Mennonite Weekly Review - September 2002

Obituaries are emailed to MennObits before MWR is printed. Wording may vary in printed version.

Alta F. Graber
Alta F. Graber, 87, was born Jan. 16, 1915, to Harry E. and Annie (Boeckner) Kaufman at Crystal Springs in Harper County, Kan. At age 4 she moved with her parents to a farm outside Hesston. She attended Hesston Academy and earned her teaching certificate.
She taught several years before marrying Milton C. Graber on Sept. 24, 1939. They made their home east of Hesston, where they always welcomed neighbors, relatives and friends.
She had a love of flowers and children. She was a faithful member of First Mennonite Church of Christian, where she taught children's Sunday school for nearly 30 years. In 1972 she began a flower shop in her basement. Later they moved the business to Hesston and named it Country Gardens, and the arrangements she created there were appreciated at weddings, funerals and special occasions for more than 17 years.
In June 2001 they moved to Schowalter Villa in Hesston. She died Aug. 14, 2002.
Survivors include her children, Betty Hartzler and her husband, Ken, of Belleville, Pa., Jerry and his wife, Pat, of Versailles, Mo., and Jim and his wife, Ruby, of Newton; two sisters, Erma Miller of Filer, Idaho, and Fern Bontrager of Haven; two brothers, Floyd of Buhl, Idaho, and Glen of Elk Falls; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Lena Martha Veendorp
Lena Martha Veendorp, 88, of Newton, Kan., died Aug. 21, 2002, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita due to pancreatitis. She was born Sept. 21, 1913, to Abraham J. and Margaret Regehr Pauls in Reno County.
After she graduated from Hill Grade School, she served as a housekeeper for several families and then worked as a cook at Bethel Deaconess Hospital in Newton. During World War II she served as the dietician at two Civilian Public Service camps in Denison, Iowa, and Camino, Calif.
She married Gary R. Veendorp on Sept. 15, 1954, at Bethel Mennonite Church in Inman. She served as a dietician at Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Chicago while he was a student there. Then they moved to West Hartford, Conn., where she served as assistant manager of Maple Hill Restaurant and as a store detective at the G. Fox & Co. department store while he was at the seminary there.
When they moved to Wichita, she was a store detective at a Montgomery Ward store. They also served as houseparents for emotionally disturbed teenagers at United Methodist Youthville in Newton and Dodge City.
She was head cook at Bethel College in North Newton for six years, then was director of the Fine Arts Center at Bethel for 12 years.
She enjoyed international travel, going to Europe three times, including attending Mennonite World Conference in Amsterdam in 1967 and the Oberammergau Passion Play in 1984.
Survivors include her husband, Gary; a sister, Tina M. Epp of Inman; and a brother, Irvin A. Pauls of Buhler.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Arthur Pauls; and two sisters, Anna and Elizabeth Pauls.
Funeral services were held at Bethel Mennonite Church in Inman. Burial was in the Buhler Cemetery.

Katherine Duerksen
Katherine Klassen Duerksen, 101, of Newton, Kan., died July 20, 2002. She was born Sept. 25, 1900, to Peter J. and Maria Fehdrau Klassen and was raised on a farm between Goessel and Moundridge.
She was baptized June 23, 1918, and became a member of Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, rural Goessel, where she remained a member all her life.
She graduated from Hesston College, majoring in teacher education. She taught school for a number of years at Good Hope Elementary School north of Goessel.
On May 8, 1924, she married Abraham R. Duerksen at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church and joined him on the farm near Hillsboro.
She applied her teaching skills and interests to the early education of her children and to teaching Sunday school at church.
After retirement from the farm, she and her husband spent several years as caregivers at a children's home near West Liberty, Ohio, and then at a senior citizen care center in Bluffton, Ohio. Her husband died in 1969. She lived at Friendly Acres Care Center in Newton since 1989.
Survivors include two sons, Harold and his wife, Rosella, and Roland and his wife, Mary; two daughters, Elda Roupp and Erna Schmidt and her husband, Orlando; a sister, Ella Klassen Schmidt; 16 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Abraham; brothers George and Rudolf; a sister, Irma Klassen Janzen; and a son-in-law, Willard Roupp.
Funeral services were held at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Mennonite Weekly Review
September 9, 2002
80th Year, No. 36, p. 8

