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.

2016  T to V

Mervin Troyer, 97, passed to his heavenly reward at Schowalter Villa, Hesston, on Friday (March 11, 2016).

Mervin was born Feb. 9, 1919, near Jet, Oklahoma, to Samuel J. and Iva Miller Troyer. The eldest of four children, which included Maurine and twins Wilbur and Wilma, he spent the first eleven years in Oklahoma. They attended the Milan Valley Mennonite Church. Mervin attended the Jet consolidated school through grade five. In 1930, the family moved to a farm west of Harper, KS, near Crystal Springs. Mervin completed his elementary education in Nebo's one room country school, in 1933. Four years later, he graduated with the 1937 class of Harper High School. The following winter he attended six weeks of Short Term Bible School at Hesston College.

After moving to Kansas, the family attended the Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church east of Harper and later in Harper. In his early teens he committed his life to Christ and was baptized. He continued an active member at Pleasant Valley after marriage, serving on several boards and committees. He served for a time as Superintendent of the Primary-Junior Sunday School Department and also as a youth Sunday School teacher. He greatly enjoyed working with the children and youth of the church.

After high school graduation, Mervin helped his parents on the farm and spent three fall corn and bean harvest seasons working on a farm in Arthur, Illinois. On July 28, 1940, he married Dorothy King in Arthur. Mervin and Dorothy lived in Arthur for one year after their marriage and he worked as a shipping clerk for Progress Manufacturing Company.

In 1941 they moved to a farm near Duquoin, Kansas, where they welcomed children to their small rural home: Elnor Joan, Harlan Dale, who died at the age of two, and twins Donald Gene and Ronald Dean. The farm mostly produced wheat and some other small grains and some livestock including cows and Berkshire hogs. Mervin was very involved in the care of son Harlan, who was born handicapped and required several surgeries and hospitalizations. While the children were in elementary school, he supplemented his farm income by driving the Grandview Grade School bus.

After 18 years, they moved to the family farm west of Harper, where he enjoyed farming for another 22 years. In 1982, Mervin and Dorothy left the farm to live in Harper where they stayed until 1989. They then moved to Hesston, to an apartment at Schowalter Villa. Several years after his wife's death, Mervin moved to Assisted Living and later to Health Care at Schowalter Villa.

In retirement Mervin enjoyed working in the yard and gardening, often sharing garden produce with neighbors and friends. He spent hours doing woodwork projects, making tops and toys, or making chair risers for Villa residents and doing miscellaneous projects for Villa staff and the child care. He especially enjoyed working with children on craft projects, games, and just watching them play outside his window.

Mervin was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Dorothy in 2001, son Harlan Dale, grandson Darin Troy Stutzman, great-granddaughter Courtney Marie Troyer, great great-grandson Mikel Lee Maxim and his sister, Wilma Mast.

He is survived by children: Elnor J. (Don) Stutzman, Donald (Michelle) Troyer, and Ronald (Marie) Troyer; grandchildren, Derek (Serena) Stutzman, Dalton (Amy M.) Stutzman, Amy D. Stutzman, Amber (Cameron) Cook, April Lally, Deonna Troyer, Elizabeth (Rick) Decker, David Troyer, Sondra Knight, and Stephanie (Brian) Balog; 20 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, with the family receiving friends from noon until service time at Schowalter Villa Chapel, Hesston. Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Pleasant Valley Mennonite Cemetery, Harper. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Schowalter Villa Good Samaritan Fund, in care of Miller-Ott Funeral Home, Hesston.

The Kansan, Newton, KS
March 12, 2016
Submitted by: Thelma Hoover Martin

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Troyer, Mervin M., 97, of Hesston, Harvey Co., KS died March 11, 2016 at the same place. He was born February 9, 1919 at Jet, Oklahoma to Samuel J. and Iva (Miller) Troyer. On July 28 1940 at Arthur, IL he was married to Dorothy King, who was born October 7, 1918 and died September 19, 2001.

