Mennonite Weekly Review - January 2007
Andres, Ronald J.;
Bender, Dorothy Lucille; Bontrager, Buetta Mae; Claassen, Paul G.; Ediger, Albert M.; Friesen, Anna K.; Senner, Robert William; Waltner, Verna R.;
Weaver, Velma
B.;
Zehr, Bertha M.
Mennonite Weekly
Review - January 1, 2007 - 85th Year, No. 1 - p. 8
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Verna
R. Waltner, 79, of
Moundridge, Kan., died Dec. 19, 2006, at Memorial Home. She was born
Sept. 3, 1927, at Hillsboro to Reinhard and Anna (Hiebert) Funk.
After graduating from high school, she held several jobs in Hillsboro.
One of the most enduring influences of her young adulthood was the
summers she spent in voluntary service in Gulfport, Miss., and in
Rosthern, Sask.
She married Waldo Waltner on Jan. 3, 1957, at Hillsboro. Together they
were co-owners of Central Kansas Hatchery. She was in charge of the
labor that was needed on hatch days and did a number of other tasks.
She faced many challenges throughout her life but always met them with
a smile. She was patient, kindhearted, loving and even-tempered. She
loved to play with her grandchildren and spent many hours with them.
She was a member of Eden Mennonite Church, rural Moundridge.
Survivors include a son, Jerome Waltner and his wife, Keri, of Newton;
a daughter, Dianne Waltner of Wichita; two sisters, Lillian Peters of
Hillsboro and Alice Schmidt of Goessel; and two grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Waldo, on July 30, 2004.
Services were held at Eden Mennonite Church. Burial was in the Eden
cemetery.
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Buetta
Mae Bontrager, 71, of
Hesston, Kan., died Dec. 22, 2006, at Schowalter Villa. She was born
Oct. 28, 1935, to Harold and Cora (Nofziger) Wyse at Archbold, Ohio.
She married Marion G. Bontrager on June 11, 1960, at Archbold.
She graduated from Archbold High School. She graduated from Goshen
(Ind.) College in 1959 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education
and received her master’s degree in educational psychology from Wichita
State University in 1981. She taught elementary school at Pettisville,
Ohio, and Goshen, Ind. She taught gifted special education in Wichita
for 14 years.
She was baptized at Lockport Mennonite Church in Stryker, Ohio. There
she sang in a women’s quartet. She taught vacation Bible school in
southern Ohio and for a summer in various rural Alberta communities.
She sang in Goshen College choirs, singing the soprano solo in Brahms’
Requiem. She enjoyed singing in the Messiah Community Chorus at
Lindsborg, Kan. She was a member of Hesston Mennonite Church.
Survivors include her husband, Marion; two daughters, Elizabeth
Bontrager and her husband, Phil Waite, of Moundridge, and Sonja
Bontrager and her husband, Michael Aumack, of Wichita; a son, David
Bontrager and his wife, Melissa, of Omaha, Neb; five brothers, Dean
Wyse of West Unity, Ohio, Denton Wyse of Cleveland Heights, Ohio,
Sanford Wyse of Archbold, Allen Wyse of College Station, Texas, and Ned
Wyse of Camden, Mich.; four sisters, Rosemary Reimer of Goshen,
Byrdalene Horst of Formosa, Argentina, Norma Wyse and Sara Wyse-Wenger,
both of Boston, Mass.; three grandchildren and a step-grandchild.
Memorial services were held at Whitestone Mennonite Church in Hesston.
Mennonite Weekly Review - January
8, 2007 - 85th Year, No. 2 - p. 8
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Paul G.
Claassen, 89, of
Beatrice, Neb., died Dec. 8, 2006, at Beatrice Community Hospital. He
was born in Beatrice and lived in the Beatrice area most of his life.
He was a graduate of Beatrice High School.
He married Ruby M. Schonewise on May 30, 1941, in Beatrice. They farmed
west of Beatrice until moving into Beatrice in 1976.
