Mennonite Weekly Review - July, 1987


Mennonite Weekly Review
64th Year ­ No. 27 ­ July 2, 1987 ­ Page 5

Death

Rural Middlebury Youth Drowns in Gravel Pit

Middlebury, Ind.-Seventeen-year-old Thomas Yoder drowned while attempting to swim across a gravel pit pond near here recently. He had been swimming with a friend, who ran to a nearby residence to notify authorities. He was living with an uncle, Joe Bontrager, and helping with farm chores. Other survivors include seven sisters, three brothers and a grandmother. His parents preceded him in death.

Page 8

NEWTON & VICINITY

EDNA S. SCHMIDT
Funeral services for Edna S. Schmidt, 79, of Goessel were held June 26 at Goessel Mennonite Church, with Darrel Ediger officiating. Burial was in Goessel Cemetery. A homemaker, she died June 23 at Bethesda home for the Aged, Goessel. She had lived on a farm near Goessel until 1979 when she moved to Goessel. She had been a resident of Bethesda Home since May 7. Survivors include her husband, Phillip D. Schmidt; two daughters, Deloris Schmidt of Newton and Elsie Schmidt of Goessel; three brothers, Walter R. Unrau of Newton, Clarence Unrau of Wichita and Gladwyn Unrau of Charlotte Harbor, Fla.; two sisters, Sylvia Flaming of Inman and Bernice Duerksen of Lehigh; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

FANNIE TROYER STEHMAN
Memorial services for Fannie Troyer Stehman, 97, of Schowalter Villa, Hesston, were held June 27 at Schowalter Villa Chapel, with Wesley Jantz officiating. Additional services and burial were June 29 in Denver, Colo. A native of Garden City, Mo., she died June 25 at Schowalter Villa. A member of the Glennon Heights Mennonite Church, Denver, she moved to Hesston in 1974 from Denver. Survivors include four sons, Clayton of Laramie, Wyo., Allen of Denver, Glenn of Hesston and Morris of Buf Creek, Colo.; one sister, Mattie Ann Yoder of Kalona, Iowa; 12 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. Her husband, Jacob B. Stehman, preceded her in death.

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Mennonite Weekly Review
64th Year ­ No. 27 ­ July 2, 1987 ­ Page 2

Death

Michiana MCC Sale Auction Clerk Dies

ROLLIN HOSTETLER
Topeka, Ind.-Well-known area auction clerk Rollin Hostetler died June 23 at his home of an apparent heart attack. He was 88. For more than 50 years Hostetler served as clerk for auction sales, was active in the Michiana Mennonite Relief Sale and served as director for Gospel Messengers for 36 years. He was secretary for Mennonite Aid Association from 1949 to1977. He was a farmer. Survivors include three sons, 10 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. His wife preceded him in death in July 1986.

 


64th Year ­ No. 28 ­ July 9, 1987 ­ Page 6

Death

Former MBM Worker Dies in Arizona

MARIE A. YODER
Glendale, Ariz.-Marie A. Yoder, 73, a former Mennonite Board of Missions worker, died June 22 at her home in Glendale after an extended illness. A graduate of La Junta (Colo.) Mennonite School of Nursing, she served with MBM in Puerto Rico from 1947 to 1951. She was a member of Trinity Mennonite Church, Glendale. Survivors include two adopted daughters, three sisters, and five brothers.

Page 8

NEWTON & VICINITY

DAVID S. VOTH
Funeral services for David S. Voth, 95, of Goessel, were held July 6 at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church near Goessel, with Kenneth Rupp officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. A retired farmer, he died July 2 at Bethesda Home, Goessel. Survivors include four sons, Orlando of Goessel, Paul of Moab, Utah, Milo of Custer, Wash., and Irvin of rural Newton; one daughter, Esther Fast of Beatrice, Neb.; 23 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. His wife and two sons preceded him in death.

WILLIAM S. GOERTZEN
Funeral services for William S. Goertzen, 95, of Bethesda Home, Goessel, and formerly of North Newton and Goessel, were held July 8 at Trinity Mennonite Church, Hillsboro. Harold Burkholder and Heinz Janzen officiated. Burial was in Johannestal Cemetery, rural Hillsboro. He died July 4 at Bethesda Mennonite Home, Goessel, where he had lived since January 1986. A member of the Burns Mennonite Church and a native of rural Hillsboro, he was a chiropractor and naturopath. Survivors include his wife, the former Anna Unruh, of North Newton; one daughter, Dorothy Stewart, Wichita; one foster daughter, Maxine Wells, Enterprise; one brother, Menno, Newton; five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

KARL D. RIESEN
Karl D. Riesen, 71, died July 2 at Parkside Home, Hillsboro. A retired farmer, he was the father of Marilyn Lundblade of Newton. Funeral services were held July 6 at Trinity Mennonite Church, Hillsboro, with Heinz Janzen and Brad Penner officiating. Survivors include his wife, Elda; three sons, Kenneth of Beatrice, Neb., Roland of Fresno, Calif., and Arlen of Hillsboro; and one more daughter, Janice Tingen of Salina.

