Mennonite Weekly Review, June 6, 2005, 83rd Year, No. 23, p. 8

Grace Marie Ewert Brandt, 71, of Hillsboro, Kan., died May 13, 2005. She was born April 5, 1934, to Lydia and David P. Ewert in Goessel.
She attended Hillsboro High School for four years and graduated in 1952 as Salutatorian of her class.
Growing up she attended First Mennonite Church in Hillsboro and was baptized there. She married Raymond Brandt on Sept. 2, 1952, also at First Mennonite Church.
In 1955, they entered I-W service in Evanston, Ill. After two years, they returned to the Hillsboro area to farm. They lived on five different farms, and in 1967 settled on the farm where she grew up.
Her mother, Lydia, strongly influenced her stance on peace and justice issues, and she also became active in these matters. She and Ray participated in the Upper Room Fellowship at the Hutchinson Reformatory, as well as being part of many peace walks.
She was a tender and caring mother to their children. She sewed wonderful clothes for her children and grandchildren. She took pleasure in watching her children and grandchildren participate in sports.
She was fond of animals and patiently handled the many chores and errands for the family farm. Tending to her flowers and garden was an important part of her life.
When the chicken operation ceased on the farm, she began piecing and appliqueing quilts and wall hangings. She created intricate and beautiful works of art. She generously donated quilts and wall hangings to the MCC relief sale and other charities. Over the years she made more than 120 quilts and 90 wall hangings. All of her children and grandchildren have a quilt especially made for them.
Survivors include her husband, Ray; three children, Mike Brandt and his wife, Deb, Laurie Luken and her husband, Joe, and Julie Brandt and her husband, Lloyd Anderson; a sister, Dorothy Goering; and six grandchildren.
A memorial service was held at First Mennonite Church of Hillsboro.

Abe Willems, 86, of Goshen, Ind., died May 5, 2005, at Greencroft Healthcare. He was born Jan. 28, 1919, to Abraham F. and Anna Isaac Willems in Greensburg, Kan.
He was baptized into the Krimmer Mennonite Church in January 1932, and in 1938 graduated from Greensburg High School. On Nov. 29, 1941, he married Ruth Miller in Yoder, Kan.
From 1942 through 1946, he served in Civilian Public Service at Sideling Hill, Pa., Howard and Exeter, R.I. After CPS they lived in Berlin, Ohio, for 10 years, where he was employed by Nickles Bakery. In 1956 they moved to Goshen and remained there. He graduated from Goshen College and earned a masters degree from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. He taught school at York Elementary and at Middlebury Elementary.
He was a member of Indiana and Elkhart County Retired Teachers associations, and of College Mennonite Church, where he served as Sunday school superintendent and a Sunday school teacher. He was a skilled woodworker and a devoted grandpa.
Survivors include a daughter, Rhonda Swartzendruber and her husband, Douglas, of Malibu, Calif.; two sons, Arnold E. and his wife, Wanda, of Laramie, Wyo., and Kenneth D. and his wife, Ann, of Goshen; a sister, Rosie Roupp of Goshen; two brothers, Mike of Craig, Colo., and John of Albany, Ore.; seven grandchildren and six great- grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth, on Jan. 29, 2003; a sister, Esther Selzer; and a brother, Aaron Willems.
The memorial service was held at College Mennonite Church. Burial was in Elkhart Prairie Cemetery of Goshen.

