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.
2003 A to B
Born: 12-31-1928, Groffdale, Lancaster Co., Pa. Died: 6-20-2003, New Holland, Pa.
Daughter of: Late Harry W. and Sadie Brubaker Andrew.
Survivors: Sisters, Helen A. Groff and Edyth I. Kreider, both of New Holland; a brother, Mervin L. (Arlene Rhodes) Andrew, also of New Holland, Pa.
Preceded in death by a brother, Harold Andrew.
She was a member of New Holland Mennonite church for 50 years. Before retirement she worked for former Frank Ix Silk Mill in New Holland.
Services: Groff-High Funeral Home on Monday, June 23, 2003 at 11:00
a.m. with Rev. Ronald E. Zook and Rev. Frank Shirk officiating.
Interment in
New Holland Mennonite Church Cem.
Original obituary may be
obtained from
Lancaster Sunday News, published
Sunday, Jan. 26, 2003, Lancaster, Pa.
Submitted by: Peggy Reichard
A 1955 graduate of Lancaster Mennonite High School, she worked as a nurse at Philhaven Hospital from 1957 to 1959. She also was a homemaker and, in Mifflinburg, helped her husband run the family's farm until their retirement in 1995. She later returned to nursing in the community. She was a member of Community Mennonite Fellowship in Milton, PA.
Source: Beiler Family Gen Forum
The Daily Item, Sunbury, PA Oct 25, 2003
Submitted by: Leon Hertzler
Born: 5-23-1922, Goshen, Ind. Died: 3-30-2003, Narvon, Pa.
Wife of: Pastor Ralph O. Birkey, who survives. Daughter of: Late Tobias and Martha Miller Schrock
Survivors: Daughters, Esther (Rev. John) Rush of Reading, Pa.,
Elnore (Kenneth) Herr of Morgantown, Pa., Carolyn (Rev. David) Myer of
Ephrata, Pa., Arlene Birkey of Akron, Ohio. Grandchildren: 15.
Great-grandchildren: 3. Sisters, Mae (Wayne) Wenger of Leburn,Ky., and
Martha (Virgil) Albrecht of Vassar, Mich. Brothers, Orie (Marion)
Schrock of Goshen, Ind., and Edward (Velma) Schrock of Clarksville,
Mich.
Preceded in death by brother, Oscar Schrock.
Mary was a member of New Covenant Mennonite Fellowship Church in New Holland, Pa.
Services: New Covenant Mennonite Fellowship Church 529 E. Farmersville Road, New Holland, Pa. on Thursday, April 3, 2003 at 2 p.m. with Officiating Clergy, Luke Martin, John Beiler, and James Zimmerman. Interment in adjoining cemetery.
Original obituary and photo may be
obtained from
Lancaster Intelligencer Journal, published
Monday, March 31, 2003, Lancaster, Pa.
Submitted by: Peggy Reichard
ELKHART -- Homer H. "Rusty" Birky, 82, of 3203 E. Jackson Blvd., died at 3:37 a.m. Thursday (Sept. 25, 2003) at Elkhart General Hospital.
He was born Oct. 15, 1920, in Kouts to Jacob and Emma (Oswald) Birky. He married Margaret Birky on Sept. 14, 1956, in Kouts.
She survives along with one son, Douglas G. (Lori A.) of White Pigeon; and two brothers, Paul (Christel) Birky of Sun City, Ariz., and the Rev. Kenneth (Mary Jane) Birky of Venice, Fla.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Clifford, Warren and John; and one sister, Stella Miller.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today and one hour before the service at 10 a.m. Saturday, all at Prairie Street Mennonite Church. The Rev. Andrew Kreider will officiate, and entombment will be in Rice Cemetery, Chapel of Faith Mausoleum. Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Birky was a farmer in Valparaiso, a welder for six years and then a loan analyst at Midwest Commerce Bank for 23 years before retiring in January of 1986. He attended LaSalle University.
He was a member of the church, where he was a treasurer, usher and greeter. He was also a member of the Breakfast Exchange Club.
Memorials may be given to Prairie Street Mennonite Church.
The Elkhart Truth, Elkhart, IN
Sept. 26, 2003
Submitted by: Thelma Hoover Martin
Born: 1-7-1924, East Earl, Pa. Died: 6-24-2003, Lebanon, Pa.
Husband of: Eshter Horning Bowman, who survives. Son of: Late Henry G. & Emma Snader Bowman. Stepson of Lydia Bowman.
