Lazarus
Project
An obituary project of MennObits.
Source of individual obituaries given with each record.
This file is named for the year the obituary was recorded here, not the
death year.
2026:
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Baer, John P.
March 4, 1942 - December 19, 2025
John P. Baer, age 83 years, of Pettisville, Ohio passed away Friday morning,
December 19, 2025, surrounded by his family, at his home. He was born March
4, 1942 in Wauseon the son of Clarence and Laura (Crossgrove) Baer. John
grew up in Pettisville and Archbold, and attended Goshen College (1962-64)
where he met his wife, Kathryn (Cathi) Ulrich. John and Cathi were married
in March 1964. They moved to Aibonito, Puerto Rico where John did 1W service
at Hospital Menonita and Cathi taught at Betania school. After returning
from Puerto Rico, John worked at Sauder Manufacturing for 47 years before
retiring in 2012.
John was a lifelong gardener and woodworker. In the early 1970’s, John and
Cathi restored an historic farmhouse in Archbold where they lived for 30
years. John was a member of Zion Mennonite Church, Archbold, where he led
worship and sang in the choir. He enjoyed music, studying culture and
history, traveling with Cathi, and spending time with and helping children
and grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and friends.
John is survived by his wife, Cathi; children Jonathan (Sheila Yoder) Baer,
St. Louis, MO, Frederick (Elizabeth Zilba) Baer, Archbold, OH, Matthew
(Jeanne Yordy) Baer, Tucson, AZ, and Peter (Emma Stahl-Wert) Baer, Tucson,
AZ. Grandchildren Jesse (Kaedi LeFevre) Baer, Parker, CO; Anneliese (Caleb
Beachy) Baer, Capitol Heights, MD; Katie (Ione Heigham) Baer, Washington
D.C.; Birch (Olivia Krall) Baer, Bloomington, IN; Rosemary (Jacob Dixon)
Baer, Goshen, IN; Elias Baer, Josey Baer (deceased), Adele Baer, Clyde
Berry, and Eva Bird Baer, Tucson, AZ; and great grandson expected January
2026. Siblings Judith (Lowell Kulp) Baer and Mark Baer, Archbold, OH;
sisters-in-law Judy (Nathan, deceased) Baer, Pettisville, OH; Joan (Joe,
deceased) Baer, Toledo, OH; Janice (Philip) Rush, Haviland, KS; and Ruth
(Byron, deceased) Ulrich, Eureka, IL.He was also preceded in death by his
parents, Clarence and Laura (Crossgrove) Baer.
Services will be held on Friday, January 2, at 11:00 AM at Zion Mennonite
Church. A meal will follow the service. Friends may call from 9:00-11:00 AM
before the service. Short Funeral Home in Archbold has been entrusted with
the arrangements. The family suggests that memorials be given to MLK Kitchen
for the Poor, 650 Vance St., Toledo, OH 43604.
https://www.kitchenforthepoor.org/
https://www.shortfuneralhome.com/obituary/john-baer
Accessed January 10, 2026 by Phil Kniss
Beachy, Calvin Coolidge
July 26, 1924 – November 20, 2025
Calvin C. Beachy passed away November 20th, 2025 in Sarasota Florida. Cal
was the sixth child and a twin, born to Samuel and Catherine (Schlabach)
Beachy in Crittenden, New York, on July 26, 1924. His life was filled with
many adventures on the family farm. He attended country school until the 8th
grade. He later earned his High School GED.
He married Aurelia Lydia Kipfer on September 1, 1946. Aurelia passed in 2005
- they had been married for 59 years. Together, they raised four children,
Thomas, Marcia, Virginia, and James. Calvin dabbled in farming and raised
pigs and chickens on their farm in Corfu, NY. He spent most of his working
years in construction in New York. He enjoyed volunteering at Red Lake,
Canada, church building in Albania, and oversaw construction projects at
Laurelville Mennonite Church Camp, PA, Eastern Mennonite University, VA, and
Ashton Mennonite Church, Sarasota, FL. He and Aurelia spent several years in
Alaska working for his nephew in construction and enjoying life there.
Cal loved hunting - while in Alaska he secured a trophy of a caribou, but
most of his efforts were hunting deer. Every November, he went with five of
his best friends in a restored bus camper to Maine to get his deer. Deer
hunting was one of his favorite pleasures!
