Mennonite World Review - February 2020
Obituaries are emailed to MennObits before MWR is printed. Wording may vary in printed version.
Mennonite World Review - February 10, 2020 - 98th Year, No. 3 - p. 15
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Wiebe, Margot
Margot Wiebe, 89, widow of Dwight Wiebe, died Jan. 16, 2020, in Dallas, Texas. She was born June 18, 1930.
She was a dedicated teacher and a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She met and married Dwight in Frankfurt, Germany, where he was serving as the European director of Mennonite Central Committee’s Pax program in the 1950s. She was a German Mennonite who had been a foreign exchange student at Goshen (Ind.) College and was assigned as the translator for the group.
After marrying and having their first child in Germany, they relocated to Akron, Pa., in 1958 for Dwight to work at the MCC headquarters. They later moved to Hillsboro, Kan., where he worked many years for Mennonite Brethren Board of Missions and Services. She taught German at Marion High School during that time. In 1975, they moved to Manhattan, Kan., where Dwight completed his doctorate and she taught high school German. After retiring, they moved to Dallas to be near their oldest daughter and her family. Dwight preceded her in death in 2000.
She was known affectionately as “Omi” (German for grandma) not only by her family but also by many of their friends.
Ever the teacher and student herself, she was filled with gratitude and love until the end. Her last thoughts were about inclusiveness, saying, “We just need to accept each other.” She was a devout Christian whose spiritual journey led her to a belief that “God’s love is as wide as the sea.”
Survivors include three children, Ricki (Jim) Rose of Dallas, Christine (Barry Jones) Wiebe of Columbia, Md., and Franck (Mary Jane Breinholt) Wiebe of Takoma Park, Md.; a sister, Marianne Werner of Ludwigshafen, Germany; and six grandchildren.
A celebration of her life is being held Feb. 8 at Midway Hills Christian Church in Dallas. Her ashes will be interred in the Hillsboro cemetery at a future date.
(Posting note: See The Mennonite, Feb. 1, 2000, obituary of husband, Dwight Wiebe, where her maiden name is given as Stauffer - tlm)
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Stayrook, Miller Francis
Miller Francis Stayrook, 90, of Hesston, Kan., died Jan. 21, 2020. He was born June 22, 1929, to Morton and Ruth (Miller) Stayrook in Davidsville, Pa.
Survivors include his wife, Vernabelle; two daughters, Carol Sue Stayrook-Hobbs and John Hobbs of Newton and Joyce (JP) and Mark Pankratz of Kechi; a son, Steve and Cynthia (Cyd) Stayrook of East Petersburg, Pa.; three sisters, Eunice Hersberger, Patricia Calloway and Maretta (Tom) Hammitte; stepchildren Amy Wiens and Eric Wiens; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and special family friends Darla and Jason Mavis (children Brayden and Mallory).
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Carol (Hooper) Stayrook; a son, Ricky Allen; six brothers, Harold, Morton Jr, Carmon, Luther, Spencer and David; a sister, Esther; and special family friend Fiona O’Kene.
Memorial services were held at Hesston Mennonite Church. Memorials may be given to Mennonite Central Committee and Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary.
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Preheim, Lynette Fae Goering
Lynette Fae Preheim, 80, died Jan. 12, 2020, at Tieszen Memorial Home, Marion, S.D., after a long struggle with Parkinson’s Disease and dementia. She was born Nov. 18, 1939, to Ellis and Esther (Wedel) Goering in McPherson County, Kan.
She graduated from Moundridge (Kan.) High School. She then attended Bethel College, North Newton, Kan., where she earned her degree in elementary education in 1961. She considered teaching her life’s calling, and over four decades taught in Shawnee Mission, Kan., Manhattan, Kan., Tyndall, S.D., and, for 20 years, in Marion.
While at Bethel she met Peter P. Preheim, whom she married June 10, 1962. They moved to Marion, his home town, in 1966, where he joined the local veterinary practice.
As a youth, she was baptized into the Christian faith at Eden Mennonite Church, Moundridge. She later transfered her membership to Salem Mennonite Church, Freeman, S.D., and then to Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, Marion.
While she considered herself a teacher, her life was marked by service in other ways. That was recognized when she and Pete were presented the Eminent Service Award by the City of Marion in 1987. She was the only person to serve twice as president of the South Dakota Veterinary Medical Association Auxiliary and also held committee positions in the American Veterinary Medical Association Auxiliary. Other activities included local civic, church and professional involvements.