Paul J. Miller
Paul J. Miller, 82, of Hesston, Kan., died July 21, 2002, at Newton Medical Center. He was born Nov. 4, 1919, to Ira J. and Matilda Weideman Miller in Manson, Iowa.
On Aug. 30, 1943, he married LaVerney Swavey at Sunnyside Mennonite Church in Conneaut Lake, Pa.
A resident of Hesston since 1994 and a member of Hesston Mennonite Church, he formerly lived in Manson, Meadville, Pa., Denver, Colo., and Hutchinson, Kan. He served in Civilian Public Service in Grottoes, Va., and at Marlsboro (N.J.) State Hospital. He was an admissions counselor for private schools the 34 years he lived in Denver. While living in the retirement community of Schowalter Villa in Hesston, he was an active volunteer and also sang with the local men's chorus.
Survivors include his wife, LaVerne; a daughter, Mary Bellmore and her husband, Barry; three sons, Robert and his wife, Patricia, William and his wife, Debbie, and Jon and his wife, Diane; two brothers, John of Horton, Ala., and James of Albany, Ore.; three sisters, Mariette Stamper of Humboldt, Iowa, Lois Schlabach of Sarasota, Fla., and Doris Kramer of St. Jacobs, Ont.
He was preceded in death by a son, Thomas, and a brother, Charles.
A memorial service was held at Hesston Mennonite Church. Burial was in East Lawn Cemetery in Hesston.

John R. Pauls
John R. Pauls, 79, died Sept. 1, 2002, at Mercy Hospital in Moundridge, Kan. He was born Feb. 1, 1923, to Jacob and Anna Regehr Pauls in McPherson County.
He married Frances Dirks on Oct. 24, 1944, in Buhler.
He was a lifetime resident of the Inman area. He worked as a switchman, foreman and brakeman for the Rock Island and the St. Louis Southwestern railroads, retiring after 30 years. He was also a farmer.
He was a member of Zoar Mennonite Brethren Church and served as chairman of the board of deacons. He was a member of the men's quartet for 40 years. He worked in ministry to the aged for 27 years and for 17 years in the M2 prison ministry. He also served as president of the Hillcrest School Board. He was a member of the National Alliance to the Mentally Ill.
Survivors include his wife, Frances; two sons, Keith of Topeka and Mark and his wife, Miriam, of Inman; two daughters, Lorene Hunt and her husband, Steve, of Cornelius, Ore.; and Judy Gallagher and her husband, Brian, of Inman; a sister, Anna Ediger of Inman; a brother, Dan of Parsons; eight grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Jake, and a sister, Sarah.
Funeral services were held at Zoar Mennonite Brethren Church. Burial was in the Zoar Cemetery.

Daniel H. Diener
Daniel H. Diener, 86, of Goshen, Ind., died Aug. 7, 2002, in his home after a brief illness. He was born March 20, 1916, to Harry and Amanda (Selzer) Diener in Proctor, Mo.
On May 31, 1941, he married Carrie Yoder in Hutchinson, Kan.
He graduated from Goshen College in 1947 and earned a master's degree in 1958 from the University of Michigan.
He came to Elkhart County in 1948 and moved to Goshen in 2001. He taught high school math for 43 years, including six years in Kansas, two years in Nigeria, one year at Iowa Mennonite School near Kalona and from 1958 to 1984 at Penn High School. He served in Civilian Public Service, 1943-45. He was a member of the Indiana State Teachers Association and past president of the Retired Teachers Association.
He was a member of Prairie Street Mennonite Church in Elkhart, where he served as an elder and Sunday school teacher.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Carrie; two daughters, Karen Thompson and her husband, George, and Maribeth Friesen and her husband, Howard, both of Goshen; a son, Darrel and his wife, Leona, of McAllen, Texaas; five brother, Edward of Archbold, Ohio, Clayton and Paul, both of Hesston, Truman of Hillsboro, Kan., and Herman of South Hutchinson, Kan.; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Herbert; and two brothers, Willard and Harold.
Services were held at Prairie Street Mennonite Church. Burial was in Prairie Street Cemetery.