Surviving are children, Elnor (Don) Stutzman; Donald (Michelle) Troyer; and Ronald (Marie) Troyer; ten grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren.

A son, Harlan Dale Troyer; a grandson, Darin Troy Stutzman; great-grandchild, Courtney Marie Troyer; great-great-grandchild, Mikel Lee Maxima; and a sister, Wilma Mast preceded him in death.

Memorial services were held March 14, 2016 at Schowalter Villa Chapel, Hesston, KS with burial in Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Harper, KS.

Submitted by: Norma Diller, Hesston, KS
Edited by: Thelma Hoover Martin

GOSHEN - Norman E. Troyer, 63, died Thursday, June 9, at Elkhart Hospice House.

He was born March 4, 1953, in Bellefontaine, Ohio, to M. Raymond and D. Kathryn (Hartzler) Troyer.

Survivors include two sisters, Betty (Harvey) Hartzler of Tucson, Ariz., and Janet (Phil) Yordy of Elmira, Ontario; three brothers, Dennis (Anne) Troyer of High Pointe, N.C., David (Carol) Troyer, Groveland, Ill., and Jon (Almeda) Troyer of Middlebury; and a brother-in-law, Brad Yoder of North Manchester.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Marilyn Yoder.

Norman had been an ADEC sheltered workshop employee and was in their Bristol Adult Daycare program. He currently resided at Terrance Park Home, Goshen, where he was well loved by all.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until the 6 p.m. Sunday, June 12, funeral service at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, Goshen. His brother, Pastor David Troyer, will officiate.

Burial will be at 1 p.m. Monday, June 13, in Fairview Cemetery, West Liberty, Ohio. Eichholtz, Daring and Sanford Funeral Home, Bellefontaine, Ohio is assisting.

Memorial contributions may be directed to ADEC or College Mennonite Church.

Elkhart Truth, Elkhart, IN
June 10, 2016
Submitted By: Thelma Hoover Martin

EUREKA, Ill. - Ruby Ulrich, 94, of Eureka, died at 9:30 a.m. Friday, May 20, at Advocate Eureka Hospital.

She was born April 26, 1922, in Shickley, Neb., to Henry and Lydia (Birky) Reeb.

She married Kenneth Ulrich on June 22, 1950, in Hopedale. He survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Rollin (Velma) Ulrich of Goshen, Ind., and Steven (Naomi) Ulrich of Eureka; one daughter Debra (Rollin) Handrich of Goshen; two sisters, her twin Ruth (Jim) Ulrich of Eureka and LaVerda McMakin of Springfield.

She was preceded in death by one son, Keith, one brother, Ervin Reeb, and one sister, Marian Nofsinger.

Ruby was a dedicated Christian and a member of Roanoke Mennonite Church where she was involved in many of the church activities.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, May 27, at Roanoke Mennonite Church. Pastor Bryan Miller and Chaplain Doane Brubaker will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 26, at the Roanoke Mennonite Church Fellowship Hall and one hour prior to services on Friday at the church. Cremation has been accorded. Burial of her cremains will be in Roanoke Mennonite Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Roanoke Mennonite Church, Roanoke Mennonite Cemetery or Illinois Mennonite Heritage Center.

Online tributes and condolences may be made at www.argoruestmanharrisfuneralhome.com.

Argo-Ruestman-Harris Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.

Elkhart Truth, Elkhart, IN
May 22, 2016
Submitted By: Thelma Hoover Martin

GOSHEN — Ethel Umble, 95, of Goshen, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, Aug. 7, at IU Health Goshen Hospital.

She was born June 17, 1921, in Michigan City, to August and Anna Haack Korn.

Her music career began early, starting with piano lessons at age 5. At 13 years of age she became a church organist and was named one of the two finest high school pianists in the nation at the 1934 National High School Piano Competition.

