Mennonite World Review - November 2018
Obituaries are emailed to MennObits before MWR is printed. Wording may vary in printed version.
Mennonite World Review - November 5, 2018 - 96th Year, No. 23 - p. 16
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Gomez, Lucio "Lou" Jr.
Lou (Lucio) Gomez, Jr., 68, of Newton, Kan., died Oct. 17, 2018. He was born Nov. 14, 1949, to Lou (Lucio) Gomez, Sr. and Frances Gomez in Newton.
He grew up in a third-generation Spanish American family. He graduated from Newton High School, did art work for Hallmark Cards and worked for the Santa Fe Railroad for 27 years. After eight years of single life, he moved back to Newton and taught catechism for youth at Our Lady of Guadalupe.
In May 2003 he married Elizabeth Ann Raid.
He graduated from Hesston College with an associate’s degree in pastoral ministry in 2006. After graduation he served seven years as pastor of Calvary Mennonite Church in Liberal, where he was ordained. There he helped start the Spanish-speaking church, Camino de Santidad, with Moises Romero as pastor. He volunteered and later worked half-time as case manager for Offender Victim Ministries in Newton. In 2013 he and his wife, Elizabeth, began serving as the pastoral team for South Hutchinson Mennonite Friendship Communities. He continued in that ministry until the time of his death.
At Bethel College Mennonite Church, he served on the church board and in other capacities. He led worship there the Sunday before he suffered a stroke. He leaves a loving legacy of faith, family and friendship. His gentle, generous and welcoming presence will be missed by many friends and relatives.
Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth; his mother, Frances; a son, Christopher; a daughter, Kisha (Eric) Slay; four grandchildren; two siblings, Victoria (Frank) Adame and Ventura (Warren) Porter; inherited children Rachel (Tim Hallacy) Pankratz, Lisa (Scott Dooley) Pankratz and Matthew (Michelle Roth) Pankratz; and nine inherited grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Gilbert, on May 10, 2016.
Services were held at Bethel College Mennonite Church. Memorials may be given to Offender Victim Ministries, Newton, or Bethel College Mennonite Church, North Newton.
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Stauffer, Jack
Jack Stauffer, 91, of Newton, Kan., died Oct. 14, 2018. He was born Dec. 24, 1926, to Aaron O. and Leah (Sensenig) Stauffer in Ephrata, Pa.
At age 2, his mother became ill and he went to live with an Old Order Mennonite family who drove a horse and buggy. He attended a one-room school until eighth grade, when he was required to leave school and help on the family farm. He began educating himself by reading countless books. As a teenager he lived with the Omar Zook family of Oley, Pa.
After World War II, he took two trips to Greece and the Holy Land, delivering mules to help with rebuilding from the destruction of war. Returning to the U.S., he joined Mennonite Voluntary Service in Gulfport, Miss. There he met Linda Schmidt. After a long-distance courtship while he attended Philadelphia Bible College, they were married July 15, 1954, at Tabor Mennonite Church near Newton, Kan., with Linda’s dad, H.B. Schmidt, officiating.
They moved to Newton, where he worked to support his family while attending Bethel College, graduating in 1965. He worked in sales at Hilts Inc. for many years, traveling across central and western Kansas. After retiring, he began buying houses, remodeling and renting them.
He was dedicated to Habitat for Humanity, donating land for homes to be built on. He was a member of Faith Mennonite Church, Newton.
He and Linda took many trips across the U.S. and to Canada and Europe. He had strong political views, writing many letters to newspapers.
Survivors include his wife, Linda; six children, Ron (Kathy) Stauffer of Overland Park, Sharon Goering of Wichita, Carolyn Stauffer of Newton, Debbie (Russ) Wedel of Hutchinson, Ruth (Eric) Calbert of North Newton and Tim (Margaret) Stauffer of Kansas City, Mo.; two sisters, Lois Thiessen of Hesston and Mary Jane Rutter of Lancaster, Pa.; a brother, Alfred Stauffer of Lancaster; 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Enos; and four sisters, Katie Stauffer, Elizabeth Burkhart, Eva Fox and Verna Musser.
Mennonite World Review - November 19, 2018 - 96th Year, No. 24 - p. 16
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Stutzman, Phyllis King Kauffman
Phyllis King Kauffman Stutzman, 79, of Hesston, Kan., died Oct. 17, 2018, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. She was born May 21, 1939, to Arami and Bertha (Detweiler) King near Harper.
Her early years were spent on the family farm north of Harper, where she attended local public schools. She graduated from Harper High School in 1957. She then attended Hesston College, graduating in 1959.
At Hesston she met James Kauffman of Perryton, Texas. They were married June 5, 1960.
In 1971 she received her registered nursing degree from Hesston College. Nursing and her family became the focus of her professional life.
In 2006 she married Douglas Stutzman.
Survivors include two sons, Douglas Kauffman and David (Lynda) Kauffman, all of Hesston; three siblings, Virginia (Richard) Ediger of Buhler, Patricia (Laurel)?Miller of Hesston and Calvin (Ardis) King of South Bend, Ind.; three stepchildren, Dave (Sharon)?Stutzman of Hesston, Kathy (Steve) Ropp of Iowa City, Iowa, and Steve (Anita)?Stutzman of Denver, Colo.; two granddaughters and numerous step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Eldon King, and a sister, Roberta Mathes.
Memorial services were held at Hesston Mennonite Church.