Cal was a member of the Alden Mennonite Church in New York all his life. He
was a Believer who acted out his faith every day. He genuinely loved people
- especially looking out for those who were struggling. He loved visiting
and meeting relatives he didn't even know he had and going to reunions! His
home was always open and welcoming to visitors. He loved to laugh and always
enjoyed a good joke!
On July 12, 2008, Cal married Marlene Johnson whom he met in Sarasota while
volunteering at The Attic Thrift Store. They renovated a home there, at
which time, he sold his property in New York.
Cal and Marlene attended Sarasota Community Church where he made many
friends. He was able to enjoy seeing many of his family and friends at his
100th birthday celebration.
Cal is survived by his wife, Marlene, his children, Thomas (Karen
Swartzendruber), Ginny (Allen Liechty), Jim (Pam Baer), son-in-law, Stanlee
Kauffman(Marcia), Natalie Shenk (Ken), Lyla Kornhaus (Kim), Linda Stamp,
sister Marie, and a sister-in-law, Josephine Kipfer (Joe). Also surviving
are 31 grandchildren, 52 greatgrandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Cal was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Aurelia, his daughter,
Marcia, his brothers David, Lewis, Jones, Alvin (twin), Earl, sisters
Martha, Sally, Grace, grandson, Brian (Tom), granddaughter, Karla (Ginny).
and a great granddaughter, Blessing (Marcia).
We will always remember Calvin as a quiet, gentle and loving husband,
father, grandfather and great grandfather.
Services will be scheduled in a few months in New York. Please follow this
obituary below to receive notification of the service time.
Any memorial contributions in memory of Calvin can be made to Tidewell
Hospice.
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/sarasota-fl/calvin-beachy-12626464Accessed
January 10, 2026 by Phil Kniss
Bontrager, Norman T.
March 24, 1937 — December 31, 2025
Norman T. Bontrager was born March 24, 1937, on his family
farm west of Kalona, Iowa. He was the only son of Tobe and Lydia (Glick)
Bontrager. He disliked studies but enjoyed building friendships at Snake
Hollow School. Norman was happily married to Ruth Ann Gingerich for 67 years
and 10 days. Their marriage began on December 21, 1958, at Sunnyside
Conservative Mennonite Church in Kalona. Norman and Ruth Ann raised their
four children, a handful of “fresh air children,” and nearly 20 foster
children on the farm where he grew up. Norman loved visiting with people,
telling colorful stories, working with horses, and spending time with his
family. He thoroughly enjoyed serving God, by serving others. Family
vacations always involved a service component. Norman went on many
short-term mission trips and volunteered often with the Mennonite Disaster
Service. His students loved his practical, hands-on style as he served as a
Sunday School Superintendent and Sunday School teacher. He and Ruth Ann also
helped as youth group leaders. Norman was a founding board member for
Crooked Creek Christian Camp.
Following a brief hospitalization to relieve fluid retention, Norman was
admitted to Washington County Hospice in mid-December. He was ready to die
and decided against further testing or treatment. He passed away peacefully
at home on Wednesday, December 31, shortly after midnight at age 88. He is
survived by his wife Ruth Ann; four children, Gary (Julie) Bontrager of
Wellman, Errol (Coletta) Bontrager of Kalona, Ken (Deborah) Bontrager of
Arcadia, Florida, and Cindy (Mike) Gingerich of Kalona; 15 grandchildren; 13
great grandchildren; two sisters, Edna Miller and Ethel Bontrager and a
brother-in-law, Calvin Yoder. He was preceded in death by his parents, a
sister Ada Yoder, a granddaughter Hadassah Ruth Bontrager, a great grandson
Lowell Elijah Gingerich and a brother-in-law Emery H. Miller.
Funeral Service will be 10:30 AM, Saturday, January 3, 2026, at
Sunnyside Mennonite Church in Kalona. A private family burial will be in the
South Gingerich Cemetery prior to the service. Visitation will be Friday,
January 2, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Sunnyside Mennonite Church. A
Memorial fund has been established for Crooked Creek Christian Camp, Water
for Life, or Camp Deerpark in New York. Messages and tributes may be sent to
the family at www.powellfuneralhomes.com. Yoder-Powell Funeral Home is
caring for Norman and his family.
https://www.powellfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/norman-bontrager
Accessed January 12, 2026 by Phil Kniss
Brunk, Kenneth
Dale
October 7, 1949 - December 15, 2025
Kenneth Dale Brunk was born in Denbigh, Virginia on
October 7th, 1949 to Dora Hertzler and Daniel Wenger Brunk. He passed away
peacefully on December 15th, 2025 in Rockingham, Virginia.