Survivors: Daughters, Janet (Kenneth) Scheaffer of Lebanon, Pa., Carolyn (Ernest) Stauffer, and Leane (Eugene) Musser, both of Ephrata, Pa., Laverna (Herbert) Brubaker of Myerstown, Pa., and Sharon (David) Martin of Denver, Pa. Preceded in death by a daughter, Barbara Bowman; and three brothers, Ivan, Walter and Raymond Bowman.
Ordained as a Mennonite Minister in 1971 and became a Bishop in 1978. He served at Sharon Mennonite Fellowship Church in Lebanon, Pa.
Services: Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church, 140 Pleasant Valley
Road, Ephrata, Pa. on Saturday June 28, 2003 at 10 a.m. with Bishop
Ivan Weaver,
Douglas Brubaker, Lynn Horst, Cletus Doutrich and Caleb Stauffer
officiating. Interment in Martindale Mennonite Cem., Ephrata, Pa.
Born: 10-16-1914, Upper Leacock Twp., Lancaster Co., Pa. Died: 7-25-2003, Lititz, Pa.
Wife of: Walter S. Bowman, died 1964. Daughter of: Aaron L. & Ada Meck Landis. Stepdaughter of Anna Kreider Bowman.
Survivors: Son, Walter L. (Ruth E. Frederick) Bowman of New Holland,
Pa. Daughter, Arlene M. (Victor) Woods of Leola, Pa.
Grandchildren: 5. Great-grandchildren: 2. Sisters, Esther
(Lester) Hoover, and Arlene Landis, both of Lititz, Pa.
Mary worked for the former Victor F. Weaver Co. and also at People's restaurant. She was a member of New Holland Mennonite Church.
Services: New Holland Mennonite Church, 18 Western Ave., New
Holland, Pa. at 3:00 pm on Wednesday, July 30, 2003, with Rev. Ronald
E. Zook and Rev Frank E. Shirk officiating. Burial in New Holland
Mennonite Cemetery.
Born: 5-29-1915, Lancaster, Pa. Died: 4-17-2003, Quarryville, Pa.
Wife of: Pastor John A. Breneman (6-22-1915/3-20-1978). He was son
of Jacob and Mayme Herr Breneman. Daughter of: John M. and Mary Lefever
Breneman.*
Survivors: Sons: Arthur L. (Dorothy A. High) Breneman of Washington Boro, Pa., Roy (Linda Buckwalter) Breneman of Saxton, Pa., C. Edwin (Karen Smoker) Breneman of Wilcox, Ariz.; Grandchildren: 11. Great-grandchildren: 14. Brother, Elvin (Elsie) Kreider of Willow Street, Pa.
Preceded in death by: Daughter, Doris J. Bauman, brothers, Landis, Frank, Richard and John Kreider; Sister, Mary Jane Houser.
Helen was a member of Willow Street Mennonite Church, Willow Street,
Pa. She volunteered at the Lancaster Mennonite Home and also her
church.
She and her husband ran a farm.
Services: Willow Street Mennonite Church, 399 Penn Grant Road,
Willow Street, Pa. on Monday, April 21, 2003 at 10:30 a.m. with Bishop
Nathan B. Hege and Rev. Robert A. Breneman officiating. Burial in
adjoining cemetery.
Born: 7-27-1915, Clear Spring, Md. Died: 1-20-2003, Lancaster, Pa.
Wife of: Rev. J. Harold Breneman (9-25-1912/9-21-1994). Daughter of: Late Henry S. and Grace Eshleman Horst.
Survivors: Daughters, Mary Louise (James C.) Landis of Ronks, Pa.,
Margaret Rose (Curtis H.) Zook of Lancaster, Pa., and Miriam Grace
(J. Richard) Brenneman of Quarryville, Pa. Sons, H. Eugene (Marie A.
Smoker) Breneman of Willow Street, Pa., J. Richard (J. Lorraine Eby)
Breneman of Strasburg, Pa., Gerald S. (Lisa J. Dickerson) Breneman of
Pequea, Pa. Grandchildren: 18. Great-grandchildren: 11.
Brothers: 3 Names unknown. Sisters: 5, names unknown.
Margaret was a member of New Providence Mennonite Church & assisted her husband when he was pastor there.
Services: Landis Homes West Chapel, 1001 E. Oregon Road, Lititz, Pa.
with Rev. Robert A. Harnish and Rev. Glenn D. Metzler officiating.
Intement in New Providence Mennonite Cem., New Providence, Pa. Family being served by Bachman Funeral Home, Strasburg, Pa.
