Mennonite Weekly Review, March 7, 2005, 83rd Year, No. 10, p. 11

John Edwin Rempel, 79, of Clinton, Okla., died Aug. 18, 2004, at Integris Clinton Regional Hospital. He was born Oct. 18, 1924, to John H. and Susie (Wiebe) Rempel at Corn.
In addition to farming near Corn, his family also farmed in west Texas. He began his schooling at Hereford, Texas, and completed his education at Corn. As a junior he was a member of the first Corn High School basketball team to advance to the state tournament.
He married Erna Viola Harms on Oct. 29, 1944, at Herold Mennonite Church. They first lived on a farm west of Corn.
Soon after their wedding, he was baptized and became a member of Herold Mennonite Church of Bessie. He assisted with the church basement excavation project in 1945-46. Over the years he served the church as an usher and a trustee, and was part of the trustee team in 1981 when the Sunday school addition was built.
In 1951 they moved to Clinton, but he continued to farm until his retirement in 1994. For a time after they moved, he also demonstrated and repaired equipment for Singer Sewing Machine Co.
One season he was unable to do any farm work due to injuries from an auto accident. Due to complications, it was eight years before he totally recovered, and he managed the farm while on crutches.
As a hobby, he enjoyed fishing.
Survivors include his wife of almost 60 years, Erna; a daughter, Eva Maxine Rempel of Clinton; a sister, Margie Schmidt of Sterling, Kan.; a stepmother, Jessie Mae Rempel of Corn; four sisters-in-law, Rosella Abrahams and Martha Harms, both of Clinton, and Linda Harms and Anna Horn, both of Corn.
Services were held at Herold Mennonite Church of Bessie. Burial was in Herold Mennonite Cemetery.

Arlene Mildred Dick, 87, died Feb. 11, 2005, at Heritage Court in Windom, Minn. She was born Sept. 26, 1917, to Cornelius and Katherine (Rempel) Peters at Mountain Lake.
She received her education at the German Bible School and Mountain Lake public schools. She was baptized upon her confession of faith at Bethel Mennonite Church in Mountain Lake, and she remained a lifelong member.
On Dec. 7, 1943, she married Jacob A. Dick at Bethel Mennonite Church.
They served in Civilian Public Service camp in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where she served at the mental hospital. After returning to Minnesota, they made their home in Avoca and Odin before settling in Mountain Lake.
She was a loving wife and mother. She helped her husband, as a secretary, in his insurance business for more than 30 years. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting and quilting. She will be remembered for her volunteer work at the Care & Share and the more than 2,000 rugs she wove for the benefit of Mennonite central Committee.
Survivors include her husband, Jacob A. Dick; a daughter, Mary Harder and her husband, Martin, of Minneapolis; two sons, Norman Dick and his wife, Rosalie, of Mountain Lake, and Marlin Dick and his wife, Mary Erin, of Beaver, Pa.; a sister, Margaret Preheim of Mountain Lake; eight grandchildren and a great-grandson.

Melita Janzen, 73, a lifetime resident of the Reedley, Calif., area, died Feb. 10, 2005. She was born March 15, 1931, to Frank F. and Marieche (Voth) Loewen in Reedley.
Her family lived on several farms in the Planada, Reedley and Dinuba areas, and she attended elementary schools in the Watoke, Lincoln, Grant and Great Western schools in and near Reedley. The oldest of three children, she and her siblings were called upon to help with farm chores, where she became quite proficient at turning raising trays and driving a tractor between the grape rows.
She was baptized on her confession of faith and joined First Mennonite Church of Reedley on May 16, 1948. She graduated from Reedley High School in 1949.
On Sept. 1, 1950, she married Milton W. Janzen at First Mennonite Church of Reedley.
She remained a member of First Mennonite Church her entire life. She devoted her adult life to being a homemaker and was skilled at sewing, crocheting and cooking. She thoroughly enjoyed crocheting and made many doilies, Christmas ornaments and other projects, which she was proud to display or give away, including a beautiful tablecloth for each of her children.
Survivors include two sons, Dennis Janzen and his wife, Jeanne, of Clovis, and Jerry Janzen of Reedley; a daughter, Annette Vix and her husband, Lyndon, of Wichita, Kan.; a brother, John Loewen and his wife, Sue, of Reedley; a sister, Martha Wedel and her husband, Wilmer, of Elbing, Kan.; a sister-in-law, Thelma Hinz of Fresno; a brother-in-law, Bob Chapman of the Bay area; and five grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Milton, on Aug. 26, 1993; and by an infant sister, Mariechen.
Funeral services were held at the Evangelical Free Church in Reedley. Burial was in the Reedley Cemetery.