FRIEDA MAE RENFRO
Graveside services for Frieda Mae Renfro, 55, of Hesston, were held July 8 at Hesston Cemetery, with Paul Friesen officiating. A memorial service was held later that day at Hesston Mennonite Church. A secretary at the Hesston Medical Offices, she died July 6 at Bethel Deaconess Hospital, Newton. A native of Augusta, she had been a Hesston resident since 1954. Survivors include her husband, John W.; three sons, Daniel of Salida, Colo., Michael of Manhattan and Gregory of Wichita; one daughter, Shirley Haden of Newton; two brothers, Loren Fulk of Hesston and Donald Fulk of Hillsboro; two sisters, Alice Suniga of Toronto and Lois Auxier of Hutchinson; and two grandchildren.


Mennonite Weekly Review
64th year - No 28 - page 11
July 9, 1987

IN MEMORIAM

REINHOLD F. SCHMIDT
Reinhold "R.F." Schmidt was born Feb. 17, 1914, on a farm near Whitewater, Kan., to Henry and Marie Schmidt. He was the youngest of 11 children.
He was baptized by G.N. Harms and joined the Grace Hill Mennonite Church.
He attended the Hillsboro Bible Academy, Whitewater High School and graduated from Newton High School. Later he attended Bethel College, North Newton. Biblical education was very important to him. He was the last teacher to teach the church-sponsored German Bible School. He was Sunday school superintendent and teacher for many years. He also served the church as member of the board and Spiritual Council.
On May 7, 1937, he married Dorothy Unruh at the Johannestal Mennonite Church near Hillsboro. He died three weeks before the 50th anniversary of their wedding.
He was active in community affairs and served as contact man for Mennonite Disaster Service.
He retired after 40 years of farming and dairying. After his wife retired in 1981, they enjoyed traveling together.
His health declined early in 1987. He died on Good Friday, April 17, 1987, at the age of 73. Preceding him in death were three brothers, Arnold, Waldo and Herbert; three sisters, Johanna, Matilda and Alida; and a daughter-in-law, Rosalie Voth Schmidt.
Surviving are his wife, Dorothy; four children, Ralph and wife Jeanne, Deanna and husband Reynold Entz, Betta and husband Marlin Kym and Randall and wife Rachel; four sisters, Adella Goertz, Olga Jantz, Lea Good and Verna Unrau; 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held April 20, 1987, at Grace Hill Mennonite Church, with James Voth officiating.

GWEN BASINGER GEIGER
Gwen Basinger Geiger was born March 21, 1908, in Bluffton, Ohio, the daughter of Elmer and Caroline Schumacher Basinger. She died of a heart attack April 3, 1987, in Bluffton.
She was united in marriage to Laverne Geiger on Jan. 1, 1935. He died in 1985.
She was a teacher in the Montgomery County, Maryland, public schools for 18 years.
Survivors include one son, David of Apple Valley, Minn.; two daughters, Elizabeth Geiger of Bethesda, Md., and Anne Oliphant of Ranch Palos Verdes, Calif.; and four grandchildren.

MARTIN F. KROEKER
Martin F. Kroeker, 83, was born in Richmond, Texas, on Dec. 16, 1904, to Bernard and Marie Friesen Kroeker. He died in a Dallas, Ore., nursing home on May 2, 1987.
He moved to Dallas in 1939 from Henderson, Neb. He had been employed as a custodian for the Motor Vehicle Department prior to retirement.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret, in 1944. He married Linda Ediger in 1945. She preceded him in death March 11, 1987.
He was a member of the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church, Dallas, where he had been treasurer, Sunday school teacher and a member of the board of deacons.
Surviving are his son, Richard of Salem; a daughter, Laurine "Lauri" Kroeker of Salem; a brother, Pete, of Dallas; and two grandsons.
Funeral services were held May 7, 1987, at the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church, with Harold harms and Arno Wiebe officiating. Interment was in the Dallas Cemetery.

