlene) Beck, Archbold; and a grandmother, Bertha Britsch, who resides at Fairlawn Haven Nursing Home, Archbold.

Memorial services were Monday, 2 p.m. at the Zion Mennonite Church with Ron Guengerich, Dee Swartz, and Thomas Louis, the officiating pastors.  Burial preceded the service in the Pettisville Cemetery.                
Obit: Archbold (Ohio) Buckeye, 31 Mar 1999
Submitted by: Mona Mann


Berkey, Lucille Hess

March 30, 1908-Oct. 30, 1999
GOSHEN - Lucille Berkey, 91, of 1225 Greencroft Drive, Goshen died at 11:05 a.m. Saturday (Oct. 30, 1999) at Greencroft Terraces, where she had lived the past two years.

She was born on March 30, 1908, in Goshen, the daughter of Leonard and Florence (Elliott) Hess. She was married to Arthur A. Berkey on July 21, 1928. He predeceased her on Aug. 20, 1986.

Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Esther Cender of Goshen and Norma Miller of Elkhart; one son, Weldon Berkey of Goshen; one brother, James Hess of Goshen; nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Her parents and four brothers, Mark, Paul, Howard, and Vern predeceased her.

Calling hours will be 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home. There will also be calling hours one hour prior to the 10 a.m. funeral service on Wednesday at the East Goshen Mennonite Church. Pastor Steve Slagel of the church will officiate at the funeral service. Burial will be at Forest Grove Cemetery, in Middlebury.

Mrs. Berkey retired from F.W. Means Co. in 1973 and after that she worked part time for Jean Lee Originals. She was a member of the East Goshen Mennonite' Church.

Memorials may be made to the church or the Greencroft Foundation.

Source: YODER-CULP Goshen, IN
Submitted by: Mary Martin
Transcribed by: Thelma Hoover Martin


Bowers, Lois L.

Lois (Long) Bowers, 91, Goshen, Ind., died Tuesday, Nov. 30, 1999 at Greencroft Care Center, Goshen, Ind.
           
Born Oct. 3, [1908] she was a daughter of Noah M. and Clara (Yoder) Long. On Oct. 3, 1954, she married Ben Bowers, who preceded her in death.  They lived in Archbold for 18 years; she worked at Archbold Industries, and was a member of Lockport Mennonite Church.
           
She is survived by on sister, Mrs. Bill (Lillian) Aeschliman, rural West Unity.

Services were conducted at a Goshen funeral home by Robert Shreiner and Vernon Bontreger.  Burial was in Clinton Union Cemetery.
Obit: Archbold (Ohio) Buckeye, 8 Dec 1999
Submitted by: Mona Mann
 

Buzzard, Nellie Mae Nusbaum
Sept. 16, 1909-Sept. 29, 1999

Nellie Mae Buzzard, 90, 1300 Greencroft Drive, died at 3:46 p.m. Wednesday in Goshen General Hospital.

She was born Sept. 16, 1909, in Middlebury, to Daniel and Vinnie (Mack) Nusbaum. On Oct. 25, 1932, in Newton, Kan., she married Joseph R. Blizzard. From 1954 to 1978 they lived in Scottdale, Pa., where she worked for Mennonite Publishing House. They moved to the area in 1978.

She was a homemaker and worked in the office for Elkhart Packing Co. She attended Elkhart Business University. She was a member of College Mennonite Church, was a Sunday school and summer Bible school teacher, was active in 4-H leadership in Concord Township, served as treasurer for Laurelville Mennonite Center Auxiliary in Mount Pleasant, Pa., for 14 years, and was secretary of the local Women's Missionary Service Commission.

Surviving are her husband; a daughter, Eileen (Mrs. Royce) Roth, Iowa City, Iowa; a son, Gerald, Greensburg, Pa.; three grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; and two step-great-great-grandchildren.

Friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home and from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday at College Mennonite Church. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. The Rev. Firman Gingerich and the Rev. Nancy Kauffmann will conduct the service. Burial will be in Prairie Street Cemetery, Elkhart.

Memorials may be directed to Greencroft Foundation.

The Elkhart Truth, Elkhart, IN Oct. 1, 1999
Submitted by: Thelma Hoover Martin


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