Ervin Jacob Kauffman, 65, of Portland, Ore., died Feb. 15, 2005. He was born April 5, 1939, to Carl and Elizabeth Kauffman in Creston (now Kalispell), Mont.
He graduated from Western Mennonite School in Salem in 1958. The 1958 school yearbook described him as "dependable," "always busy," and "a witness for Christ," characteristics he maintained for the remainder of his life. He attended Eastern Mennonite College before graduating from Portland State University.
He married Ruth Driver on Sept. 11, 1965.
He served as the chief sanitarian for Multnomah County, where he worked for 30 years. He was an active member of Portland Mennonite Church and served as chair of the school board of Western Mennonite School for six years.
After retiring in 1999, he continued to be "always busy." He and Ruth volunteered frequently at Drift Creek Camp and with Mennonite Disaster Service and Mennonite Central Committee at various locations across the country. He also volunteered in Portland, namely for FISH Emergency Services, picking up food donations.
During his retirement he enjoyed riding his recumbent bicycle, baking bread, traveling to the Oregon coast and woodworking. He spent many hours in his shop in the basement making beds and dressers for his kids, a grandfather clock for his wife, a high chair for his grandchildren and intricate bird houses to sell at the Mennonite Fall Festival in Albany, a fund-raiser for MCC. His woodworking was just one of many ways that he shared his love and generosity with his family.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth; three children, Yolanda Kauffman and her husband, Eric Massanari, of Newton, Kan., Sonya Kauffman Smith and her husband, Matthew, of Portland, and Jae Kauffman and his wife, Jessica Fairbanks, of Seoul, Korea; a sister, Nadine Gerig of Albany; a brother, Marvin Kauffman of Albany; and two grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Fern Kauffman; and a brother, Gerald Kauffman.
Services were held at Portland Mennonite Church.

Everett A. Ulrich, 82, of Manson, Iowa, died of a sudden illness on Dec. 15, 2004, at Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge. He was born Feb. 5, 1922, to Harley and Ada Gingerich Ulrich at Pomeroy.
He attended rural school near his home and completed his education at Manson High School. He served in Civilian Public Service in California and Maryland.
He married Naomi Conrad in 1960 at Louisville, Ohio. They farmed east of Pomeroy for 50 years. In 1980 they moved to Manson, and he continued to farm until he retired in 1989. He enjoyed music, hunting, fishing, woodworking, traveling and time spent with his family.
He was baptized in his early years and was a lifetime member of Manson Mennonite Church, where he served on the building and stewardship committees and also in other capacities. He was a longtime member of Mennonite Economic Development Associates and traveled to a number of MEDA projects. He was also a member of Gideons. He had a lifelong passion for helping and supporting those in need.
Survivors include his wife, Naomi; a daughter, Karen Sue Seehusen and her husband, David, of Inver Grove Heights, Minn.; a sister, Florence Landis; a brother-in-law, Clifford Swartzendruber; two granddaughters and a great-grandson.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Eleanor Swartzendruber.
Funeral services were held at Manson Mennonite Church.