As a young man, Ken was a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War, and
opted to serve in Tanzania for three years as part of a village development
program. During his time there, he learned Swahili and spoke it like a
native for the rest of his life. He loved the country dearly and considered
it his second home, returning many times and frequently bringing family and
friends along on trips.
After marrying his wife Gail Jantzi in 1980, they settled in Batesville,
Virginia, where Ken helped design and build their house. They raised two
children there, Gabriel and Anastasia (Annie), and the family later moved to
Harrisonburg, Virginia. He also worked on adding a landing strip to their
property in Orange so he could store and fly his planes.
Ken was a man of many skills, and could be always found working on new
hobbies and projects. He was an accomplished woodworker, and built
everything from kayaks to spinning wheels to safari furniture. Also a
talented bluegrass musician and singer, he taught himself to play the piano
and guitar by ear. He could just as easily be found working on an old
Singer treadle sewing machine as baking another batch of whole wheat bread,
reading about David Livingston and Mark Twain, or experimenting with ham
radios. In his later years, he spent much of his time writing up his own
stories of his many travel (mis)adventures in Tanzania and across Europe,
and leaning into his new role as a grandfather by building sandboxes for his
grandsons and making them laugh with as many funny noises as he could.
Ken’s zest for life, humor, curiosity, and sense of adventure will always be
remembered by those who knew him. Besides his two children, he is survived
by Gail, his wife of 45 years, daughter-in-law Lauren, and two beloved
grandsons, Everett and Silas. He is also survived by his four siblings:
Shirley Coberly, Ron Brunk, his twin sister Kathy Stoltzfus, and Juanita
Brunk, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Memorial details are forthcoming, but in lieu of flowers the family requests
donations be made to Friends of Shirati.
https://mcmullenfh.com/obituaries/kenneth-brunk, accessed January 7,
2026
Submitted by: Phil Kniss
Burkholder, Irvin David
“Fotch”
September 3, 1936 - December 19, 2025
Irvin David “Fotch” Burkholder, 89, a resident of
Rockingham, passed away on Friday, December 19, 2025 at Sentara RMH
Medical Center.
Mr. Burkholder was born on September 3, 1936 in Rockingham County and was
a son of the late Irvin Newton and Brownie May Bowman Burkholder
He attended Massanutten Technical Center studying Engineering. For many
years, he worked at N&S Auto Service before taking the role of Product
Service Technician at Shenandoah Manufacturing Company until the company
closed its doors in 2003. Following his retirement, he was a
self-employed “jack of all trades,” volunteered with many local
organizations, and shared his love of Jesus with anyone he would meet.
On September 1, 1956, he married Lois Elizabeth “Lizzie” Caplinger
Burkholder who preceded him in death on August 30, 2023.
Mr. Burkholder is survived by his daughter, Dawn Weaver and husband Bill,
of Mt. Crawford; grandchildren, Benjamin Weaver and wife Alyssa of San
Francisco, CA, Rachel Weaver of Bridgewater; siblings, Clarence Burkholder
and wife Sharon of Suffolk, Boyd Burkholder and wife Sharon of Rockingham,
Earl Burkholder and wife Donna of Las Cruces, NM, Lois Wenger and husband
Robert of Harrisonburg, Dwight Burkholder and wife Linda of Stuarts Draft,
Ruel Burkholder and wife Diane of Rockingham; sister-in-law, Shirley
Caplinger of Peach Tree City, GA and numerous nieces, nephews and their
spouses.
In addition to his parents and wife, Mr. Burkholder was preceded in death
by a sister, Jane Burkholder.
Those wishing to view and sign the register book may do so on Monday,
December 29, 2025 from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the McMullen Funeral Home.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 11: 00
a.m. at New Beginnings Church with Pastor Lucas Cook officiating. Burial
will be held privately.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of
your choice.
Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting
www.mcmullenfh.com.
McMullen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements
https://mcmullenfh.com/obituaries/irvin-burkholder, accessed January 7,
2026
Submitted by Phil Kniss
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