Rollin W. Krabill
Rollin W. Krabill, 88, of Orrville, Ohio, died June 3, 2002.
He was a lifelong resident of the Louisville area until 1995, when he moved to OrrVilla Retirement Community in Orrville.
He was a graduate of Goshen College and Kent State University. He was an elementary school educator for 39 years in the Stark County schools. He served as the first principal of Washington Twp. Elementary School and later helped plan the Marlington Middle School, where he served as its first principal. After retiring from public education in 1975, he served as principal at Lake Center Christian School in Hartville.
He was a lifetime member of Beech Mennonite Church, where he was very active. He was a member of Washington Ruritan Club for more than 30 years, the Ohio Education Association and the Stark County Administrators.
Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Gladys (Johns) Krabill; a son, Richard Krabill of Madison; a daughter, Joan Gross of Syracuse, N.Y.; a grandson and two great-granddaughters.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Viola Shore and Nola Yoder.

Mennonite Weekly Review
September 16, 2002
80th Year, No. 37, p. 8

Delbert R. Friesen
Delbert Ray Friesen was born April 18, 1942, to Arthur and Viola (Graber) Friesen in Canton, Okla. His childhood included nearly 16 years in Oklahoma as the son of Mennonite missionaries to the Cheyenne and Arapaho, whom he counted as friends.
The family moved to Reedley, Calif., in 1957, and he graduated from Reedley High School, Reedley Junior College and then received his bachelor's degree from Bethel College, North Newton, Kan. After attending Kansas State University, Manhattan, he received his doctorate in physics from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
His entire career of 31 years was devoted to teaching physics and related courses at liberal arts colleges, including his alma mater, Bethel College, Marietta College in Ohio, Tougaloo College in Mississippi, Millikin University in Illinois and finally at Whitworth College in Spokane, Wash., since 1985. He served as physics department chair since 1991, was a member of the American Association of Physics Teachers and the Pacific Northwest Association for College Physics.
He was an active member of Shalom Mennonite Fellowship of Spokane and participated in Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference events and committees.
His favorite pastimes included model railroading, camping in national parks and all things electrical. His new Honda hybrid car revealed his interest in ecology as much as practical transportation. His extensive CD collection of many styles of music exhibited his appreciation of the musical arts.
He died unexpectedly of natural causes while camping in Yellowstone National Park on Aug. 2, 2002, at age 60. A memorial service was held at Whitworth College on Aug. 7. The family plans a committal service for the ashes in Reedley on Nov. 29.
Survivors include his mother, Viola Friesen of Reedley; and a brother, Richard and his wife, Dorothy Nickel Friesen, of Bluffton, Ohio.
He was preceded in death by an infant brother.

Mary B. Anders
Mary B. Anders, 88, died Aug. 15, 2002, at Grand View Hospital in West Rockhill, Pa. She formerly lived in Elroy and resided at Souderton Mennonite Homes since 1982. She was born in Franconia Township to Wilmer and Mary (Bergey) Nyce.
She was a self-employed dressmaker for numerous years and served as an employee and volunteer at Souderton Mennonite Homes for 30 years. She enjoyed baking and contributed baked goods to many area bake sales. Her gift of hospitality was demonstrated by frequently inviting guests and serving them meals. Another interest of hers was making quilts.
She was a longtime member of Franconia Mennonite Church, where she was active in the sewing circle and involved in Sunday school and vacation Bible school.
Survivors include her husband of 69 years, Earl M. Anders; three daughters, Betty Kratz and her husband, Robert, of Telford, Deanie Frankenfield and her husband, Dale, and Becky Derstine and her husband, Dale, both of Elroy; two sons, Donald Anders and his wife, Catherine, and Earl Anders and his wife, Elaine, both of Elroy; 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a grandson, Barry Joel Anders; and an infant sister, Lizzie Nyce.
The funeral service was held at Franconia Mennonite Church. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Mennonite Weekly Review
September 23, 2002
80th Year, No. 38, p. 12