He was a member of Beatrice Mennonite Church and had served on numerous
committees of the church. He was a former member of the Mennonite
Hospital board, Beatrice Community Hospital board, Beatrice Public
School board, Homestead Village board, Regency Retirement board, Farm
Bureau, Southeast Nebraska COOP board and a former member and past
president of the DHIA. He enjoyed woodworking, reading, needlepoint,
traveling and volunteer work.
Survivors include his wife, Ruby; four sons, John D. and his wife,
Carol, Alan P. and his wife, Janet, Rob and his wife, Rosie, all of
Beatrice, and Nathan and his wife, Cheryl, of Lincoln; a daughter,
Rhoda Frasier and her husband, Robert, of Abilene, Kan.; a sister,
Dorothy Orendorff of Flannigan, Ill.; a brother, Donald of Beatrice; 13
grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Carl and Waldo Claassen.
Memorial services were held at Beatrice Mennonite Church. Burial was at
the Mennonite Cemetery of rural Beatrice.
-----------------------
Robert
William Senner, 94, of
Lawrence, Kan., died Dec. 17, 2006, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. He
was born March 19, 1912, to William J. and Elizabeth Graber Senner in
Freeman, S.D.
He married Rachel Epp on Aug. 15, 1943, in Henderson, Neb.
He graduated from Bethel College in 1942 and received a master’s degree
from Wichita State University in 1951. He did additional graduate work
at San Diego State University and the University of Minnesota.
He was director of choral music at Buhler High School for 30 years. He
was a member of numerous professional organizations and judged music
contests extensively in Kansas and surrounding states. He sang with the
Robert Shaw Chorale as part of his graduate work and later in
retirement in San Diego, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Minn., Toronto, Ont.,
and Tallahassee, Fla. He received the Kansas Music Educator’s
Association Hall of Fame Award in 1978 and the Harry Robert Wilson
Award for outstanding contribution to the choral music profession in
1981.
Survivors include his wife, Rachel; two sons, John W. of Little Rock,
Ark., and Stan and his wife, Pat, of Anchorage, Alaska; two daughters,
Roberta Senner Hofer and her husband, Rod, of Lawrence, and Rachel Van
Wingen of Washington, D.C.; a sister, May Juhnke of McPherson; and
eight grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by an infant brother, Harold, a brother,
Raymond, and two sisters, Kathryn Senner and Hazel Buhler.
Memorial services were held at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home of Lawrence and
later in Freeman. Inurnment was in Freeman.
Mennonite
Weekly Review - January 15, 2007 - 85th Year, No. 3 - p. 9
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Ronald
J. Andres, 83, of
Elbing, Kan., died Oct. 28, 2006, at Newton Medical Center. He was born
Oct. 4, 1923, to John G. and Matilda (Claassen) Andres.
He spent his childhood days on the family farm and graduated from
Whitewater High School in 1941.
On Sept. 1, 1947, he married Ruth Wedel at Zion Mennonite Church in
Elbing, where they were both members. He served the church on various
committees and on the church council as deacon and treasurer. For many
years he was a Sunday school teacher.
He was a retired dairyman and a member of several farm and dairy
organizations. Local history was of great interest to him, and he was a
past board member of the Remington Area Historical Society. He enjoyed
photographing family and church events and outdoor life. He had a
strong intellectual curiosity and was an avid reader. He had a great
love for his family and always looked forward to spending time with
them.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth; a daughter, Carol Reece and her
husband, Robert, of Turon; two sons, Dennis and his wife, Vickie, of
North Newton and David and his wife, Karen, of rural Newton; a brother,
Edwin Andres of Elbing; a sister, Thelma Wedel of Burns; and four
grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Dwight, and a brother, Irvin Andres.
Services were held at Zion Mennonite Church in Elbing.
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Bertha M.