Gladys G. Weber, 80, of Fairmount Homes, Ephrata, Pa., died Feb. 3, 2005. She was born Nov. 23, 1924, to Levi and Mary Ann Groff Sensenig.
She was the wife of George G. Weber, to whom she was married 54 years.
She was a supportive spouse as George and she helped plant churches at Oxford Circle in Philadelphia and in Tamaqua, Grenada, Shiloh and Reading in Pennsylvania. She was a member of Martindale Mennonite Church.
She delighted in cooking and baking treats for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed singing and participated in the cottage choir at Fairmount.
Survivors include her husband, George; two daughters, Mary Ann Bower and her husband, Richard, of New Holland, and Lois Metzler and her husband, Wesley, of Peach Bottom; three sisters, Anna Mae Weaver of Lititz, Helen Ressler of East Earl and Arlene Pharis of Renovo; two brothers, Albert Sensenig of East Earl and Levi Sensenig Jr. of Hillsboro, Ohio; 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Landis Sensenig.

Sanford A. Yoder, 92, of Greencroft in Goshen, Ind., died Feb. 25, 2005. He was born July 1, 1912, to A.I. and Saloma Yoder in West Liberty, Ohio.
He moved to Goshen in 1946, where he started Goshen Farms Dairy. He later worked as a poultry serviceman for Farm Bureau and was owner/operator of Middlebury Grain. He was a member of Pleasant Oaks Mennonite Church of Middlebury.
He was a lifelong Chicago White Sox fan and loved to hunt and fish. In his later years, he enjoyed playing golf and horseshoes.
Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Shirley (Cooper) Yoder; three sons, Ronald Yoder of Goshen, Dale Yoder and his wife, Donna, of White Pigeon, Mich., and Charles Yoder and his wife, Judy, of Diamond, Mo.; three daughters, Sandra Bjornson and her husband, Gary, of Middlebury, Lois Yoder and her husband, Jim, of Middlebury, and Joellen Morton and her husband, Dana, of Nappanee; a brother-in-law, Abram Hallman; 19 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two children, Carol Sue and Timothy Yoder; two brothers, Mark Yoder and Jason Yoder; and six sisters, Ruth Yoder, Mary Hostetler, Esther Hallman, Elsie Brunk, Estelle Schrock and Lois Hallman.
Services were held at Pleasant Oaks Mennonite Church in Middlebury.

Edna Viola Zimmerly Beyeler, 101, of Smithville, Ohio, died Feb. 7, 2005. She was born June 1, 1903, to John and Sarah Steiner Zimmerly at the family home near Orrville.
Her mother died when she was 9 years old. Her father and aunts took good care of the family of six young children. She accepted Christ in her youth and was baptized in 1917 at Crown Hill Mennonite Church near Rittman, where she was a member for the rest of her life.
She graduated from Orrville High School in 1922 and attended Kent State University, where she received teacher education training. She taught school in Chippewa Township near Doylestown and at Green Township School No. 7 near Orrville.
In 1925 she married Lester Beyeler. In 1984 they moved from their farm near Wooster to Smithville.
She was a quiet, strong and loving woman who always supported her family and friends however she could. She enjoyed having guests in her home. Her other interests included reading, gardening, nature and historical records.
Survivors include five daughters, Esther Gray and her husband, Larry, of San Diego, Calif., Elizabeth Jacobs and her husband, Merle, of Smithville, Eunice Brenneman and her husband, Merle, of Arvada, Colo., Eloise Hostetler and her husband, Robert, of Erie, Pa., and Elaine Hershberger and her husband, Wayne, of Tyrone, Pa.; seven sons, Glenard Beyeler and his wife, Rita, of Phoenix, Ariz., Lowell Beyeler and his wife, Shirley, of Polk, Milton Beyeler and his wife, Jeannette, of Wooster, Robert Beyeler and his wife, Julia, of Orrville, Ivan Beyeler and his wife, Romona, of Leo, Ind., Lester Beyeler and his wife, Delores, of Navarre, and Marion Beyeler and his wife, Jane, of Orrville; 29 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of almost 68 years, Lester, in 1993; an infant son, James, in 1932; and all her siblings, Alvin, Galen, Esther, Clarence and Orpha Zimmerly.
Funeral services were held at Crown Hill Mennonite Church. Burial was in Crown Hill Cemetery.