WILMER CHRISTIAN ULRICH
Wilmer "Pat" Christian Ulrich was born near Eureka, Ill., on April 9, 1907, and died in Reedley, Calif.; on April 20, 1987, at the age of 80. He was the third son of Christian M. and Elizabeth Schertz Ulrich.
On June 18, 1933, he was married to Myrtal Harvey of Eureka, who survives. Also surviving are three brothers, Robert J. of Torrance, Calif., Marvin E., of Dayton, Va., and Clayton James of Eureka; and three sisters, Lorene Wagner and Reva Noe, both of Chenoa, Ill., and Mona Schoonaert of Washington, Ill. He loved children but had none of his own. He delighted in his nieces and nephews.
At the age of 12 he accepted Christ as his Savior, was baptized and united with the Roanoke Mennonite Church.
He was a gentle, loving person who shared time, love and compassion with all. He had many interests and experiences which served to stimulate him in his later years when he could no longer do hard physical labor.
He lived in Eureka until 1947 when he and his wife moved to Sarasota, Fla., where, in partnership with two uncles, he built tourist cottages and worked as a carpenter. In Sarasota, he united with Bayshore Mennonite Church, where he was a Sunday school teacher and superintendent.
In 1952, he was asked by his cousin, Raymond Ulrich, to be construction foreman for the Ulrich Foundation in Puerto Rico. He served for more than three years until rheumatoid arthritis forced him to discontinue his work. He lived in Eureka for four years before moving to California where he became totally disabled.
In California, he became a member of the Lomita Missionary Church. After moving to Sierra View Retirement Living Center in Reedley, he united with First Mennonite Church in 1978, where he was a member until his death.
From the age of 37 until his death, pain was his constant and sometimes cruel companion. When his anguish could have embittered him, his sweet spirit reflected our Lord's, and became a benediction to those with whom he came in contact.

ERNEST S. GARBER
Ernest S. Garber, 92, of Albany, Ore., died May 5, 1987, at Albany General Hospital of an apparent heart attack. Funeral services were held May 8, 1987, at Fairview Mennonite Church, with Lloyd Kropf and Marcus Lind officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
He was born Oct. 6, 1894, at Cullom, Ill., and moved to the Nampa, Idaho, area to farm in 1921. In 1927 he moved to Filer, where he was ordained to the ministry in the Mennonite Church. He later moved back to Nampa, where he was ordained bishop of the Nampa Mennonite Church. He moved to Brownsville, Ore., in 1963, to Lebanon, Ore., in 1965 and to Albany in 1979. He held his membership at Brownsville Mennonite Church.
On Aug. 30, 1916, in Hesston, Kan., he was united in marriage to Barbara Wenger, who survives.
He is also survived by two sons; Robert of Nampa, and Leonard of Elkhart, Ind.; two brothers, John and Ed. of Jackson, Minn.; one sister, Irene Gascho of Harrisonburg, Va.; seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

HENRY ALVIN SCHANTZ
Henry Alvin Schantz, son of Andrew and Mary Ackerman Schantz, was born at Fulda, Minn., on July 16, 1899, and died at Maple Lawn Manor, Hydro, Okla.; on Feb. 23, 1987, at the age of 87.
In 1902 he moved with his family to Rolfe, Iowa. In 1911 the family moved to a farm near Hydro, where he attended the Hopewell School.
At an early age he was baptized by Bishop Isaac Hartzler and became a member of Pleasant View Mennonite Church.
In the early 1920s, he worked at various jobs in the Wisner, Neb., area before moving to Newton, Iowa, where he worked for the Maytag washing machine company.
On May 26, 1926, he was married to Edith Yoder at El Reno, Okla. They lived in Newton, Iowa, where they joined the Methodist Church.
In 1930, they moved to Hydro to farm. In 1931, their son, Bobby, born in 1928, was killed in an accident. Their son, Jimmy, born in 1932, was killed in an accident in 1948.
Following the death of their second son, they moved to Phoenix, Ariz. In 1979, they returned to the homeplace at Hydro, where they lived until ill health forced him to enter the Maple Lawn Manor in 1986.
His survivors include his wife, Edith, and one brother, William C. of Hydro. He was preceded in death by two sons, a sister, Minnie, and a brother, George.
Funeral services were held Feb. 25, 1987, at the First United Methodist Church in Hydro, with Chester Slagell and Rex Wilkes officiating. Burial was in the Hydro Masonic Cemetery.