Survivors include her husband, Peter; two children, Rich (Leanne Farmwald) of Elkhart, Ind, and Janine (Curtis) Addis of Mount Hope, Kan.; five siblings, Leonard (Jane Kurtz) Goering of Portland, Ore., Charlene (Russel) Yoder of Kansas City, Kan., Kirby (Chris) Goering and Tim (Susan) Goering, all of Moundridge, and Beth Goering of Indianapolis; and two grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held April 18. Memorial gifts may be made to Bethel College, North Newton, Kan., or the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church backpack program.
Mennonite World Review - February 24, 2020 - 98th Year, No. 4 - p. 15
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Detweiler, Ruth Kauffman
Ruth Detweiler, 84, of Landis Homes, Lititz, Pa., died Jan. 6, 2020. She was born Sept. 26, 1935, to David and Olive (Hartzler) Kauffman in West Liberty, Ohio.
She attended Goshen (Ind.) College, graduating in 1957 with a degree in elementary education. She married Lowell Detweiler in 1957.
They entered their first term of service as teachers in a two-room schoolhouse with Mennonite Central Committee in Newfoundland, Canada. They had many adventures while living in Tanzania for her and Lowell’s second term of service with MCC from 1968 to 1971.
When they returned from East Africa, they settled in Akron, where she became hostess at MCC headquarters and then served as Global Family Program Coordinator for 14 years.
She was a committed member of Akron Mennonite Church, where she served various terms on the pastoral team, congregational life and Christian education committees and church council.
She loved nature and delighted in creating beauty with her hands. She prized her flower gardens and enjoyed sharing the splendor of their abundance with others.
She had a special passion for assisting people dealing with mental illness. She and Lowell founded No Longer Alone Ministries to provide support and services to individuals with mental illness and their families. She also served many years on the Philhaven board of directors. She spent countless hours listening to others with compassion, acceptance and love.
Survivors include her husband of 62 years, Lowell; two children, Cheryl (Brent) Kaufman of Lancaster and Steven (Barbara) Detweiler of Akron; a granddaughter, Maria Detweiler of Lancaster; four brothers, Joe (Alona) Kauffman, Warren (Elma) Kauffman and Ken (Jane) Kauffman, all of West Liberty, Ohio, and Harold Kauffman of Tucson, Ariz.; and a sister-in-law, Irene Kauffman of West Liberty.
She was preceded in death by an infant son, Douglas Keith; and a brother, Dale Kauffman.
Memorial services were held at Akron Mennonite Church. Contributions may be designated to Landis Communities No Longer Alone Family Support Group or Landis Homes Caring Fund.
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Preheim, Reinhardt
Reinhardt Preheim, 100, of Mountain Lake, Minn., died Jan. 10, 2020. He was born Aug. 26, 1919, to Joseph J. and Katie (Miller) Preheim in Turner County, S.D.
He was baptized Aug. 12, 1934, at Salem Mennonite Church, Freeman, S.D. He remained a lifelong member of that congregation.
During World War II, he served in Civilian Public Service from January 1942 to June 1943 in Colorado Springs, Colo., and in Terry, Mont. On Aug. 31, 1944, he married Susanna Lehmann.
After farming on his home place for 26 years, he and Susanna purchased a farm near Windom and moved there in 1970. Susanna died Nov. 26 of that same year after a brief battle with brain cancer.
In 1971, he acquired his electrician’s license and spent four months in St. Louis in voluntary service projects there. He married Margaret Peters Fast on Aug. 31, 1973, and lived at Mountain Lake since then, most recently at Good Samaritan Village Nursing Home.
He was a farmer, self-employed electrician and volunteer of many endeavors. He invented labor-saving devices on the farm and enjoyed woodworking and reading.
He was active in Mennonite Disaster Service. He was a soil conservation award winner in the 1950s. He helped build the original Pioneer Hall on the Freeman Academy campus, Salem Mennonite Church in 1965 and the rebuilding of the church after it burned in 1985.
Survivors include a daughter, Lois (Colin) Lepp of Dodge Center; a son, Oren Preheim of Windom; stepsons and daughters John (Barb) Fast, Elaine Anton, Sherryl (Donovan) Friesen, Ken (Wendy) Fast, Lois (Wayne) Sousley, Karen (Dale) Shenk and Janiece (Mark) Scozzari; three grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Susanna Lehmann Preheim, in 1970, and his second wife, Margaret Fast Preheim, in 2017; a son, Harlin, in 2001; and two brothers, Ted and Clifford.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. April 11 at Salem Mennonite Church, Freeman. Memorials may be designated to Salem Mennonite Church, Freeman Academy or Mennonite Central Committee.