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:
S
QUICK REFERENCE INDEX
(click on name to jump to obituary)
Schlabach, Alma (Weaver)
August 29, 1934 - August 17, 2025
Alma Schlabach, 90, of Traverse City, Michigan, went home
to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at her home.
She was born on August 29, 1934, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, to William and
Fannie (Stutzman) Weaver. On November 7, 1954, she married the love of her
life, Lewis Schlabach, in Hartville, Ohio. In 1979, they made their home in
northern Michigan.
Alma will be remembered as a devoted wife, a loving mother and grandmother,
and a cherished friend to many. Family and friends remember her as an
amazing and lovely woman – beautiful, kind, and a true blessing to all who
knew her. Her gentle spirit, warm laugh, and gift for cooking were among the
qualities most treasured by those close to her. Even through life’s hardest
trials, Alma’s joy never wavered, and she faced each day without complaint.
Her legacy of love and faith continues in the many lives she touched. She
was a faithful member of Grace Fellowship Mennonite Church.
She is survived by her seven sons: Joseph (Tootz) of Cochranton, PA; Philip
(Martha) of Trinidad, CO; John (Virginia) of Cedar, MI; James (Christine) of
Traverse City, MI; Nathan (Charlene) of Sarasota, FL; David (JoAnn) of
Westcliffe, CO; and Mark (Starla) of Lancaster, PA; as well as her
son-in-law David (Joy) Hostetler of Jeromesville, OH, and two
sisters-in-law, Rachel Weaver and Viola Schlabach. Alma was a beloved
grandmother to 38 grandchildren and great-grandmother to 92
great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Fannie Weaver; her
husband Lewis Schlabach; her daughters, Esther Dawn Hostetler and Ruth Hope
Schlabach; her grandson, Cory Schlabach; and four brothers and two sisters.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 21, from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at
Center Point Assembly. A funeral service will take place on Friday, August
22, at 10:00 a.m. at Center Point Assembly, 5291 M-66, Charlevoix, MI,
49720.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Grace Fellowship
Mennonite Church, 11675 Boyne City Rd, Charlevoix, MI 49720.
https://www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/alma-schlabach
Accessed 1/11/2026 by Kevin Miller
Schlabach, Lewis
September 2, 1933 - August 24, 2020
Lewis L. Schlabach, 86, of Traverse City went home to be
with the Lord on Monday, August 24, 2020. He was born on September 2,
1933 in Hartville, OH the son of Levi and Mary (Sommers) Schlabach.
Lewis grew up working on the family farm in Hartville. He then worked
in construction for several years before becoming a general mason which he
did for the rest of his working life. He married Alma Weaver on
November 9, 1954 in Hartville, and they moved to Northern Michigan where he
continued to work as a mason in both Traverse City and Charlevoix.
They were always hospitable, and often would host people staying at their
house. Lewis was a devoted Christian and desired to serve the
Lord. He served as a deacon and pastor at Grace Fellowship Mennonite
Church in Charlevoix. He enjoyed gardening, beekeeping, woodworking,
and growing fruit trees on their property.
Lewis is survived by his loving wife, Alma Schlabach; seven children, Joseph
(Tootz) Schlabach of Cochranton, PA, Phillip (Martha) Schlabach of Trinidad,
CO, John (Virginia) Schlabach of Cedar, MI, James (Christine) Schlabach,
Traverse City, MI, Nathan (Charlene) Schlabach of Sarasota, FL, David
(Joann) Schlabach of Westcliffe, CO, and Mark (Starla) Schlabach of
Lancaster, PA; son-in-law David (Joy) Hostetler of Jeromesville, OH; sister
Alma Miller of East Rochester, OH; 38 grandchildren; and 63
great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Levi and Mary Schlabach; two
daughters, Esther Dawn Hostetler and Ruth Hope Schlabach; a grandchild, Cory
Schlabach; two sisters, Lucille Schlabach and Edna Troyer; and a brother,
Earl Schlabach.
Funeral services will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 28, 2020 at
Center Point Assembly of God, 5291 M-66, Charlevoix, MI 49720.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 27 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
and Friday, August 28 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral at
eleven, also at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Grace Fellowship
Mennonite Church, 11675 Boyne City Rd., Charlevoix, MI 49720.
https://www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/lewis-schlabach
Accessed 1/11/2026 by Kevin Miller
Schrock, Martha Virginia
(Funk)
September 13, 1929 - January 4, 2026
Martha Schrock, 96, of Millersburg, passed away on Sunday,
January 4, 2026 at her home following a period of declining health.
