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.

2008  I to K

METAMORA - Sanford D. Imhoff, 89, of Metamora passed away at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008, at Snyder Village in Metamora.

He was born on May 26, 1918, in Low Point to Samuel and Elnora (Garber) Imhoff.

He married Ruth M. Litwiller on June 4, 1938, in Hopedale.

Surviving are his wife. Also surviving are two sons, Sanford J. (Kelly) Imhoff of Peoria and Thomas (Kathy) Imhoff of Metamora; and two daughters, Becki (Rodney) Hartzler of Lexington, Ky., and Bonnie (Rodney) Abel of Peoria. He also is survived by 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by one daughter, Cecelia Imhoff; one granddaughter, Heidi Abel; one grandson, Michael Mininger; two brothers; and two sisters.
Sanford grew up on a farm near Cazenovia, Ill., where he learned the values of community, love of family and hard work in the horse-drawn era. He began his early career by purchasing a tractor and hay baler and providing custom hay baling services to local farmers. He later expanded to supplying and applying lime fertilizer and phosphates. Eventually, the business became Imhoff Trucking Company, with the addition of over-the-road trucks to haul grain and farm chemicals.

After marriage to Ruth, the young family was able to return to his homestead. This is where he owned and farmed the land he grew up on and provided the foundation for raising his family. Later, when small family farms began to diminish, Sanford took employment with Mechanics Choice, where he worked as a salesman for 33 years, retiring at the age of 82.
Sanford was a lifelong member of the Metamora Mennonite Church and was dedicated and loyal in his involvement with the church and the Hickory Point Cemetery Committee.

He was also a lifelong Republican and Cubs fan, which most of the family never held against him. Sanford's love for gospel music developed early, and it was a large part of his Mennonite heritage. He sang bass in choirs and choruses beginning in high school and throughout his life, including the traveling Mennonites Men's Chorus and most recently, the Snyder Village Gospel Chorus.
Sanford was a 1936 graduate of Lowpoint High School and later served as a board member of the Lowpoint School District.

Later in life, Sanford discovered antique tools and began a passionate hobby of collecting and selling antique wrenches and woodworking tools. He met many new friends in his travels and loved to show and tell stories of his latest acquisitions. He was an active member in the Midwest Tool Collectors Association.

Sanford and Ruth were known for their generosity, and early in their marriage were members and hosts of the Fresh Air program. This program reached out to inner-city youth in Chicago and gave them an opportunity to spend weeks on the farm during the summer. During his time on the farm, Sanford was able to work with other farmers to coordinate planting or harvesting assistance to families struck with tragedy.

First and foremost in Sanford's life was his passion and loyalty toward family, relatives and friends. His unique gift was the ability to treat each of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in a way as to make each feel unique and loved. His love extended to all extended family and relatives, where he was known as a kidder and loved to engage others in light-hearted exchange and banter. He created community wherever he landed. For this and more, his family and friends will be forever grateful for God's creation of this unique husband, father and friend to all.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008, at Metamora Mennonite Church with the Rev. Mike Danner officiating. Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. Cremation rites will be accorded. Private family burial of ashes will be in Hickory Point Cemetery in Metamora.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to his church or to Snyder Village.
To send online condolences, please visit www.masonfuneralhomes.com.

Peoria Journal Star, The (IL)
Monday, February 4, 2008
Submitted by: Thelma Hoover Martin

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Jantzi, Martha M. Bontrager, 97, of Goshen, IN, died March 22, 2008, at Greencroft Healthcare. She was born October 16, 1910, in Middlebury, IN, to John K. and Fanny (Yoder) Bontrager. She married David Jantzi on December 25, 1931, in Alden, New York. He died July 16, 1969. Mrs. Jantzi moved back to Indiana in 2001 coming from Sarasota, Florida. She had also lived in Defiance County, Ohio and in western New York State. She was an active associate member of College Mennonite Church, Goshen; and formerly held an active membership in the Bahia Vista Mennonite Church in Sarasota, FL.