Mennonite Weekly Review, June 13, 2005, 83rd Year, No. 24, P. 8

Gus A. Pankratz, 94, of North Newton, Kan., died May 31, 2005. He was born Aug. 3, 1910, to George G. and Anna (Fry) Pankratz in Marion County on a farm five miles north of Goessel.
When he was a child, his family moved to Thomas County in western Kansas. After five years they moved to the Burrton area, where he attended high school, graduating in 1930. He then studied at Salt City Business College in Hutchinson.
He married Anna Auernheimer on Aug. 19, 1934, in Halstead. She preceded him in death on Nov. 6, 2003.
They were actively involved at Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church in Wichita for 50 years. When they moved to the Newton area they became members of First Mennonite Church.
He was involved in a variety of business pursuits in the Wichita and Augusta areas. He had the first Maytag dealership in Wichita. He was also a developer, building several businesses and houses in south Wichita. For a time he also had a dairy farm and then raised beef cattle.
Survivors include a son, Dulane Pankratz and his wife, Ann, of Prairie Village; a daughter, Donna Becker and her husband, Clifford, of Park City; a sister, Mary Ann Blosser of North Newton; a brother, Peter Pankratz of Wichita; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two step-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren.
Memorial services were held at First Mennonite Church of Newton. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery.

Howard Harris Beck, 82, of Hesston, Kan., died May 21, 2005. He was born May 27, 1922, to Thad and Henrietta (Etta) Beck on the family farm one mile west of Zimmerdale.
He married Anna Ruth Weaver on Sept. 26, 1943, and enjoyed 61 years of marriage.
He farmed the land that was in the family for 111 years; first by Duncan McFarlane, his grandpa, and then Thad, his father. He loved the family land and the land that his family rented from the Trousdale family for 111 years. He was a careful steward of these gifts of creation.
He and Anna Ruth managed their entrepreneurial business, The Wheat Bin, for 11 years.
He was active in the community. He served on local school boards, the Prairie View board, with Mennonite Disaster Service, the Hesston Rescue Team, the board of the Hesston Area Senior Center, and the Harvey County Soil Conservation board for 25 years.
Church involvement seemed as natural as breathing. He showed quiet leadership and an encouraging presence to pastors and others in the church. He was generous with both time and money. He took pride in ushering for 30 years, as well as serving as a Boy's Club leader and youth sponsor, elder and chair or member of numerous committees.
Survivors include his wife, Anna Ruth; two children, Duane and his wife, Lois, and Marlene Yoder and her husband, Todd; a sister, Neva Miller; five grandsons and three great-granddaughters.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Lucinda Jo, who died at birth April 9, 1948; and two sisters, Hazel Yoder and Anabel Sommerfield.
Services were held at Hesston Mennonite Church. Burial was in Eastlawn Cemetery of Hesston.

Edith M. Weaver, 91, of Lititz, Pa., and formerly of New Holland, died April 23, 2005, at Landis Homes. She was born to Harry H. and Emma Nolt Martin in Blue Ball.
She helped her husband, Victor Weaver, start and develop Victor F. Weaver Inc., a poultry firm, in 1937, now a part of Tyson Foods.
She was a lifelong member of Weaverland Mennonite Church, where she was active in the sewing circle. She also crocheted afghans for the children's program at Philhaven Hospital in Mount Gretna.
Survivors include a son, Dale M. Weaver and his wife, Irene, of New Holland; a daughter, Janet W. Newswanger and her husband, Larry, of Landisville; two brothers, Allen N. Martin of Landis Homes and Lester H. Martin of Elizabethtown; a sister, Grace N. Good of Garden Spot Village; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Victor, in 1989; and four sisters, Edna Nolt, Mary Burkholder, Irene Martin and Emma Landis.
Memorial services were held at Weaverland Mennonite Church.

Mary Ethel Herman, 96, of Goshen, Ind., died April 24, 2005, at Greencroft Healthcare. She was born Feb. 18, 1909, to Ella and Levi Hartzler in Canton, Ohio.
She married Forrest Detweiler, who was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1937. She later married Paul Herman.
She was employed in sales most of her working years. She retired from Prudential Insurance Co. in 1974. An excellent, natural-born musician, she used her piano and organ skills to entertain others and to worship the Lord she loved. Her organ went with her to the nursing home, where she often delighted her fellow residents with her beautiful renditions of familiar old hymns.
Survivors include two children, Jerrilou Johnson of Mexico City and Gaylord Herman of Anchorage, Alaska.
She was preceded in death by siblings Annabelle Miller, Martha Hartzler and Paul Hartzler.