She was born on September 13, 1929 in Glenmont to the late Edward and
Florence (Ames) Funk and was raised by her foster parents Whilmer and Ida
Hochstetler. She married M. Dale Schrock on March 20, 1948. He passed away
on June 25, 2010.
She was a member of Walnut Creek Mennonite Church, where she taught Sunday
School, Bible School and led Bible Studies. She had a positive impact on
many lives through the Bible Studies she led, and she was involved with
Stephen Ministries at the church. She enjoyed the flowers that she had
around the house and working in her greenhouse for many years. She made many
beautiful wall hangings and pillows for the area shops, in addition to the
many beautiful quilts she made to share with her family.
She is survived by her two sons, James (Linda) Schrock of Lowpoint, IL and
Duane Schrock of Fresno; daughter-in-law Karen Schrock of Vinten, OH; 9
grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; and sister-in-law Lucille Nofzinger
of Wadsworth, OH.
In addition to her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by her
daughter Joyce Mahaffey; son Dean Schrock; and grandson Mike Mahaffey.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 11 AM at
Walnut Creek Mennonite Church with Pastors Charlie Grimes and Matt Yoder
officiating. Private family burial in the Church Cemetery prior to the
service. Friends may call on Friday, January 9, 2026 from 4-6 PM at the
church.
Memorials may be made to Mission Aviation Fellowship C/O Walnut Creek
Mennonite Church 2619 CR 144, PO Box 182, Walnut Creek, Ohio 44687.
https://www.smithfuneralhomesugarcreek.com/obituaries/Martha-Schrock?obId=46863496#/obituaryInfo
Accessed 1/12/2026 by Amy Stauffer-McNutt
Sharp, Linus “Lin”
November 30, 1941 - December 31, 2025
Linus “Lin” Emanuel Sharp, 84, died at Valley View Rest
Home on Dec. 31, 2025. He was born on Nov. 30, 1941, to Jesse D. and Amelia
(Peachey) Sharp, the fifth of seven children.
Born on the Bratton Farm at Alexander Springs, Belleville, Pa., he spent
most of his childhood on the Rudy Yoder farm, now owned by J. Irvin Zook, at
the edge of Belleville.
In 1948, the family moved to the Ore Bank farm on Front Mountain Road,
Belleville, the ancestral Zook-Kanagy, Detweiler-Sharp farm. Lin attended
Belleville Mennonite School, built on Ore Bank farmland, and graduated in
1962. Meanwhile, he courted classmate Darlis “Dot” Kanagy in his red and
white 1957 Chevy convertible. They married in 1963.
After a career in innovative farming, Linus and Darlis lived in Santa Rosa
Beach, Fla., for eight years where he attended the Christian International
Ministry training school and later worked for the ministry. When they
returned, they moved to Mountain Top Road, Belleville, where they lived
until 2016. Their current home is a cottage at the Valley View Retirement
Community. In retirement, he worked at Paul B’s and Sharp Shopper, both in
Belleville. In recent years, biking replaced horse training and riding as a
hobby.
Lin was involved in many ways in congregations of the valley:
Woodland/Mountain View and Rockville.
Linus is survived by his wife, Darlis, and three children: Jennifer (and
Preston) Yoder, Kevin (and Karla Wyland) Sharp, of Belleville, and Steven
(and Marsha Wyland) Sharp, of Allensville; nine grandchildren: Clinton (and
Heather Peachey) Yoder, on the home farm; Sean (and Ellen Matis) Yoder, of
Bellefonte, Devin (and Katherine Ray) Sharp, of Escondido, Calif., Derek of
Thompsontown, Destiny (Christian) Ramos, of Port Angeles, Wash., Christian
and Travis Sharp, of Belleville, and Katelyn and Hannah Sharp, of
Allensville; six great-grandchildren: Marcus and Madyson Yoder, Azalea and
Stella Yoder and Isabella and Jeremiah Ramos.
He was preceded by his parents, Jessie and Amelia Sharp; his brother Roy;
sister Sally (Sharp) Mullet; brother-in-law Colonel Edwards and
sister-in-law Deliah (Miller) Sharp.
He is survived by his siblings: brothers Urie Sharp, of Hasley, Ore.; David
Sharp, of Belleville; John Sharp, of Hesston Kan.; sister Alta (Sharp)
Smith, of Independence Kan.; sister-in-law Janet (Keen) Sharp, of Casa
Grande, Ariz.; and brother-in-law Mel Mullet, of Sarasota, Fla.
Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family. A memorial
service will be announced at a later date.
https://www.lewistownsentinel.com/obituaries/2026/01/linus-lin-emanuel-sharp/Accessed
January 10, 2026 by Phil Kniss
Shisler, Harold Derstine
December 8, 1936 - October 15, 2025
Harold Derstine Shisler, age 88, died peacefully at his
residence at the Souderton Mennonite Homes - Living Branches on October 15,
2025. Born in Souderton, PA, he was the son of Claude M. Shisler and Susanna
S. Derstine. He was married 64 years to the love of his life, Barbara Esch,
who predeceased him in 2021. He was predeceased by his parents as well as
his stepmother, Naomi D. Shisler and his sister Emily Lapp.
Along with his brother, Arlin Shisler, and sister Ruth Bunton, Harold is
survived by three children, Kirk and wife Mary Ann Hostetter, Konrad and
wife Lynne Matczak, and Kari Shisler and husband Joe Dyczewski. Harold
deeply loved his children and four grandchildren: Amanda, Ben, Andy, and
Nicholas, and his three precious great-granddaughters, Mara, Gemma, and
Giulia.
Harold and his brother Arlin were known throughout Montgomery County as
professional painters of the highest caliber. Harold was known for his quick
wit, his many jokes, and his fun-loving teasing. Harold continued painting
on a part-time basis well into his 70s following his official retirement as
favorite customers would insist that he come by to do small painting jobs
for them.
In his retirement years, Harold worked as a volunteer at the Care and Share
thrift store which supported Mennonite Central Committee. He was also
an active member of Faith and Light, an organization devoted to providing
encouragement and support to families with adult children with intellectual
disabilities. His care, loyalty and tenderness were hallmarks of his many
years of involvement with the Faith and Light community.
Harold loved the people and mission of Perkasie Mennonite Church where he
was an active member for nearly 60 years. A lover of good hymn music, Harold
served as song leader for many years. He also served as a trustee attending
to the care of the Perkasie Mennonite Church facility.
A memorial service for Harold will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, December
6, at Perkasie Mennonite Church, 4th and Chestnut Streets Perkasie PA, where
the family will greet guests form 9:00 - 10:15 AM.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Harold‘s memory to Perkasie
Mennonite Church, 320 West Chestnut St., Perkasie, PA 18944, or to the
Benevolence Fund at Living Branches, 240 West Reliance Road, Souderton PA,
18964
https://www.williamsbergeykoffel.com/obituary/harold-shisler
Accessed January 10, 2026 by Phil Kniss
Smucker, David Homer
February 21, 1938 - May 30, 2022
David H. Smucker, age 84, of Smithville, entered his
heavenly rest on Monday, May 30, 2022, at Smithville Western Care Center in
Wooster, following a period of declining health.
David was born on February 21, 1938, in Smithville, to the late John
""Mervin"" and Icie (Wenger) Smucker, and graduated from Smithville High
School in 1956 and attended Goshen College. He married Geneva June
Steiner on July 9, 1960, in Smithville and she survives. In the early 60's,
David participated in alternative service, working with at-risk youth in the
Adriel School, West Liberty, OH.
He worked as a mechanic and Parts Manager in the Fleet Maintanence
Department at Smith Dairy for 26 years, retiring in 2004.
David was an active member of Smithville Mennonite Church were he served as
an Elder and was very involved with the youth program. He loved
restoring Volkswagen Beetles and was known by many as ""The Bug
Man"". He will also be remembered for his love of singing in
organized groups as well as singing for his grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, Geneva, he is survived by three children, Lynette
(Gary) Neuenschwander of Wooster, David A. (Mary) Smucker of West Chester,
PA, and Karla (Wynn) Roth of Archbold; 10 grandchildren, Chris Rutt, Tony
Neuenschwander, Brandon Rutt, Renee Hanna, Rissa Bahler, Duncan Smucker,
Spencer Smucker, Madalyn Wold, Emily Waltz, and Natalie Roth; 11 great
grandchildren; three siblings, Stanley (Marlene) Smucker of Newton, KS,
Ralph (Lila) Smucker of Smithville, and Emma (Ron Piper) Stutzman of
Harrisonburg, VA; sister-in-law, Donna Smucker of Goshen, IN; and numerous
nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a brother, John Robert Smucker.
