Mennonite World Review - July 2015
Obituaries are emailed to MennObits before MWR is printed. Wording may vary in printed version.
Bachman, Elda Wiens ; . . Bontrager Kenneth Eugene ; . . Dyck Harold Eugene ; . . Fix, Guy Herman ; . . Keller, Frank R.
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Kenneth Eugene Bontrager, 89, of Youngtown, Ariz., died May 23, 2015. He was born April 22, 1926, to Jerry R. and Mattie Bontrager in Hutchinson, Kan.
On May 29, 1946, he married Amy Bontrager (a distant cousin) in Yoder, Kan.
He spent his life dedicated to his church and family. He was a farmer, cattleman and raised sheep. He served on several boards of directors, had a seed business, sold insurance and worked for Enterprise Rental Car in his retirement. They retired from farming and moved to Arizona in 1996.
He had a passion for singing with his church and family, and was known for his beautiful bass voice. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Survivors include his wife of nearly 69 years, Amy; four children, Arnie and his wife, Katie Heckman Bontrager, Craig and his wife, Adriana Juan Y?Seva Guerrero Bontrager, of Phoenix, Ken Jr. and his wife, Paula Crandal Bontrager, of Castle Rock, Colo., and Debbie Bontrager King of Westover, Md.; a brother, Jim and his wife, Darlene Lau Bontrager of Minneapolis, Minn.; three sisters, Anna Mae Jaynes and her husband, Randy, of Colorado Springs, Colo., Carol Schrock and her husband, Gene, of Partridge, Kan., and Laverta Moody and her husband, Craig, of Odessa, Texas; nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Leroy Bontrager.
Services were held at Trinity Mennonite Church in Glendale.
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Guy Herman Fix, 71, of Lyndhurst, Va., died June 7, 2015, at Augusta Health. He was born Sept. 8, 1943, to Elmer and Estelle Fix in Rockbridge County.
He was a faithful member of Waynesboro Mennonite Church as long as his health permitted. In the last year he rededicated his life to the Lord and was a testimony to those around him; living each day of his life for the Lord. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served aboard the U.S.S. Compton during the Cuban Missile Crisis. An avid sports fan, he enjoyed cheering on the Redskins, playing softball and shooting.
Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Geraldine (Arnold) Fix; a sister, Darlene Thompson; five children, Debbie Berry and her husband, Raymond, Susan Hanger and her husband, Tom, Jeffrey A. Fix Sr. and his fiancé, Diana Sundance, Jeremy Fix and his wife, Lisa, and Scott Fix and his wife, Ashley Nicely-Fix; 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Donna Fix; a brother, Thomas Fix; and a sister, Frances Tichenor.
Services were held at Waynesboro Mennonite Church. Burial was in Stuarts Draft Christian Fellowship Church Cemetery. Military rites were provided by the American Legion Post 340.
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Harold Eugene Dyck, 83, died July 3, 2015, after a brief illness. He was born Nov. 22, 1931, to Agnes and John Dyck near Burns, Kan.
He attended Peabody Public Schools and proudly served his country in the 14th Division Army during the Korean War from May 1952 until May 1954, stationed in Korea the majority of his service.
He met Neva Lehrman in September 1954, introduced by mutual friends. They were married Aug. 14, 1955, in Tabor Mennonite Church near Goessel.
He was very proud of his family, and he was a wonderful husband and father. He served as deacon in the churches they were members of, many of them at Christian Church in Newton, Florence and Marion. After moving back to Newton, he and Neva were members of Koerner Heights Mennonite Brethren Church. He was a hard worker and good provider for his family, working in his early years for Claassen Oil and Lumber in Newton, as partner and owner of A and D Propane Co., and more than 30 years as manager for AAA Hardware and Lumber in Peabody, now known as Peabody Hardware and Lumber.
He served as president of the Chamber of Commerce and Rod and Gun Club; always willing to pitch in and work hard to make the current project a success. He had a wonderful sense of humor.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Neva; a son, John Dyck and his wife, Angie, of Denver; a daughter, Margi Schmidt and her husband, Art, of Great Falls, Mont.; a granddaughter and grandson; and four step-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Earl (who died at age 2) and Jerry.
A memorial service was held at Koerner Heights Mennonite Brethren Church in Newton. Burial was in Peabody at Prairie Lawn Cemetery.
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Frank R. Keller, 88, of Souderton, Pa., died May 31, 2015, at Souderton Mennonite Homes. He was born Oct. 25, 1926, to Frank A. and Suetta (Reller) Keller in Sellersville.
He and his wife, Lorraine (Hollenbach) Keller, would have celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary in November.
He earned his bachelor's degree from Bethel College in North Newton, Kan., and went on to earn his master's degree at Lancaster Theological Seminary and his doctorate in divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary. He served as assistant pastor at Zion Mennonite Church for two years. He then moved to Kansas to serve at Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church and then as the Western District Conference minister of the General Conference Mennonite Church. In his earlier years, he worked as a butcher for his family's business, Keller's Meats in Souderton.
He was a member of Zion Mennonite Church in Souderton. A true people person, he enjoyed getting to know people and spending time together with friends. In his free time he enjoyed playing golf.
Survivors include his wife, Lorraine; a son, Thomas E. Keller and his wife, Elizabeth, of Washington, Maine; and a sister, Marlene Benner and her husband, Richard, of Waterloo, Ont.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Joan Keller; and a brother, Claude Keller.
Memorial services were held in the Summit View Auditorium of Souderton Mennonite Homes. Burial was private in Zion Memorial Gardens.
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Elda Bachman, 92, died July 12, 2015, at Kidron Bethel in North Newton, Kan. She was born Aug. 21, 1922, to John and Frieda Wiens in Newton, where she was raised.
A lifelong member of First Mennonite Church, she was baptized on June 5, 1938, and carried her strong faith and love of serving with her through her life.
She graduated from Newton High School and attended Bethel College in North Newton, where she earned a teaching certificate. She taught at many country schools, including Prouty School.
She married Dale Bachman on June 7, 1946. They had four children.
They enjoyed camping and traveling together, a pastime that lived on even after their children were grown. She and Dale were members of National Hiker & Camper Association. They built two campers together. She and Dale also traveled abroad, visiting the Holy Land, South America and Europe. She traveled to India for Mennonite World Conference.
She cofounded Kansas Jayhawkers 4-H Club. She was a charter member of the Writers Club for more than 50 years. After her children were grown, she went back to Bethel College, earning a bachelor of arts degree in education and taught at Walton and Santa Fe schools. She tutored out of her home for many years and taught Weekday Bible School. In 2003 she realized a lifelong dream of earning a certificate of theological studies from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary.
Survivors include three sons, John Bachman and his wife, Pam, Marvin Bachman and his wife, Brenda, and Ernie Bachman and his wife, Paula; a daughter, Ruth Beachey and her husband, Will; 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Dale; and a brother, Curtis Wiens.
Memorial services were held at First Mennonite Church, Newton. Memorials may be made to the First Mennonite Church Short-Term Mission Fund.