Mabel Marie Conrad
Mabel Marie Conrad, 91, of Wayland, Iowa, died Aug. 28, 2002. She was born Oct. 8, 1910, to Chris and Emma (Reschly) Roth in Washington County.
She married William B. Conrad in April 1930.
She was an active member of Bethel Mennonite Church in Wayland. She raised her family in Wayland and worked at Parkview Home. She enjoyed her sewing circle and quilting.
Survivors include three sons, Merle Conrad and his wife, Verla, of Sarasota, Fla., Russell Conrad and his wife, Judy, of Nathrop, Colo., and Ernie Conrad and his wife, Flora, of Pryor, Okla.; four daughters, Arlene Leichty and her husband, Daniel, of Wayland, Lucille Wagler and her husband, Allen, of Sigourney, Pauline Hoffman and her husband, Don, of Worland, Wyo., and Emma Jean Woodward and her husband, John, of Cannon City, Colo.; three sisters, Edith Roth, Ethel Widmer and Marguerite Dare, all of Wayland; 22 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William, in 1969; and by a grandson, Dean Leichty.
Funeral services were held at Bethel Mennonite Church. Burial was in the Bethel Cemetery.

Walter Jacob Dick
Walter Jacob Dick, 83, a retired minister, died of cancer Sept. 16, 2002, at Lifequest Care Center, an assisted living facility in Quakertown, Pa. An 18-year resident of Quakertown, he was born in Mountain Lake, Minn.
He graduated from the pastor's course at Moody Bible Institute in 1942. The next year, he received his bachelor of sacred literature degree from Bethany Biblical Seminary and Training School in Chicago.
He married Adella Fast on June 12, 1943, and was blessed with two daughters, Marcellyn Kay and Millicent Faye.
From 1943 to 1949, he was the pastor of Second Mennonite Church in Philadelphia. He was pastor of Richfield (Pa.) Mennonite Church, 1949-60; and then pastor of Grace Bible Institute Campus Church in Omaha, Neb., 1960-65. In 1965, the family moved to the Montrose (Pa.) Bible Conference, where he was director until 1984.
After leaving Montrose, he served 1984-93 at East Swamp Mennonite Church, 1994-95 as interim pastor at Deep Run Mennonite Church in Perkasie, 1995-96 as interim pastor at Lower Skippack Mennonite Church and 1996-99 as visitation pastor at Deep Run Mennonite. He was also involved in the senior adult ministry at East Swamp Mennonite and ministered at Life Span Senior Care facility.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Adella; two daughters, Marcellyn Backlin and her husband, Charles, of Cherry Hill, N.J., and Millicent Bishop and her husband, William, of Wheaton, Ill.; and four grandchildren.
A memorial service was held at the East Swamp Mennonite Church in Quakertown.

Mennonite Weekly Review
September 30, 2002
80th Year, No. 39, p. 8

Bertha M. Britsch
Bertha M. Britsch, 105, died Aug. 20, 2002, at Fairlawn Haven Nursing Home in Archbold, Ohio. She was the oldest resident ever to live at Fairlawn. She was born Dec. 4, 1896, to Christian J. and Magdalena (Stutzman) Wyse near Archbold.
On March 20, 1915, she married Lewis S. Britsch, with whom she shared 74 years until his death March 24, 1989.
From marriage until 1945, they lived on their farm near Pettisville. After retiring from farming, they spent two years in relief work in Europe under Mennonite Central Committee. For the next 20 years, they spent a part of each year with Mennonite Disaster Service and other voluntary service projects throughout the United States. They helped start Little Eden, a church-sponsored camp near Onekama, Mich. In August 1984 they moved to Fairlawn Apartments. She moved to the Fairlawn nursing home after her husband's death.
She was a member of Central Mennonite Church and was active in the work of the church. She was a person of faith and commitment to God, family and church.
Survivors include a daughter, Meredith Beck of Archbold; two daughters-in-law, Irene and Doris, both of Archbold; eight grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 42 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lewis; two sons, Olen and Dale; a grandson, Ronald Beck; two great-grandchildren, Ricky Beck and Lisa Beck; a great-great-grandchild, Nicholas Saldivar; five brothers, Simon, Edwin, William, Jefferson and Daniel Wyse; and five sisters, Ella Wyse, Emma Rupp, Amanda Rupp, Mary Short and Lavina Frey Pletcher.