Edna G. Detweiler, 80, died June 4, 2005, at Souderton (Pa.) Mennonite Homes. Formerly a longtime resident of Sellersville, she was born to Edward W. and Mary (Gross) Detweiler in Bucks County.
She was a graduate of Eastern Mennonite University of Harrisonburg, Va. She taught school in the Buffalo, N.Y., area and in Lancaster, Bucks and Montgomery counties. She volunteered at Mennonite Historians of Eastern Pennsylvania in Franconia, sung in the Life With God radio program chorus for many years and sewed many quilt tops together. She also enjoyed playing piano and had numerous piano students. She wrote stories and poetry and was a correspondent for Mennonite Weekly Review for nearly 25 years.
She was a member of Methacton Mennonite Church, Fairview Village, for more than 50 years, where she played piano and taught vacation Bible school classes.
Survivors include two brothers, Paul G. Detweiler of Telford and Harvey G. Detweiler and his wife, Ella Mae, of Blountstown, Fla.; and a sister-in-law, Sara A. Detweiler of Souderton.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Willis G. Detweiler, and a sister, Marie G. Detweiler.
Services were held at Souderton Mennonite Homes Summit View Chapel. Burial was in Methacton Mennonite Cemetery in Fairview Village.

Marie Suderman Hein, 105, 0f Fairview, Okla., died May 26, 2005. She was the oldest living member of the Mennonite Brethren Conference in the United States. She was born Sept. 11, 1899, to Dan and Margaret Becker Suderman on a farm southeast of Fairview.
She trusted Christ for salvation and was baptized on her birthday, Sept. 11, 1918, and received into membership at Sued-Hoffnungsfeld Mennonite Brethren Church near Fairview.
She married David Hein on April 24, 1921, on the Suderman farm.
After several years they moved to the Grunau farm two miles south and three miles east of Fairview. After eight years on the Grunau farm, they moved back to the home on the outskirts of Fairview. This farm provided their livelihood through the years.
Beginning about 1944 they noticed that David was suffering an ailment, which was later diagnosed as Parkinson's Disease. This disease took its gradual toll, and they retired from the farm and moved into Fairview in 1959. As his physical condition worsened, it was necessary to move into Fairview Fellowship Home in 1970. He preceded her in death on January 11, 1975.
She remained in Fellowship Home and occupied the same room for 35 years. She was often ill, but many times during the last 15 years she defied all odds and recovered from numerous ailments.
As she and her husband enjoyed celebrations such as their 40th and 50th wedding anniversaries, so she also enjoyed celebrating the many birthdays observed in her behalf.
She was the oldest-ever member of Fairview Mennonite Brethren Church and was a member of the congregation for 87 years.
Survivors include a son, Marvin Hein and his wife, Mary Helen, of Fresno, Calif.; a daughter, Frances Wahl and her husband, Lyndon, of Fairview; two sisters-in-law; 10 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceding in death by her husband and six sisters and brothers.