Mennonite Weekly Review, March 14, 2005, 83rd Year, No. 11, p. 8

Margaret Edith Jahnke, 79, of Elkhart, Ind., died Feb. 17, 2005. She was born March 31, 1925, to Gottlieb and Annie M. (Peters) Jahnke in Herbert, Sask.
She received her high school education in Main Center Herbert School District, her bachelor's degree from Bethel College in North Newton, Kan., and her master's degree in psychiatric social work from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. She also received a post-graduate degree in psychiatric social work from the Menninger School of Psychiatry in Topeka, Kan.
She was an adoption placement worker for Kansas Children's Service League and worked 20 years as a psychiatric social worker. She was director of diagnostic and evaluation services for Lewis Cass School System in Cassopolis, Mich., and later for the Association for the Disabled of Elkhart County. She worked for the Indiana State Department of Disabilities for several years.
She lived in the Elkhart area since 1958. She was a charter member of Hively Avenue Mennonite, where she worked as church office secretary for 11 years. She was a volunteer for the Mennonite Central Committee Ten Thousand Villages store and was on the board of Menno-Hof in Shipshewana. She was a member of the National Association of Clinical Social Workers. She was listed in the "Who's Who in American Women" for her contribution to the post-World War II relief work with refugees in Europe. She worked with refugees in rehabilitation and immigrant processing from Germany to South America and the United States and Canada. She directed International Student Summer Work Camps in Germany and worked as an interpreter for the Canadian and United States immigration services.
Survivors include two sisters, Pauline Bauman of Kitchener, Ont., and Evelyn Friesen of Mesa, Ariz.; and two brothers, Donald Jamieson of Courtenay, B.C., and Grant Jahnke of Toronto.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Kenneth and Alfred Jahnke.
Memorial services were held at Hively Avenue Mennonite Church of Elkhart.

Helen L. Mishler, 86, of LaGrange, Ind., died Feb. 24, 2005, at her home in Plato. She was born April 18, 1918, to Earl J. and Ruby (Stahl) Miller in Shipshewana.
She graduated on her 16th birthday, in 1934, from Shipshewana High School, and from Goshen College in 1936.
She was a member of Shore Mennonite Church and the Indiana State Teachers Association. She was also the co-founder of Super Blend Inc. and served on the board of directors until the time of her death.
She was a dedicated elementary school teacher for 40 years in the LaGrange County area, retiring in May 1990 from Topeka Elementary. She began her teaching career in 1936 at Benton school in Elkhart County. She also taught in a number of one-room schools in the area - Pashan, Green and Huff - and at Bloomfield and Clay Elementary schools. Besides teaching school she was actively involved as a children's Sunday school leader and teacher at Forks Mennonite and Plato Mennonite churches.
She married Merrill M. Mishler on Oct. 2, 1938, in Shipshewana. He preceded her in death on Jan. 11, 2001.
Survivors include two sons, John Mishler and his wife, Mary, and James Mishler, all of LaGrange; three daughters, Ruth Basinger and her husband, Edwin, of Catoosa, Okla., Rose Miller and her husband, Philip, of LaGrange, and Retha Filhart of Coleman, Mich.; two brothers, Walter Miller of Syracuse and Lloyd Miller of Indianapolis; a sister, Treva Richer of Mooresville; eight grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Merrill; a sister, Ruth Hooley; and a brother, Harold Miller.
Service were held at Shore Mennonite Church of Shipshewana. Burial was in the Shore Cemetery.

