Mennonite World Review - November 2016
Obituaries are emailed to MennObits before MWR is printed. Wording may vary in printed version.
Mennonite World Review - November 7, 2016 - 94th Year, No. 23 - p. 15
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Gladys Pauline Leidig Ropp, 93, of Harrisonburg, Va., died Oct. 22, 2016, at Oak Lea Nursing Home. She was born Nov. 2, 1922, to Reuben and Emily Teuscher Leidig in North Star, Mich.
She was one of six children. She received a bachelor of science in sociology in 1975 from Eastern Mennonite University and took Eastern Mennonite Seminary classes. She served on the Women’s Missionary and Service Commission, which later became Mennonite Women USA, as vice president and president. She also enjoyed her work as the hospital and Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community chaplain and teaching Sunday school.
On Aug. 11, 1949, she married Herman E. Ropp. He preceded her in death on Jan. 29, 2015.
Survivors include two daughters, Mim (Deryl) Kennel of Harrisonburg and Lois (Bill White) Kauffman of Bridgewater; a son, Phil (Luanne) Ropp of Broadway; eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Graveside services were held at Zion Mennonite Church Cemetery. Memorial services were held at Detwiler Auditorium at VMRC.
Memorial contributions may be made to the VMRC Compassion Fund, Harrisonburg.
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Brenneman, Lucy Marie Fogelsong
Lucy Marie (Fogelsong) Brenneman, 90, of Elida, Ohio, died Oct. 14, 2016. She was born Dec. 6, 1925, to Victor and Katherine (Thompson) Fogelsong in Blissfield, Mich.
She graduated from Blissfield High School prior to attending Huntington College. On Aug. 12, 1949, she married Moses S. Brenneman.
She was a remarkable homemaker and actively involved in the family farm and her community. She is remembered for her unwavering faith in God, deep love for her family and genuine concern for others. She was an active member of Central Mennonite and Pike Mennonite churches in Elida. She loved studying Scripture and prayed fervently.
She had a heart for missions. She was an active volunteer in her church and the Et Cetera Shop in Bluffton. She served in Kentucky, Haiti, Guatemala and Mexico, and hosted many church/mission workers in her home. She enjoyed reading, teaching children’s Sunday school, participating in the Women’s Sewing Circle, singing and music and visiting family.
Survivors include seven children, Ronald (Cindy) Brenneman of Elida, Marilyn (Michael) Hughes of Mount Crawford, Va., Rita (Dale) Lehman of Broadway, Va., Kathleen (Steve) Nussbaum of White Bear Lake, Minn., Stanley Brenneman of Elida, Kim (Beverly) Brenneman of Elida, and Janet (Max) Troyer of Harrisonburg, Va.; a sister, Phyllis Kohr of Toledo; a brother, Leland Fogelsong; 24 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Moses, on Feb. 24, 1976; and by a sister, Ellen Neuroth.
Memorial contributions may be made to Missionary Flights International, Lima Rescue Mission or Guiding Light of Lima.
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Donald Dell Peters, 79, of Henderson, Neb., died Sept. 21, 2016, at Henderson Community Hospital after 11 years of battling cancer. He was born June 27, 1937, to Theodore C. and Alice Sara Doell Peters on a farm south of Henderson.
He graduated from Henderson Community School in 1956. In 1960 he graduated from Bethel College, North Newton, Kan., with a degree in music education. He received his master’s degree in music education from the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Okla.
He was baptized May 29, 1955. He served as the chancel choir director for 43 years at Bethesda Mennonite Church. He married Virginia Ann Friesen on May 27, 1958, at Bethesda.
In 1960, he and Virginia moved to Reedley, Calif., for two years of alternate service at Kingsview Hospital, where he did occupational activities with patients at the mental hospital. In August 1962, they moved to Norman, Okla., to begin his master’s.
When he was nearly finished with classwork at the University of Oklahoma, he was hired by Henderson Community Schools, where he taught vocal music from 1963 to 1976. Then he and a friend, Rod Drews, built and operated Henderson Meat Processors until 1984. In that year they sold HMP, and he was rehired to his job as music teacher until he retired in 1997.
He was a member of The American Choral Directors Association, serving as president for one year. In 2004, he was the second recipient of the Cornell Runestad Award for Lifetime Dedication to Choral Excellence in Nebraska.
He had many interests: music, swimming, basketball, baseball, football, volleyball, fishing, golfing, hunting, woodworking, welding, helping with harvest and reading.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Virginia; a daughter, Rebecca (Brent) Buller of rural Henderson; a son, Michael (Lois Briles) Peters of Kansas City, Mo.; a sister, Vera Epp; and three grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Theodore “Teddy” and Robert D. Peters.
Mennonite World Review - November 21, 2016 - 94th Year, No. 24 - p. 15
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Paul Oliver King, 94, of Walnut Creek, Ohio, died Oct. 29, 2016, at Walnut Hills Retirement Community. He was born Dec. 21, 1921, to Elizabeth Augsburger King and Edward King, in Elida, a Mennonite family that had Amish roots.
served with Mennonite Central Committee in various assignments throughout the U.S. and in Italy. As a conscientious objector, he worked in several Civilian Public Service camps during World War II. After the war, he went on a cattle boat to help with the restoration of farms in Europe. He also worked with war refugees in Italy and assisted the Waldensian church with relief work in northern Italy.