There were no obits in the June 20, 2005, issue

Mennonite Weekly Review, June 27, 2005, 83rd Year, No. 26, p. 8

Miriam Lois Hershberger, 50, of Philadelphia, Pa., died March 10, 2005, when she was struck and killed in a tragic accident. She was born July 19, 1954, to James Calvin Hershberger and Gladys June Hershberger in Kansas City, Kan.
She grew up in Hesston, Kan. For three years she lived in Mountain Home, Ark., as her parents ministered in a small rural mission church in the Ozarks. She accepted the call to follow Jesus in her life and was baptized into membership at Spring Valley Mennonite Church in Canton, Kan.
She graduated from Hesston High School in 1972. She graduated from Hesston College in 1974 and from Tabor College in Hillsboro in 1976 with a degree in secondary English education. She went on to graduate with distinction from Temple University with a master's degree in education. Last year she became certified in the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in TESOL. She received a posthumous citation from the Philadelphia School District for this honor.
She had a rich and diverse cross-cultural experience as an educator, which began with student teaching in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She taught English as a Second Language at the Adult Enrichment Center in Lancaster, Pa., during the first of three assignments with Mennonite Central Committee. Her second assignment was at Srithammarat Suksa School in Thailand from 1982-85. In 1989-90 she served at Hanoi Foreign Language College in Vietnam. For 17 years, she was an instructor at Southwark Elementary School in Philadelphia. Friends from all over the world became part of her family.
She was a member of West Philadelphia Mennonite Fellowship for 20 years and was fervent in her support of the congregation.
Survivors include her mother, Gladys; two brothers, Paul Hershberger and his wife, Lorie, and Delvin Hershberger and his wife, Michele.
She was preceded in death by her father, James, and a stillborn brother, Kenneth James.

Amelia A. Epp, 77, of Henderson, Neb., died June 7, 2005. She was born Aug. 8, 1927, to Daniel and Anna (Tieszen) Becker on a farm near Marion, S.D.
Her father died of cancer during the depth of the Depression, leaving her mother to run the farm and support a large family. The hardships of the time left Amelia with an abiding concern for the suffering of others.
She married Robert O. Epp of Henderson on Sept. 29, 1961, in the Bethesda church of rural Marion. They settled on his home farm near Henderson.
She was a master craftswoman with a keen artistic vision, and she sewed most of her own clothing. She also loved to read and closely followed events in the broader Mennonite community and wider world alike.
She was deeply principled and committed to the work of Mennonite Central Committee, the General Conference Mennonite Church and Christian Peacemaker Teams. She supported her husband's extensive travels with Witness for Peace and CPT. While he was on an extended trip to Nicaragua in 1988, the Lincoln (Neb.) Journal in an editorial called her "one of Nebraska's more informed, sensitive and quietly passionate workers to ameliorate human suffering."
Survivors include her husband, Robert O.; two children, Charles and his wife, Lora Jost, of Lawrence, Kan., and Timothy and his wife, Heidi Schmidt, of Hyattsville, Md.; a brother, Willard Becker; four sisters, Emma Schroeder, Eva Goosen, Anna Mae Rudiger and Lily Schroeder; and six grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Herbert.
A memorial service was held at Bethesda Mennonite Church in Henderson.

Dale A. Nebel, 89, of Wayland, Iowa, died June 15, 2005, at Henry County Hospital in Mount Pleasant. He was born Feb. 9, 1916, to Daniel W. and Alice Ida (Roth) Nebel in Olds.
He graduated from Wayland High School and attended Iowa Wesleyan College, Iowa State Teachers College, the University of Iowa and Drake University. He received his doctorate from the University of Northern Colorado.
His professional career involved teaching elementary school at Stringtown, West Lincoln in Johnson County and junior high classes in Wayland. He served as principal of Eagle Grove and Hoover School in Mason City. He continued as an instructor at North Central Community College, the University of Northern Colorado, Bethel College in North Newton, Kan., and the University of Wyoming.
He was a member of Eicher Emmanuel Mennonite Church of rural Wayland and served as director of Mennonite Central Committee relief units in China and the Philippines from 1946-49. He also was the Far East area director of MCC relief work, 1953-54. After retirement, he moved back to Wayland, where he enjoyed family genealogy and his pets.
Survivors include a brother, Raymond Nebel of West Chester, and a sister, Katherine Stoops of Wayland.
He was preceded in death by four brothers, Milton, Arthur Ray, Jimmie and Billey; and a sister, Lorene Graber Meyer.
Services were held at Eicher Emmanuel Mennonite Church. Burial was in Eicher Cemetery.