Lloyd Coblentz
Lloyd Coblentz, 87, of Pryor, Okla., died Aug. 24, 2002. He was born Oct. 6, 1914, in Kokomo, Ind., to Mose and Lizzie (Beachy) Coblentz.
He moved to Mazie, Okla., in 1930. He married Salina Detweiler on Oct. 10, 1935. She preceded him in death Jan. 5, 1976. On April 8, 1977, he married Mary Irene (Giles) Fought.
He was a faithful member of Zion Mennonite Church of Pryor, where he served in various leadership roles.
He was a lifetime dairyman and rancher, retiring at age 85. He was active in many community activities, such as serving on the boards of the Pure Milk Association, Rural Water District, Mayes County Fair and the school. He enjoyed traveling, including to several countries.
Survivors include his wife of 25 years, Mary Irene; three daughters, Lydia Troyer and her husband, Earl, of Pryor; Liz Pankratz and her husband, Bill, of Inola; and Mary Jantz of Inola; five sons, Al and his wife, Betty, of Pryor; Rudy and his wife, Shirley, of Hudson, Ohio; Paul and his wife, Rita, of Pryor; Ervin and his wife, Rosella, of Dublin, Texas; and Lloyd Jr. and his wife, Roselene, of Tulsa; a stepson, Duane Fought and his wife, Barbara, of Pryor; two godchildren, Carol Ann and Becky Lee Garner; a sister, Verna Troyer of Middlebury, Ind.; two brothers, John and Thomas, both of Mazie; 23 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; a step-granddaughter and four step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Salina; a sister, Emma Miller; and a son-in-law, Calvin Jantz.
Funeral services were held at Zion Mennonite Church. Burial was in the Zion church cemetery.

Sarah Kroeker
Sarah Kroeker, 93, of Chouteau, Okla., died Sept. 8, 2002, at her home. She was born June 16, 1909, to Noah and Lizzie (Coblentz) Yoder in Sugar Creek, Ohio.
She moved with her parents to Oklahoma at age 3, living the rest of her life in the rural area of Chouteau. She was baptized as a teenager in the Amish church.
On Aug. 30, 1944, she married Henry Kroeker. They enjoyed 50 years together before his death on July 4, 1995.
They supported many students in their education but especially their godson Mical David and his sister Amal from Israel.
She was a faithful member of
Zion Mennonite Church in Pryor and was active in the Bible memory program and women's sewing circle.
Survivors include two brothers, Noah and Melvin, both of Chouteau; a sister, Edna Faye Yoder of Topeka, Ind.; a godchild, Amal Doom and her husband, Tim, of Columbus, Ohio; a brother-in-law, Paul Hershberger of Sarasota, Fla.; and two sisters-in-law, Mary and Sue Yoder of Chouteau.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry; two sisters, Mary Ann Chupp and Ida Hershberger; two brothers, John Henry and Mose Yoder; and a godson, Mical David.
Funeral services were held at Zion Mennonite Church. Burial was in the Zion church cemetery.

Daniel P. Thieszen
Daniel P. Thieszen, 83, of Henderson, Neb., died Aug. 31, 2002. He was born July 3, 1919, to Abraham and Aganetha (Peters) Thieszen on a farm southeast of Henderson.
He attended School District #31 for eight years, then attended Bible school during the winter months.
He accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and was baptized May 28, 1939, and received as a member at Bethesda Mennonite Church.
He married Clara Huebert on Feb. 26, 1941. They moved to a farm northwest of Henderson, where they farmed for 36 years and saw many changes in farming methods.
He was active in community affairs of the church, hospital, nursing home, school, Mennonite Disaster Service and voluntary service. He enjoyed teaching Sunday school, provided devotions at the nursing home, sang in the men's chorus and memorized Scripture.
He moved into Henderson in 1977. He worked at the Henderson hospital and nursing home for 19 years.
During his last years, his struggle with health problems did not diminish his enthusiasm for living or love for his family, whom he enjoyed having around.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Clara; a daughter, Verlene Sebes and her husband, Donald, of Hanston, Kan.; four sons, Elmer and his wife, Donna, Leroy and his wife, Jo, Dennis and his wife, Diane, and Larry, all of Henderson; a sister, Marie; a brother, Abe; and 21 grandchildren.
Preceding him in death was a twin sister, Eva Friesen.