Friends may call on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at Smithville Mennonite Church,
6097 Akron Road, Smithville, from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm.
Services will follow at 3:00 pm on Saturday, at Smithville Mennonite Church,
with David's brother, Pastor Stan Smucker, officiating and will be live
streamed at https://www.facebook.com/aublefuneralhome. Burial will
take place at the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Parkinson's Foundation, 200
SE 1st Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131, www.parkinson.org or Ohio's
Hospice LifeCare, 1900 Akron Road, Wooster, OH 44691,
www.lifecarehospice.org.
The family would like to thank the staff from Smithville Western Care Center
and Ohio's Hospice LifeCare for their compassionate and loving care for
David for these last three years.
Auble Funeral Homes:
https://www.aublefuneralhomes.com/obituaries/David-H-Smucker?obId=24979487
Accessed January 10, 2026 by Kevin Miller
Stauffer, Ruth LaVerne Yoder
March 28, 1933 - January 9, 2026
Ruth LaVerne Yoder Stauffer, 92, resident of Harrisonburg, passed away on
January 9, 2026 at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC). Ruth
Stauffer was born on March 28, 1933 and was the daughter of the late Morgan
Austin Yoder and Nora June Blough of Johnstown, PA.
Ruth Yoder Stauffer was born and raised on her parents’ farm, before leaving
home to pursue a nursing career. She studied at Goshen College earning
a Nursing degree in 1956, ranking 6th in a class of 96 students. She later
completed a Masters of Nursing in 1964 from the University of Washington,
Seattle. Early on, Ruth went to Peru’s remote Amazon regions, working as a
nurse with LeTourneau’s global mission outreach. She also served in
Vietnam with Mennonite Central Committee from 1966-1972. Ruth worked on the
nursing faculty of Hesston College, KS, from 1972-1982. From there she
served in Haiti at the Albert Sweitzer Hospital from 1982-1984. After her
time overseas, she returned to the US as a primary caregiver of her late
parents until their deaths. It was during this time she reconnected with
James Stauffer, after he was widowed in 1985.
On August 30, 1987, she married James K. Stauffer, and they served together
ministering with Vietnamese Mennonite congregations in Northern Virginia
(1987-1988) and Honolulu Hawaii (1989-1995). They volunteered for five
stints with Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) and were active members of
Family of Hope church in Harrisonburg, VA. James and Ruth enjoyed 37 years
together before his passing on November 13, 2024.
Ruth is survived by her sister Lois Jean Yoder of Elgin, Illinois. Her
other siblings preceded her in death: older brother David Alden Yoder of
Seattle, WA, and sister Martha Ann Bowman of North Manchester, Indiana.
Also surviving are the Stauffer step children, John Lowell Stauffer and
spouse Mary Beth of Lexington, NC, Rose Stauffer and spouse Leslie Kille of
Littleton, CO, Carl Stauffer and spouse Carolyn of Harrisonburg;
grandchildren, Michael Scott Stauffer, Christy Stauffer, Chelsea Arlene
Esaki, Christopher Stauffer, E. Grace Lamay; and two great-grandchildren,
Teju Lamay and Lucas Esaki.
Among many things, her family will remember her for her enthusiasm, wisdom,
kindness, volunteerism, and her cooking – her best recipes included
spaghetti, ginger chicken, and her special cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving.
Ruth’s faith propelled her marked commitment to social justice, which she
regularly practiced by giving of her time, skills, and resources in service
to others. The family is tremendously grateful to the loving staff at
VMRC/Crestwood who cared for her during her final days in VMRC’s memory
unit.
A memorial service will be announced at a later date.
Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.mcmullenfh.com.
https://mcmullenfh.com/obituaries/ruth-stauffer Accessed January 10,2026
by Phil Kniss
Stutzman, Ervin Ray
April 27, 1953 - June 3, 2025
Ervin Ray Stutzman, 72, passed away on June 3, 2025, from
complications related to a five year battle with cancer. Along with his wife
Bonita, he has been a resident of Harrisonburg, Virginia since 2000.
Ervin was born April 27, 1953, along with his twin Erma Mae (Stutzman)
Yoder, in an Amish home in Kalona, Iowa, to Emma and Tobias Stutzman. He
reflected the optimistic outlook and energetic spirit of his late father, an
Amish entrepreneur who met a tragic death at age 37, when the twins were
three years old. Ervin was baptized in the Center Amish Mennonite Church
near Hutchinson, Kansas and later joined the Yoder Mennonite Church near
Yoder, Kansas.