Ethel graduated from Elston High School at age 15 and went on to study for four years at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago.

She was a featured piano soloist with the Michigan City Symphony Orchestra.

In 1941, she married William C. Kambs Jr. In 1955, they moved to Elkhart, where Ethel accompanied the Elkhart High School choirs under William Gowdy.

She served as organist for Trinity United Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church, pianist for the Elkhart Symphony Orchestra, and gave private piano and organ lessons.

Following her husband’s death in 1969, she spent a year in Mennonite Voluntary Service in Oita, Japan, teaching English and developing a church choir.

Upon her return, she enrolled at Goshen College and completed her long-awaited bachelor of arts degree in 1975, while working part time in the music department office and providing private piano instruction.

She was then invited to become the hostess at the London Mennonite Centre in England where she served until receiving a memorable visit (and marriage proposal) from professor Roy H. Umble. They were married in 1978, which marked the beginning of a new chapter of her life in the Mennonite community and opened the door for many service opportunities and world travel. They served in China as scholars-in-residence through the China Educational Exchange and in Belize as SST leaders for Goshen College students.

Ethel was a member of College Mennonite Church, serving as an organist there for many decades. She was also a member of the American Guild of Organists, Seniors for Peace, Hunger Concerns Ministry Group, Goshen Interfaith Hospitality Network, Outreach Commission and Jail Ministries. She volunteered in the GC music office, gathered with fellow peace activists for seven years on the Goshen Courthouse lawn to remember victims and servicepersons who lost their lives in the Iraq and Afghanistan war and pray for their families and for peace. She was part of a team that worked to end the use of depleted uranium, and went to Israel with the Christian Peacemaker Team delegation as an advocate for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Most of all, her passion was known by expressing her deep faith in God through her compassion for everyone she touched.

She lived out the words of Jesus in Matthew 25 – she fed the hungry, welcomed the stranger, and visited those in prison.

Truly, she was a “good and faithful” servant.

Survivors include two daughters, Judith (Dennis) Flora of Granger and Kathy (Thomas) Fackelman, West Lafayette; and son William (Cheryl) Kambs of Elkhart; two stepdaughters, Janet (Stanley) Reedy of Washington, D.C., and Alice (John) Klassen of Fort Langley, British Columbia; brother August Korn of California; 12 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be at College Mennonite Church at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Roy Umble Scholarship Fund (Goshen College), College Mennonite Church or Mennonite Board of Missions.

Yoder-Culp Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Elkhart Truth, Elkhart, IN
Aug. 11, 2016
Submitted by: Thelma Hoover Martin

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Umble, Ethel Anne Korn Kambs, 95, of Goshen, Elkhart Co., IN died August 7, 2016 at the same place. She was born June 17, 1921 at Michigan City, IN to August and Anna (Haack) Korn. On May 29, 1941 at South Bend, IN she was married to William C. Kambs, Jr., who died in 1969. Ethel next married Roy H. Umble on November 5, 1978 in Elkhart, Indiana.

Surviving are children, Judith (Dennis) Flora; Kathy (Thomas) Fackelman; William (Cheryl) Kambs; stepdaughters Janet (Stanley) Reedy; and Alice (John) Klaasen; 12 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren.

Memorial services were held August 19, 2016 at College Mennonite Church, Goshen, IN.

Submitted by: Diana Hershberger, Goshen, IN
Edited by: Thelma Hoover Martin

Surviving are children, Dorcenus Daniel Underwood, Jacob Gregory Underwood, and Martha Serenity Underwood; and siblings, Edward Joseph and Dorothy Deshotel, Lawrence Deshotel, Donald Deshotel, Doretta and James Moorman.

Three siblings preceded her in death.

Memorial services were held May 4, 2016 at Springdale Mennonite Church, Waynesboro, VA.

Submitted by:Nancy Stoll, Waynesboro, VA
Edited by: Thelma Hoover Martin