RALPH JANTZE
Ralph Jantze was born to Amos and Kathryn Zimmerman Jantze on Feb. 17, 1901, in Aurora, Neb., and died May 7, 1987, in Seward, Neb., at the age of 86.
He was married to Esther Reil on Aug. 31, 1924, at Milford, where he lived all his life except for a brief period at Wood River. His wife died on Jan. 9, 1982.
In his youth he was baptized and joined East Fairview Mennonite Church, Milford. Later he became a member of the Milford Mennonite Church and at the time of his death he was a member of Beth-El Mennonite Church.
Survivors include a son and his wife, Dale and Margaret Jantze of Wichita, Kan.; a daughter, Joyce Reil; and a sister, Edith Bontrager.
Funeral services were held May 9, 1987. at Beth-El Mennonite Church. Interment was in the church cemetery.

JOHANNA H. BECKER
Johanna Hunsinger Becker, a native of Germany and resident of Anaheim, Calif., for 60 years, died at the Buena Vista Nursing Home on Feb. 23, 1987, at the age of 94.
At the time of her death, she was a member of Bethel Community Church, Santa Fe Springs, Calif. She was baptized at an early age upon confession of her faith in Jesus Christ at First Mennonite Church, Paso Robles, by her grandfather, Jacob Hege.
She was joined in marriage to Abraham Becker on Sept. 5, 1915. They lived at Paul, Idaho, and Shafter, Calif., before settling in Anaheim.
She had a host of friends who loved her for her kind and friendly manner. She was well known for the many quilts she made for relief.
She is survived by two daughters, Alice Watts and Eleanor Baker, both of Anaheim, one son, Leonard Becker of Orange; one brother, Adolph Hunsinger of Aberdeen, Idaho; one sister, Helen Isaak of Aberdeen, Idaho; eight grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at the Hilgenfeld Mortuary Chapel, Anaheim, with Holland Lewis officiating. Interment was at Loma Vista Memorial Park, Fullerton.

MARY OSWALD
Mary Ellen Oswald, formerly of Hopedale and Tremont, Ill., was born Oct. 15, 1893, to Joseph and Katherine Troyer Schweitzer and died June 6, 1987, at Morton, Ill., at the age of 93.
She was married to Peter J. Oswald on Jan. 16, 1910, in Nebraska. He died Sept. 14, 1957.
Surviving are six daughters, Ethel I. Roth of Washington, Ruth (Mrs. Aaron) Raymer of Allentown, Lois (Mrs. Harry) Wilson of Minier, Erma (Mrs. Don) Christiansen of East Peoria, Arlene (Mrs. Charles) Halder of Aurora and Bonnie Jean (Mrs. Charles) Hammontree of Pekin; three sons, Donald Sr. of Tremont, Ken of rural Pekin and Joe of rural Hopedale; 32 grandchildren, 61 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one son, one daughter, three sisters and four brothers.
She was a member of Hopedale Mennonite Church, where funeral services were held June 9, 1987, with H. James Smith and James Detweiler officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.

PAULINE LUNDBERG
Ruby Pauline Cooprider Lundberg was born to Charles W. and Mary Frances Winey Cooprider on July 23, 1910, near Inman, Kan. She died June 27, 1987, at Hutchinson Hospital at the age of 76.
She attended Hesston Academy and received a bachelor of arts degree from McPherson College. She taught school in McPherson County and in McPherson for 40 years. She enjoyed teaching and kept in contact with many of her pupils.
She was married to Leonard W. Lundberg on May 10, 1944.
She was a member of the Mennonite church, Alpha Delta Kappa, Lydia Circle, McPherson Retired Teachers Association and McPherson Hospital Auxiliary.
Survivors include a daughter, Lennette, and her husband, Donald R. Bonnell of Shawnee, and a brother-in-law, Ernest Zimmerman of Reedley, Calif.
Funeral services were held June 30, 1987. Interment was at West Liberty Cemetery, Windom, Kan.

Transcribed by Ralph Shetler, Oregon


64th Year ­ No. 29 ­ July 16, 1987 ­ Page 10

Deaths

Two Goshen, Ind., Girls Drown in Lake Michigan

IVETTE AND ELIZABETH ACEVEDO
Goshen, Ind.-A Fourth of July family outing turned into tragedy when Ivette Acevedo, 11, and her sister, Elizabeth, 8, drowned in Lake Michigan.

The girls are survived by their parents, Abraham and Elizabeth Acevedo, a sister, and grandparents.