Ervin married Bonita Lee Haldeman of Manheim, Pennsylvania in 1974. Together
they served as volunteers for Rosedale Mennonite Missions in Cincinnati,
Ohio for five years. After his ordination in 1978 in the Conservative
Mennonite Conference, Ervin co-pastored Mennonite Christian Assembly in
Cincinnati. In 1982, at age 29, Ervin moved with his young family to
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and became associate pastor of Mount Joy Mennonite
Church, while also serving as the associate director for Home Ministries at
Eastern Mennonite Missions. Just 18 months later, he began a half-time role
as district overseer for Lancaster Mennonite Conference, and from 1991 to
2000, he served as their conference moderator.
In the late 1990s, he became associate professor of church ministries and
then academic dean at Eastern Mennonite Seminary in Harrisonburg, Virginia,
where he served for 11 years. During this time, Ervin was also heavily
involved in the merger of the Mennonite Church and General Conference
Mennonite Church. He served as moderator-elect from 1999 to 2001 and as the
first moderator of the newly formed Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) from 2001
to 2003.
In 2010, Ervin was ordained again, this time in Virginia Mennonite
Conference, and was named executive director of MC USA, a position he held
for eight years. He retired in April 2018 to spend more time with his wife
and family, yet he continued to answer the call to serve as needed.
Beginning in 2019, Ervin and Bonita together served a brief term as
transitional pastors of Zion Mennonite Church in Broadway, Virginia. In
November 2023, Ervin was affirmed as chair of the Faith and Life Commission
of Virginia Mennonite Conference. He moderated a significant meeting of the
FLC on Thursday, May 29, one day before he would go to the hospital due to
his declining health.
He was an active member of Park View Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg,
Virginia. During many of his years there, he taught for the Men’s Bible
Study hosted at the church.
A man of many talents, Ervin was also known for his writing. He wrote
several historical novelizations of true Amish stories, including those of
his parents’ lives, “Tobias of the Amish” and “Emma: A Widow Among the
Amish,” and “Return to Northkill,” a three book series on the life of his
ancestor, Jacob Hochstetler. He also wrote several other books about
Mennonite history, life, and thought.
Ervin was the only one in his family to complete a high school diploma. He
received his Ph.D. in rhetoric and communication from Temple University
(1993). He earned a Master of Arts in communications from the University of
Cincinnati (1979) and a Master of Arts in biblical interpretation from
Eastern Mennonite Seminary (1999). He also held a Bachelor of Arts in
Christian ministries from Cincinnati Bible College (1978).
Although Ervin loved academic study, he always enjoyed working with his
hands and pursuing solutions to mechanical problems. He pursued many hobbies
and enjoyed what he called “couple power”–working alongside Bonita on
creative tasks, including numerous woodworking and home improvement
projects.
After his retirement from full-time church work and his subsequent cancer
diagnosis, Ervin shifted his focus to serving his family and close friends.
He biked thousands of miles with his wife on their ebikes, many of them
during their travels across the country in their RV. He enjoyed being a
grandfather and mentoring a young adult in the community. He also reflected
on his life and fatherhood–his quest to better understand his father and the
loss of his son–by writing a yet unpublished memoir.
Ervin was preceded in death by his son Daniel Tobias Stutzman.
His beloved spouse Bonita survives, as do two children: Emma Ruth (Stutzman)
Dawson (Iowa City, Iowa), along with her sons Felix Tobias Dawson and Caius
Lysander Dawson, and Benjamin Lee Stutzman and his wife Andrea Joy (Kniss)
Stutzman (Harrisonburg, VA), along with their children Eva René Stutzman and
Evan Rafael Stutzman. His twin Erma Mae (Stutzman) Yoder (Ephrata, PA) is
his only surviving sibling.
A memorial service will be held at Park View Mennonite Church in
Harrisonburg, VA on Sunday, June 8, at 3pm and streamed online via the
church website at pvmchurch.org/ervinstutzman.html.In lieu of flowers, the
family encourages you to extend an act of service to a neighbor or friend as
Ervin did for so many.
See also:
https://emu.edu/now/news/2025/in-memoriam-ervin-r-stutzman-ma-99-former-dean-of-the-seminary-devoted-his-life-to-the-church/
And:
https://www.pvmchurch.org/ervinstutzman.html
https://www.kygers.com/obituaries/Ervin-Ray-Stutzman?obId=42765192
Accessed January 12, 2026 by Phil Kniss
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