She is survived by two daughters, Shirley Miller of Alden, New York, and Dorothy (Herbert) Albrecht of Vassar, Michigan; two sons, Leon (Vivian) Jantzi of Scottsville, New York, and Robert (Hedy) Jantzi of Sugar Creek, Ohio; and Ruth Jantzi of Darien Center, New York; nine grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Frances (Lawrence) Greaser of Goshen, and Rosa Yoder of Hartville, Ohio.

She was preceded in death by her husband, David; two grandsons, Donald and Michael Albrecht; one granddaughter, Monica Jantzi; six brothers, Chris, Eli, Clarence, Neal, Amos and John Bontrager; and a sister, Edna Schlabach.

Funeral service was March 24, 2008, at the Gathering Room at Evergreen Place, Greencroft, Pastor Klaudia Smucker and Chaplain Dee Swartz will officiate. Also a funeral service is set to be held Monday, March 31, 2008 at the Alden Mennonite Church, Alden, New York, Pastor Phil Martin will officiate. Burial will be in Alden Union Cemetery, Alden, New York.

Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, Goshen, IN
Submitted and Edited by Leon Hertzler

Born in Atglen, Aaron was the son of the late Daniel and Annie Engel Kauffman. He thoroughly enjoyed his life work as a farmer in Cochranville, retiring in 2005. He was a member of Millwood Mennonite Church in Gap, where he was a retired deacon.

He and his wife enjoyed hosting guests in their home and working in numerous volunteer service projects over their lifetime, including working for Mennonite Disaster Service and Mennonite Central Committee. A wonderful husband and family man, Aaron loved to spend time with his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In addition to his wife, Aaron will be dearly missed by his two daughters and sons-in-law, Almeda and John Mark Yoder, of Gordonville, and Betty and Richard Esh, of Morgantown, where he lived along with his wife for the last four months of his life; his grandchildren, John Yoder, Anne Yoder, Sara Hurst, Kendra Gascho, Karla Weaver, and Kevin Esh; his great-grandchildren, Auralie Yoder and Judah Yoder; and a foster son, Bert Nestlerode, married to Carol Nestlerode, of Ephrata. He is also survived by a brother, Melvin Kauffman of Parkesburg, and two sisters, Hanna Stoltzfus of Lititz and Dorcas Smoker of Parkesburg. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Ammon Kauffman and Daniel Kauffman, Jr., and three sisters, Florence Blank, Mary Kauffman and Esther Naomi Smoker.

Family and friends are invited to Aaron's viewing at Millwood Mennonite Church, 441 Amish Rd., Gap, PA, on Wednesday afternoon, April 2, from 2:00 to 4:00, and in the evening from 6:00 to 8:00. The funeral will be at the church on Thursday morning, April 3, at 11:00, with viewing from 10:00 to 11:00. Pastors Elvin Ressler, Keith Beiler, Luke Sensenig and Eugene Lapp will be officiating. Interment will take place following the funeral in the adjoining cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Mennonite Central Committee, P.O. Box 500, Akron PA 17501-0500; or Hospice of Lancaster County, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster PA 17604. Arrangements by the Shivery Funeral Home, Christiana & Paradise.

Lancaster Newspapers, Lancaster PA
March 29, 2008
Submitted by: Thelma Hoover Martin

Orrville - Paul L. Kauffman, 86, of 2212 West High Street, went home to be with the Lord, on Thursday morning, February 7, 2008, at his home after a period of declining health.

Services will be held Monday, February 11, 2008, at 11:00 AM at the Smithville Mennonite Church with Pastor Todd Martin and Rev. Bill Detweiler officiating. Burial will take place at the Smithville Mennonite Church Cemetery.