Edith Driver Branner, 84, of Harrisonburg, Va., died March 3, 2005, at Oak Lea Nursing Home, where she had been a resident for more than three years. She was born March 25, 1920, to Rhodes H. and Anna Weaver Driver in Rockingham County.
She had worked at the Farm Bureau in Harrisonburg and later worked as a secretary for Eastern Mennonite High School. She was an active member of Lindale Mennonite Church.
On Aug. 27, 1941, she married John Branner. He preceded her in death on July 19, 2002.
Survivors include two daughters, Joanna Lynn Branner of Bridgewater and Judy Bontrager of Phoenix, Ariz.; and two sisters, Gladys Driver and Brownie Driver, both of Harrisonburg.
Memorial services were held at Lindale Mennonite Church. A private burial took place prior to the service.

Bertha Meyer Galle, 97, of Moundridge, Kan., died March 14, 2005, at Memorial Home. She was born Oct. 17, 1907, to Fred D. and Hulda Rupp Meyer in Moundridge.
She was a lifetime Moundridge area resident and a homemaker. She graduated from Moundridge High School in 1928. She was a member of West Zion Mennonite Church of Moundridge.
She married Dale S. Galle on Aug. 26, 1934, in Moundridge. He preceded her in death on Sept. 27, 2003.
Survivors include a son, Nelson D. Galle of Manhattan; three daughters, Dorothy Claassen of Thousand Oaks, Calif., Edith Dahlsten of Lindsborg and June Krehbiel of Moundridge; a sister, Marie H. Wedel of Moundridge; 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Christian Meyer and Alfred Meyer; and three sisters, Esther Huxman, Elma Huxman and Elizabeth Loganbill.
Memorial services were held at West Zion Mennonite Church. Burial was in West Zion Church Cemetery.

Mennonite Weekly Review, March 28, 2005, 83rd Year, No. 13, p. 8

Arnold E. Goertz, 80, of Buhler, Kan., died March 14, 2005, at Hutchinson Hospital. He was born June 9, 1924, to David P. and Helena C. Ediger Goertz in Reno County.
He attended Bethel College in North Newton. He lived in Garden City, Newton and Buhler. He was product designer for Hesston Corporation and retired after 27 years. He also farmed.
He married Genevieve Dirks on Nov. 7, 1948, in Buhler.
He was a member of Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church, and served as a Sunday school teacher and a deacon. He was a member of the Mennonite Men's Choir and the Wheat Heritage Engine Club of Goessel.
Survivors include his wife, Genevieve; a son, Robert Goertz of Buhler; two brothers, Wilbur Goertz of Hesston and Ronald Goertz of Montgomery, Ala.; two sisters, Marieanna Siemens of Inman and Loretta Zehr of Gridley, Ill.; and two grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Doris Goertz; a brother, Harold Goertz; and two grandchildren.
Services were held at Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church. Burial was in Hoffnungsau Cemetery.

Mark Stanley Siemens, 58, of Lancaster, Pa., died March 8, 2005. He was born July 24, 1946, in Bakersfield, Calif.
He attended Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan., where he met Janet Lautt. They were married June 23, 1968.
He held a number of administrative, teaching and editorial positions, performed conscientious objector alternative service in Kinshasa in Congo and served with Mennonite Central Committee in Jerusalem, West Bank, and Bangkok, Thailand. He earned a master of divinity degree from Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary and was an active church leader. Love of the ocean, travel and concern for issues of peace and social justice were lifelong themes.
Survivors include his wife, Jan; two children, Heidi Siemens-Rhodes and Brad Siemens; three siblings, Carolyn Neufeld, Dale Siemens and Brian Siemens, and a grandchild.
Funeral services were held at Akron Mennonite Church.