Funeral services were held at Iglesia Menonita del Buen Pastor Church, where the family attended.

Killed in Ohio Mishap

ATLEE WENGERD
Fredericktown, Ohio ­ Atlee Wengerd, 18, died June 7 after being dragged by a horse. He had used a rope to catch the animal in order to treat an injury on its head. Wengerd had wound part of the rope around his arm and was apparently unable to free himself when the horse began to run.


64th Year ­ No. 30 ­ July 23, 1987 ­ Page 8

NEWTON & VICINITY

IRMA D. (REIMER) ROBBINS
Funeral services were held at First Mennonite Church on July 16 for Irma D. (Reimer) Robbins, 53, Newton, who died July 14 at Halstead Hospital. Floyd Bartel officiated. Survivors include her husband, Robert; three sons, Howard H. Wiebe Jr. of Arkansas, Fred H. Wiebe of Fairfield, Calif., and Oscar H. Wiebe of Caldwell; two daughters, Mary Smith of Wichita and Janet Young of Newton; two stepsons, Steve and Rodney Robbins, both of Newton; one stepdaughter, Rita Adams of Sterling; one brother, Edward Reimer of Newton; two sisters, Olga Friesen of Whitewater and Annie Fulk of Hesston; and seven grandchildren.

CLARA M. NEUFELD
Homemaker Clara M. Neufeld, 81, of Halstead died July 18 at Halstead Hospital. Funeral services were held July 21 at Garden Mennonite Church, Moundridge, with Darlon Tschetter and Leonard W. Harder officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. She is survived by her husband, Ferd; one son, Dorel of Halstead; one daughter, Virginia Neufeld of Newton; one sister, Esther Bearden of Enid, Okla.; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

HELEN K. SCHROEDER
Funeral services were held at First Mennonite Church, Halstead, on July 21 for Helen K. Schroeder, who died July 18 at Halstead Hospital. John W. Gaeddert and Loris Habegger officiated. Burial was in Halstead Cemetery. She is survived by two daughters, Virginia Wiebe of Cincinnati and Helen Sabo of Pueblo, Colo.; two brothers, Henry Will of Halstead and Frank Will of Pueblo, Colo.; two sisters, Frieda Keller of Harper and Louise Penner of Tacoma, Wash.; and four grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Karl, in January 1984.

MARGARET E. VOTH
Margaret E. Voth, 88, of Goessel, a retired teacher, died July 20 at Bethesda Home for the Aged in Goessel. Funeral services were held July 22 at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church near Goessel, with Kenneth Rupp and Orlando Waltner officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. She was a former employee of Herald Publishing Co. Survivors include three brothers, Alvin P. Voth and Reinhard D. Voth, both of Goessel, and J. Randolf Voth of rural Hillsboro

Page 10

Death

Pennsylvania Pastor Dies

DOUGLAS GOOD
Bally, Pa.-Douglas Good, pastor of Hereford Mennonite Church, died June 13 of cancer. He was 30. Survivors include his wife, Gayla.


64th Year ­ No. 31 ­ July 30, 1987 ­ Page 8

MILDRED BECHER
Funeral services were held July 29 at Salem United Methodist Church, Newton, for Mildred Becher, 81, a professor of physical education at Bethel College for 33 years. She died July 26 at Friendly Acres Home for the Aged, Newton. She taught and participated in athletic activities through the early 1970s. She is survived by two nephews. She was preceded in death by a brother. Burial was in Moundridge Cemetery.

ARNOLD E. FUNK
Arnold E. Funk, 86, of North Newton, a retired Mennonite minister and North Newton city clerk, died July 24 at Bethel Deaconess Hospital, Newton. Funeral services were held July 27 at Bethel College Mennonite Church, with Darrell Fast and D.C. Wedel officiating. Burial was in Haven of Rest Cemetery, Hillsboro. He pastored churches in Kansas and Illinois. He is survived by his wife, Edna Ruth; two sons, Frederick of Viroqua, Wis., and Francis of Newton; three daughters, Marjorie Schroeder of Mt. Lake, Minn., Shirley Harms of Upland, Ind., and Barbara Reimer of Ft. Collins, Colo.; 18 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a grandson.

Transcribed by Ralph Shetler, Oregon


Copyright 2002 - All rights reserved - Mennonite Publishing House, Scottdale, PA
Used with permission by the Archives of the Mennonite Church, Goshen, INDIANA
Permission granted to private family researchers to use selected portions of these files to tell their family stories.
May not be mass-produced in any form for commercial purposes.