Juanita Conrad
Juanita Conrad, 89, of Bluffton, Ohio, died Sept. 19, 2002, at Blanchard Valley Regional Health Center. She was born April 8, 1913, to Charles D. and Nellie (Ladd) Bailey near Grover Hill.
After a year of studies at Bluffton College and another year at Bowling Green State University, she taught second grade at Hoaglin-Jackson School of Van Wert County.
She married Reuben Conrad, of Sterling, Ill., whom she met at Bluffton College, on July 4, 1937. He preceded her in death on Feb. 14, 1998.
After her marriage, they moved to Illinois, where they lived more than 50 years in Arlington Heights and were members of First Methodist Church. She worked as a librarian in the Arlington Heights public library from 1954 until her retirement in 1976, and was librarian of her church.
She taught Sunday school and was a den mother for the Cub Scouts, was involved in community activities, and in her later years researched the genealogy of her family. In retirement she and her husband traveled widely, were active in square dance groups and went south to spend more than 20 winters in the Rio Grande valley. After she moved to Bluffton in 1998, she attended First Mennonite Church.
Survivors include three sons, Alan and his wife, Susukha, of Hollywood, Fla., Dennis of Denver, and Ronald and his wife, Mary, of Thornhill, Ont.; two brothers, Charles Bailey of Hubbard, Ore., and Ivan Bailey of Georgetown, Del.; and three grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Reuben; and a sister, Mildred.
Funeral services were held at First Mennonite Church of Bluffton. Burial was in the family plot in Sterling, Ill.

Linda Enns
Linda Enns, 89, of Inman, Kan., died Sept. 12, 2002, at Pleasant View Home. She was born March 8, 1913, a half-mile from Inman, the daughter of Abraham W. and Margaret Thiessen Wiens.
A lifetime resident of the Inman area, she graduated from Inman Grade School and attended two years at Zoar Academy.
She enjoyed playing the accordion with a group of musicians, mostly for church and Christian endeavor programs. She also enjoyed cross-stitching quilt tops that the Bethel church ladies quilted and shared with family, and donated many to the Mennonite Central Committee sale and to Adriel School quilt auction in West Liberty, Ohio, where her daughter Doris is chaplain. She was an aide at Pleasant View Home for 15 years.
She was a lifetime member of Bethel Mennonite Church, Inman, teaching Sunday school for 40 years and was a member of Bethel Charity Society.
On June 6, 1934, she married Abe F. Enns at Inman. He survives.
Other survivors include a daughter, Doris Enns of West Liberty, Ohio; a sister, Elizabeth Enns of Inman; a brother-in-law, Art Penner and his wife, Ella, of Fresno, Calif.; a sister-in-law, Rachel Enns of Inman; and 11 nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Helen Wiens Penner and Justina Wiens Neufeld; and a stepmother, Mary Reimer Wiens.
Funeral services were held at Bethel Mennonite Church. Burial was in North Inman Cemetery.

A. Lloyd Swartzendruber
A. Lloyd Swartzendruber, 98, of Harrisonburg, Va., died Sept. 8, 2002, at Oak Lea Nursing Home. He was born Nov. 23, 1903, to Daniel B. and Anna Guengerich Swartzendruber at Echo Dell Farm near Kalona, Iowa.
He graduated from Kalona High School and was superintendent of Mennonite Children's Home in Kansas City, Kan., from 1937 to 1946. He was ordained into the ministry at East Union Mennonite Church of Kalona in 1944. In 1951, he served a year as chaplain in Germany as part of the Pax program. He then returned to East Union church and taught in the local public school system.
He was moderator of Iowa-Nebraska Conference, served on the General Mission Board of the Mennonite Church and on the board of overseers of Hesston (Kan.) College. He also taught Bible at Iowa Mennonite School.
He moved to the Harrisonburg area in 1969, where he was part-time chaplain of Virginia Mennonite Home. He was a member of Park View Mennonite Church.
On May 23, 1926, he married Mary Eimen, who preceded him in death in 1980. On June 13, 1981, he married Alda Lehman, who preceded him in death in 1991.
Survivors include two sons, H. Dwight Swartzendruber of Scottsdale, Ariz., and J. Paul Swartzendruber of Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia; a daughter, Ruby Lehman of Harrisonburg; three stepsons, Mark Lehman and Timothy Lehman, both of Harrisonburg, and Luke Lehman of Bergton; two stepdaughters, Kathryn Good of Harrisonburg and Rachel Brunk of Bowie, Md.; 10 grandchildren; 13 step-grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and 22 step-great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held at Park View Mennonite Church.