Friends may call at Auble Funeral Home, 512 East Oak Street, Orrville, on Sunday, February 10, 2008, from 6 - 8 PM, and at the church one hour prior to the service on Monday morning. Online registry and expressions of condolence may left at the funeral home's Web site, www.aublefuneralhome.com.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Smithville Mennonite Church, 6097 Akron Road, Smithville, Ohio 44677 and to Hospice and Palliative Care of Greater Wayne County, 2525 Back Orrville Road, Wooster, Ohio 44691.

Paul was born May 12, 1921 in Shellsburg, PA, the son of Bruce and Carrie (Cable) Kauffman. They moved to Martinsburg, PA in 1922. He graduated from Morrison Cove High School, Martinsburg, PA in 1939. In 1943 he moved to Orrville, Ohio. He married Ruth Blosser on December 27, 1944, in Smithville. She survives. From 1943 to 1947 he served in Civilian Public Service.

In 1944 Paul started work with John Boegli Construction and two years later they formed a partnership - Boegli and Kauffman. The Methodist Church in Orrville was the largest single contract built by the partnership. Twenty years later John retired and Paul took over the business. Kauffman Construction was incorporated January 1, 1967, (Paul retired 15 years later). Paul designed and built the Smithville Mennonite Church where he was a member. He also built Auble Funeral Home and many homes in the area.

He was a former board member of the Oseopathic Hospital.

Paul enjoyed hunting and going to auctions, collecting knives and antique tools, and was a regular vendor at the flea market in Kidron, OH. He enjoyed golfing and spending his winters in Sarasoto, FL.

Surviving in addition to his wife Ruth (Blosser) Kauffman are children, Deborah (John) Riegsecker of Gig Harbor, WA, Kristen (Jim) Herring of Orrville, OH, Jan (Joanne) Kauffman of Dalton,OH, Donita Gingrich of Orrville, OH, Beth (Ben) Denton of Cottonwood, AZ, and Sara Koontz of Solon,OH; nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, (Martinsburg, PA); sister, Florence Miller (Martinsburg, PA), and brother, Eli "Pete" Kauffman (Marshallville, OH).

Auble Funeral Home, Orrville, OH
Submitted by: Thelma Hoover Martin

Survived by a sister, Miriam Kauffmann of Goshen; four brothers, Ivan (Lola) Kauffmann and Norman (Sharon) Kauffmann, both of Goshen, Warren (Maxine) Kauffmann of Normal, Illinois, and Floyd Kauffmann of Imperial Beach, California.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Weldon Kauffman; and an infant sister, Nadine Kauffmann.

A family memorial service will be held at a later date with burial in Violett Cemetery, Goshen.

Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, Goshen, IN
Submitted and Edited by Leon Hertzler

Survived by his wife, Kathy Fisher and a daughter, Melody Keim, and two grandsons, Jeremy Keim-Shenk and Jonathan Keim-Shenk of Lancaster, Pa.

Preceded in death by his parents, as well as a sister, Savilla Keim, are deceased. Also deceased is his wife of 38 years, Leanna Yoder Keim, who died in 1998. Seven siblings who survive include Melvin Keim of Fort Defiance, Va., Edna Beiler of Mogadore, Ohio, Simon Keim of Clarksville, Va., John Keim of Harrisonburg, Leroy Keim of Salem, Ohio, Esther Keim of Aroda, Va., and Martha Proffitt of Ruckersville, Va.

A memorial service was at Park View Mennonite Church on July 1, 2008 with burial following.

Kyger Funeral Home in Harrisonburg, VA.
Submitted and Edited by Leon Hertzler

She is survived by three sons, Nelson Kuhns, Glenn Kuhns and Marlin Kuhns, all of Chambersburg; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one brother, Clyde Lehman of Chambersburg; two sisters, Marian Funk of Chambersburg and Janet Martin of St. Thomas; and a number of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, one sister, Grace Wadel.

Services were March 25, 2008 at the Chambersburg Mennonite Church, with the Revs. Jerry Roth and Preston Frey officiating. Burial will be in Chambersburg Mennonite Cemetery.

The Record Herald Posted Mar 24, 2008
Submitted and Edited by Leon Hertzler