Born: 12-6-1925, Clay Twp., Lancaster Co., Pa. Died: 5-3-2003, Lancaster, Pa.
Wife of: Walter Z. Burkholder, who survives. Daughter of: Late Joseph and Bertha Sensenig Horst
Survivors: Daughters, M. Jean Martin of Farmersville, Pa., L. Ann Eberly of Akron, Pa., Judy M. (Clyde) Brandt of Elm, Pa., B. Rose (Amos) Reiff Jr. of Ephrata, Pa., and Ruth E. (Ronald) Martin of New Holland, Pa. Grandchildren: 10. Great-grandchildren: 12. Brothers, Mervin S. (Minerva) Horst of Leola, Pa., and Leroy S. (Ruth) Horst of Bowmansville, Pa. Sisters, Lydia S. (Leroy) Bowman of Lititz, Pa., Grace S. (Martin) Weaver of Robesonia, Pa. and Edith S. Horst of Ephrata, Pa.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Ray S. Horst
Esther was a member of Metzler Mennonite Church, Ephrata, Pa., and drove a School Bus for 16 years for Conestoga Valley School District.
Services: Metzler's Mennonite Church, Metzler's Church Road, Ephrata, Pa. on Wednesday, May 7, 2003 at 10:00 a.m.
with Rev. Richard E. Buch, Rev. Eugene Zoll, and Rev. Mervin S. Horst officiating. Interment in adjoining Cemetery.
Original obituary and photo may be
obtained from
Lancaster Intelligencer Journal, published
Monday, May 5, 2003, Lancaster, Pa.
Submitted by: Peggy Reichard
Born: 2-4-1931, West Earl Twp., Lancaster Co., Pa. Died: 7-12-2003, Norristown, Pa.
Husband of: Late Martha Zimmerman Burkholder. Son of: Late
Jacob H. and Emma Sensenig Burkholder.
Survivors: Sons, Jacob R. (Diane Martin) Burkholder, Larry J. (Naomi Shirk) Burkholder, both of Myerstown, Pa., donald E. (Sheila Yeager) Burkholder of Newport, Pa., and Dale A. (Kendra Fleagle) Burkholder of Denver, Pa. Daughters, Debra K. Burkholder, at home, and Esther Sensenig (Willie) Myrich of Pennsecola, Fla. Grandchildren: 22. Brothers, Eli S. (Edith) Burkholder of Myerstown, Pa. and Elam S. (Fern) Burkholder of Ephrata, Pa. Sisters, Eva (Norman) Shirk of East Earl, Pa., Maggie (John) Nolt of Quarryville, Pa, Anna Burkholder of Ephrata and Mary Burkholder of Myerstown.
Preceded in death by brothers, Aaron, Titus, and Ivan, and a sister Emma Burkholder.
He was a retired farmer and owned the former Burkholder's Fabrics of Denver, Pa. He was a member of Schaefferstown Mennonite Church, Schaefferstown, Pa.
Services: Schaefferstown Mennonite Church, Rt. 419 North of
Schaefferstown. Burial: Schaefferstown Cem., Schaefferstown, Pa.
Laura M. Burkholder, 95, 1225 Greeneroft Drive, Goshen, died at 4:10 a.m. Saturday at Greeneroft Healtheare. She was born July 18, 1908, in Orrville, Ohio, to Simon D. and Lydia (Amstutz) Moser. She married Ray S. Burkholder on June 6, 1931, in Orrville. He died April 16, 1975.
She had lived in Goshen since 1967. She was a secretary, bookkeeper, homemaker and member of College Mennonite Church. She had worked in the personnel office of Goshen College until she retired in 1977. That same year she moved to Greencroft and did voluntary service.
Her hobbies included quilting, knitting, crocheting, sewing, reading, music, puzzles, games and travel.
Surviving are three daughters, Ann (Paul) Conrad, New Carlisle, Ohio, Carolyn (B.J.) Miller, Goshen, and Louise (John) Gingerich, Hubbard, Ore.; 15 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Richard; a grandson, Danny Conrad; two sisters, Etta Grimes and Alice Moser; and six brothers, Roy, Lester, Karl, Clarence, Leonard and Alton Moser.
Friends may call Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Koinonia Room at College Mennonite Church. A memorial service is set for 11 a.m. Saturday at College Mennonite Church. Friends and family will meet at 9:45 a.m. Saturday and travel to a 10 a.m. graveside service.