Anna Lois Umble, 90, died March 1, 2005. She was born Feb. 13, 1915, to Jacob and Rebecca Kurtz of Morgantown, Pa.
On Jan. 2, 1935, she married Omar K. Umble. She joined him on the Umble family farm at Atglen, Pa., where they lived and worked harmoniously side by side, living out their Christian faith in the church and community.
She was an active member of Maple Grove Mennonite Church of Atglen, where for 40 years she taught the ladies' Sunday school class. She also taught the Bible school class about the Apostle Paul and his missionary journeys because she had great admiration for him and his calling. She was the epitome of Prov. 31:10-31 in many ways by skillfully sewing garments and quilts for the needy at sewing circle, and by living a life of generosity and hospitality that reached far and near as she hosted numerous international students, served Meals on Wheels and did home care for elderly folks in the community. Her home was a place of welcome and warmth to all who entered, and one seldom left without some kind of blessing or gift.
Survivors include three children, Fred Umble and his wife, Reba, of New Holland, Betty Lou Buckwalter and her husband, Robert, of Anchorage, Alaska, and Wendell Umble and his wife, Sue, of LacLaBiche, Alta.; five sisters, Ida Glick, Susanna Umble, Linda Bush, Fannie Yoder and Martha Stoltzfus; two brothers, Omar Kurtz and Stephen Kurtz; 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 37 years, Omar; and an infant daughter, Virginia Sue.
Memorial services were held at Maple Grove Mennonite Church.

Genevieve Lorraine Goertz, 80, of Buhler, Kan., died March 17, 2005, at Pleasant View Home in Inman. She was born Sept. 9, 1924, to David T. and Sara Zielke Dirks in Hutchinson.
She attended Salt City Business College. She lived in Garden City, Newton and Buhler. She worked for Avon Product and Fuller Brush Corporation and also delivered the Hutchinson News for 15 years. She was a member of Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church and Happy Hour Sewing Circle.
She married Arnold Goertz on Nov. 7, 1948, in Buhler. He preceded her in death March 14, 2005.
Survivors include a son, Robert Goertz of Buhler; a brother, Edwin Dirks of Wichita; and two grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Arnold; a daughter, Doris Goertz; and two grandchildren.
Services were held at Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church. Burial was in Hoffnungsau Cemetery.

Ida Troyer, 90, of Goshen, Ind., and formerly of Pryor, Okla., died Feb. 24, 2005, at Greencroft Nursing Center in Goshen. She was born Feb. 19, 1915, to Rudy and Sara Yoder Detwiler near Pryor.
On Oct. 10, 1935, she married Neal Troyer. They lived most of their married life on a farm in the Pryor community, except for 1970-74 in Middlebury, Ind. He preceded her in death May 11, 1974. She lived in Pryor until 2002, when she moved to Greencroft.
She accepted Christ in her youth and was baptized into the Amish church. After marriage, she became a member of Zion Mennonite Church of Pryor, where she remained a member except for the four years in Indiana, when she was a member of Forks Mennonite Church. After moving to Indiana in 2002, she attended Clinton Brick Mennonite Church. She was a prayer warrior and was active in sewing circle.
She was a lifelong homemaker and an avid quilter. She put love into deeds. With a lifestyle firmly rooted in a steadfast and lifelong commitment to Christ, and a deep devotional and prayer life, she was a light and example to all.
Survivors include six daughters, Edna Yoder and her husband, Alva, of Crawford, Miss., Alma Eichelberger and her husband, Don, of Pryor, Lydia Lawrence and her husband, Verland, of Pryor, Susie Arnold of Adair, Okla., Ida Shetler and her husband, Dale, of Adair, and Wilma Garrett of Garland, Texas; seven sons, Freeman and his wife, Katie, of Pryor, Rudy and his wife, Sara, of Sarasota, Fla., Mose and his wife, Marjorie, of Middlebury, Neal and his wife, Karen, of Altamont, Kan., Andrew and his wife, Dawn, of Wolcottville, Larry and his wife, Sandy, of Pryor, and William and his wife, Lisa, of Victoria, Texas; 39 grandchildren; 79 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren and 16 step-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Neal; three sisters, Alma, Barbara and Selina; three brothers, Freeman, Joseph and William; a granddaughter; two step-grandsons and a great-granddaughter.