He completed a degree in sociology from Goshen (Ind.) College in 1952. On June 7, 1952, he married Lois Meyer.
As newlyweds, they answered a call to work with Bethel Mennonite Church in Chicago. He served as a Mennonite pastor for more than 35 years.
He held a clear vision of service, peace and justice. His experiences in underserved communities in the U.S. and war-torn areas in Europe were transformative to his worldview and faith perspective. This led him to inspire many to work on behalf of others, and he was pleased to see those he had encouraged dedicate themselves to Christian service. This faith led him to be instrumental in ordaining the first woman in the Mennonite church and to bring to the church those who were not from traditional Mennonite backgrounds.
An avid reader, he never tired of learning about new ways, new cultures and new people. He celebrated God’s grace through church involvement and reading the Bible daily.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Lois; four children, Sara (Marlin) Yoder of Fresno, Ohio, David (Laurel) King and Daniel King, all of Wichita, Kan., and Miriam (Michael) Blosser of Sarasota, Fla.; a brother, Robert King, of Sarasota; seven granddaughters and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by four siblings, John King, Freda Milne, Betty Albrecht and Clara Brenneman.
Memorial services were held at Martins Creek Mennonite Church, Millersburg.
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John Wallace Kliewer, 92, died Sept. 22, 2016, in Vienna, Va. He was born Jan. 20, 1924, on a farm in Saskatchewan but spent most of his childhood in Newport, Wash.
During World War II, he served in the Army and subsequently received the benefits of the GI Bill. He went to Bethel College in North Newton, Kan., graduating in 1950, then the University of Utah, and finally the University of Kansas, where he obtained a doctorate in entomology. In 1955 he married Hazel Graber, who became his lifelong wife and companion.
He taught biology for a time at Bethel College, then took a series of government jobs. His professional life took him across the U.S. and around the globe, notably to Central America and Thailand.
After retirement, he busied himself with Northern Virginia Mennonite Church and his community. He took up biking and biked across the country and in numerous charity events. He became active with an ecumenical group that provides resources to families in need, and earned the title of “Mr. Furniture” for his work. He carried furniture and drove the truck until he was 90 years old.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Hazel; three sons, Kenneth (Mary) Kliewer, Mark (Eileen) Kliewer and David (Barbara) Kliewer; and nine grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Katherine Norwood; and five brothers and sisters, Gordon Kliewer, Margaret Black, Lois Harms, Helen Beubier and Elda Kanickeberg.
Services were held at Northern Virginia Mennonite Church (Daniel’s Run Peace Church). Memorial contributions may be made to Mennonite Disaster Service.
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Doris Gene Hamman, 93, of Bluffton, Ohio, died Nov. 9, 2016, at Willow Ridge-Frieda House of Mennonite Home Communities. She was born Oct. 27, 1923, to Calvin and Huldah (Badertscher) Garmatter in Allen County.
On April 4, 1948, she married Robert C. Hamman in Torre Pellice, Italy. He preceded her in death on July 26, 2002.
She joined Ebenezer Mennonite Church in Bluffton and was baptized when she was 13. A 1941 graduate of Bluffton High School, she worked one year at Triplett Corp. in Bluffton. She was a 1945 graduate of the Mennonite School of Nursing in Bloomington, Ill.
She became night supervisor of Bluffton Hospital and later volunteered for three years with Mennonite Central Committee as a community health nurse in Italy. She worked as a nurse for Dr. F.D. Rodabaugh for 14 years, as a nurse for Angeline Nursing Home at Lansdale, Pa., and for several years for Dr. Louis Harrod in Harrod. She was a member of First Mennonite Church, Bluffton, the Mennonite Women’s group, Friendly Sunday School Class, Harrod Women’s Civic Club and a Bible study group.
Survivors include four daughters, Bobbie J. Hamman of Lima, Emilie R. Hamman of Lima, Doris Ann (Tom) Schumacher of Brookings, S.D., and Martha E. (Randy) Eisele of Newport, Ore.; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; a brother, Calvin L. Garmatter; and three sisters, Darlyn Sommers, JuLee Chidester and Marcene Traucht.
Memorial services were held at First Mennonite Church, Bluffton. A private burial took place in Ebenezer Mennonite Cemetery, Bluffton. Memorial contributions may be made to First Mennonite Church, Mennonite Central Committee or Mennonite Memorial Home.
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Dr. Allen G. Hiebert, 75, died Nov. 14, 2016, at Comfort Care Homes in Newton. He was born Oct. 17, 1941, to Albert H. and Helen (Ensz) Hiebert in Goessel.
He married Lois Frantz on May 25, 1963, in Hillsboro. He was a college professor.
Survivors include his wife, Lois Hiebert, of rural Hillsboro; a son, Mark (Sandra) Hiebert of Whitewater, Wis.; a daughter, Julie (Stac) Unruh of Haven; a brother, Ron (Marilyn) Hiebert of rural Hillsboro; two sisters, Aldene Schneider of Fountain Run, Ky., and Joyce (Virgil) Funk of Topeka; and five grandchildren.
Services were held at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church. Memorials may be sent to Mennonite Central Committee or Tabor College Fine Arts Center in care of Jost Funeral Home in Hillsboro.