Officiating will be Klaudia Smucker of College Mennonite Church. Burial will be in Elkhart Prairie Cemetery, Goshen. Memorials may be directed to Mennonite Mission Network.
The Goshen News, Goshen, IN
Nov. 2003
Submitted by: John Gingerich
Born: Terre Hill, Lancaster Co., Pa. Died: 1-23-2003, Denver, Pa.
Wife of: Jacob S. Burkholder, who survives. Daughter of:
Mahlon and Anna Horning Zimmerman of Danville, Pa.
Other survivors: Sons, Jacob R. (Diane Martin) Burkholder, and Larry
J. (Naomi Shirk) Burkholder, both of Myerstown, Pa., Donald E. (Sheila
Yeager) Burkholder of Newport, Pa., and Dale A. (Kendra Fleagle)
Burkholder of Denver, Pa. Daughters, Debra K. Burkholder, at home, and
Eshter Sensenig (Willie) Myrick of Pensacola, Fla. Grandchildren:
22. Brothers, Amos (Frances Zimmerman) Zimmerman of Tipton, Mo., and
Mahlon (Sarah Ann Shirk) Zimmerman of Memphis, Mo. Sisters,
Esther Burkholder of Danville, Pa. and Kathy (Lowell) Grove of Hanover,
Pa.
Preceded in death by a brother, Paul Zimmerman.
Martha was a member of Schaefferstown Mennonite Church. She was
owner and operator of Burkholder's Fabric Store, Denver, Pa.
Services: Schaefferstown Mennonite Church, Rt. 419 North of
Schaefferstown, Pa. on Monday At 10:00 a.m.. Interment in
adjoining cemetery.
Born: 4-23-1917, Belleville, Mifflin Co., Pa. Died: 4-20-2003, Akron, Lancaster Co., Pa.
Wife of: John H. Burkholder, for 65 years. Daughter of: Late Urie and Nancy Yoder Peachey.
Survivors: Sons, Donald E. (Ruth Ann Frey) Burkholder, Dennis M. and
Derrill L, all of New Holland, Pa., Dean L. (Pearl Kunkle) Burkholder
of Martindale, Pa., Delmar R. (Tammy Pannebecker) Burkholder of
Ephrata, Pa.; a daugher, Rita L. (Mervin) Sweigart of Ephrata.
Grandchildren: 7. Great-grandchildren: 2. Brothers, Warren
Peachey of Akron, Merle (Mary Shreck) Peachey and Kenneth (Mary)
Peachey, both of Ephrata and Chester Peachey of Reamstown, Pa. Sisters,
Leona (Jacob) Horst of Denver, Pa., Mary Ruth (Denton) Snader, Clara
(Donald) Hackman, and Tressie Martin, all of Ephrata.
Preceded in death by twin daughters, Jean and Janet Burkholder
Minnie was a member of Ephrata Mennonite Church and Sunday School.
Services: Ephrata Mennonite Church, 510 Stevens Road, Ephrata, Pa.
on Thursday, April 24, 2003, at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Clifford
Martin and Rev.
Jeffrey High officiating. Burial: Martindale Mennonite Cem., Earl
Twp., Lancaster Co., Pa.
Original obituary and photo may be
obtained from
Lancaster Intelligencer Journal, published
Tuesday April 22, 2003, Lancaster, Pa.
Submitted by: Peggy Reichard
Born: 11-19-1912, Union Twp., Mifflin Co., Pa. Died: 2-27-2003, Lititz, Lancaster Co., Pa.
Husband of: Margaret K. Fallon Byler (11-14-1918.10-6-2002). Son of: Late Joseph E. and Anna Yoder Byler.
Survivors: Daughters, Anna Mary Byler of Willow Street, Pa., and
Sarah Perez, Hope, Arkansas. Sons, Christ (Gay Wiechers) Byler of
Lititz, Pa., Leonaard (Pat Hagen) Byler of Morgantown, Pa., John
(Jackie Poteet) Byler of Payson, Ariz., Samuel (Corrine Bateman) Byler,
New Providence, Pa. and David (Theresa McCord) Byler of Lancaster, Pa.
Grandchildren: 16. Great-grandchildren: 10. Brother, Jesse Beiler
of New Holland, Pa. (Note difference in spelling)
He was a retired truck driver and a member of Willow Street Mennonite Church.
Services: Willow Street Mennonite Church on Tuesday, Mar. 4, 2003 at
11:00 a.m. with Rev. Robert A. Breneman and Rev. Donald W. Good
officiating. Burial in adjoining cemetery.