Mennonite World Review - July 2014
Obituaries are emailed to MennObits before MWR is printed. Wording may vary in printed version.
Blough, Bock, Mary Emma "Emmie" ; . . Classen, Elizabeth F. Loewen ; . . Dietzel, Arnold J. ; . .
Mennonite World Review - July 7, 2014 - 92nd Year, No. 14 - p. 15
----------------------
Blough, Bock, Mary Emma "Emmie"
Mary Emma "Emmie" Bock, 81, of Harrisonburg, Va., died June 22, 2014, at Oak Lea Nursing Home after a long illness. She was born Feb. 27, 1933, to Harry and Freda Berkey Blough in Hollsopple, Pa.
She attended Washington Adventist University, where she received her bachelor's degree in health care. She lived in Maryland for 30-35 years, where she worked at area nursing homes. Her most recent place of employment was at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Md., where she was employed for 10 years. She was a member of Hyattsville Mennonite Church. She moved to Harrisonburg 16 years ago and became a member of Parkview Mennonite Church.
On June 17, 1961, she married Warren Bock.
Survivors include her husband, Warren; a daughter, Susan Earley and her husband, Brian, of Bellingham, Mass.; a son, Alan Bock of Gaithersburg, Md.; a brother, Paul D. Blough and his wife, Joyce, of Boswell, Pa.; and nieces and nephews Ruth Short, Jean Hawk, Richard Roth, Kenneth Roth, Brenda Blough, Delores Blough, Judith Mock, Dwayne Blough, Gerald Blough, Sarah Spangler, Christine McDowell and Heidi Bell.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Dorothy Roth and Twila Zimmerman; two brothers, Robert and Richard Blough; and nephews Ronald Blough and Donald Zimmerman.
A private service was held at Lindsey Funeral Home in Harrisonburg. She will be cremated and a memorial service will be held at Parkview Mennonite Church.
--------------
Arnold J. Dietzel, 99, of Hesston, Kan., died July 4, 2014, at Schowalter Villa. He was born Aug. 4, 1914, to Samuel Henry and Elma Celeste (Stein) Dietzel in Bay Port, Mich.
On July 12, 1946, he married Wilmetta Weaver at Hesston Mennonite Church.
He maintained his membership in Hesston Mennonite Church for many years and served the church in many capacities, including as a Sunday school teacher. He was a 1941 graduate of Goshen (Ind.) College with a degree in business. He earned his master's degree in business education from the University of Michigan in 1955. He also studied at Ontario Mennonite Bible School, Eastern Mennonite Seminary and Goshen Biblical Seminary.
He served as a conscientious objector during World War II through Civilian Public Service. After the war he served in the Merchant Marines and made two trips to Europe on Merchant Marine Ships to help war-torn Danzig, Poland. He had a long career as a teacher, missionary and travel agent, retiring in 1988 after 26 years as manager of Menno Travel in Newton, Kan.
He taught grade school in rural Michigan and had two years teaching at both Hesston College and Tabor College in Hillsboro. He served five years in India with Mennonite Board of Missions and six years with Mennonite Central Committee and Menno Travel Service in Akron, Pa., and Beirut, Lebanon.
Survivors include his wife, Wilmetta, of Hesston; a son, Ronald Dietzel and his wife, Shirley, of Newton; two daughters, Margaret Hillegass of Jerome, Pa., and Carol Cranston of Newton; two brothers, Reuben Dietzel of Sarasota, Fla., and Harlan Dietzel of North Manchester, Ind.; a sister, Helen Loewen of Minneapolis, Minn.; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, A. Herklas Dietzel, Loren Dietzel and Carlton Dietzel; and a sister, Lenora Sempira.
Services were held at Hesston Mennonite Church. Private family interment was at Eastlawn Cemetery in Zimmerdale.
----------------
Classen, Elizabeth F. Loewen
Elizabeth F. Classen, 93, died June 28, 2014, at her home in Walnut Hill, Fla. She was born Jan. 20, 1921, to Jacob E. and Helena "Lena" Friesen Loewen at Meade, Kan.
She married Willie F. Classen in Meade on Feb. 15, 1942, at Emmanuel Mennonite Church. In 1953 they moved to Walnut Hill.
She accepted Christ as her Savior and was baptized March 27, 1938. As a member of the Mennonite church she taught children in Sunday school and Bible school as well as participating in the sewing circle. She was a member of Mennonite Christian Fellowship in Atmore, Ala.
She was a supportive farmer's wife and an industrious, hardworking homemaker who cared deeply for the spiritual and physical wellbeing of her children and grandchildren. She earnestly interceded in prayer for them. She made people feel welcome and comfortable in her home. She enjoyed flower gardening and making quilts. She was adventurous in her younger years and had a sense of humor even to her last days.
Survivors include five children, Marianne Classen, Roy Classen and his wife, Miriam, and Steve Classen and his wife, Treva, all of Walnut Hill, Ken Classen and his wife, Mabel, of Atmore and Beverly Classen of Sarasota; a brother, John F. Loewen of Meade; a sister, Bertha F. Classen of Sturgis, Mich.; 11 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren
She was preceded in death by her husband, Willie, on Jan. 31, 2005; an infant son, Kenneth; a great-grandson, Truman Heatwole; and a brother, Henry F. Loewen.
Services were held on July 1, 2014.