Zehr, 100, of Eureka,
Ill., and formerly of Foosland, died Dec. 25, 2006, at Maple Lawn
Health Center in Eureka. She was born Dec. 21, 1906, to Peter B. and
Susan (Christophel) Reedy near Freeport.
She married Albert R. Zehr on Aug. 18, 1927, in Cullom. He preceded her
in death on Aug. 25, 1980.
She attended Normal University and taught elementary school for a few
years. She was a member of East Bend Mennonite Church near Fisher and
the Mennonite Women sewing group. She took great pride in sewing
comforter squares together and also school kit bags that were filled
with school supplies and given to children in need. She was still
mending items for family and friends until this past June. She learned
to use the computer at age 95.
Survivors include a daughter, Norma Schrock and her husband, Milton, of
Foosland; three sons, Carl Zehr and his wife, Fran, of Plattsburgh,
N.Y., Loren Zehr and his wife, Ethel, of Cape Coral, Fla., and David
Zehr and his wife, Doris, of Grand Rapids, Mich.; 18 grandchildren; 41
great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert; three brothers; a
grandson and a great-grandson.
Memorial services were held at East Bend Mennonite Church. Burial was
in East Bend Mennonite Gardens near Fisher.
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Dorothy
Lucille Bender, 92, of
Milford, Neb., died Jan. 2, 2007, at Crestview Care Center. She was
born June 16, 1914, to David and Elizabeth (Rediger) Bender on a farm
near East Fairview Mennonite Church.
As a young girl, she attended school district number 47. Many
missionaries and church workers were welcomed into their home. She was
called at an early age by the Lord for a special work and accepted
Christ as her Savior in 1928.
In 1948 she entered Hesston (Kan.) College in the second semester,
without high school, and earned her associate’s degree. She began a
teaching career in 1950 that spanned 34 years. She taught in Nampa,
Idaho, and Stapelhurst and Milford public schools in Nebraska. She also
taught as a missionary in Nairobi, Kenya. She continued her education
by receiving a bachelor’s degree from Goshen (Ind.) College and her
master’s degree from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Her
philosophy was “a teacher is a human engineer working with the most
priceless undeveloped material in all God’s creation — the child.” Her
life was enriched by students from Nebraska, Idaho, Africa and Puerto
Rico, and by co-workers, dedicated faculty, members of her church and
family.
She was a long and faithful member of East Fairview Mennonite Church
and served for many years as a Sunday school teacher. She was a former
member of District WMSC, MARP and the Seward County Historical Society.
She served on the board of directors for the Et Cetera Gift and Thrift
Shop in Seward and as a member of the Hesston College Alumni Board. In
her spare time she loved to read, crochet, knit, quilt and enjoyed the
outdoors.
Survivors include a brother, Merle Bender of Hesston; and a
sister, Barbara Reber of Goshen.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Merton.
Funeral services were held at East Fairview Mennonite Church. Burial
was in East Fairview Cemetery of rural Milford.
Mennonite Weekly Review - January
22, 2007 - 85th Year, No. 4 - p. 8
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Albert
M. Ediger, 91, of Inman,
Kan., died Jan. 12, 2007, at Pleasant View Home. He was born July 21,
1915, to David J. and Annie Martens Ediger in McPherson County.
On May 12, 1939, he married Lydia Schmidt at Buhler.
He farmed in the Buhler area, moving to Inman in 1997. He was a member
of Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church of rural Inman. He served on the Willis
Grade School Board, as one of the early regional directors for
Mennonite Disaster Service and as chair for the Mid-Kansas Mennonite
Central Committee Relief Sale. He was a member of the Buhler Kiwanis.
Survivors inlcude his wife, Lydia; three sons, LaVon and his wife,
Linda, of McPherson, Byron and his wife, Janet, of Newton, and Glen and
his wife, Karen, of North Newton; a brother, Leo of Buhler; six
grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by seven brothers, John, Art, Dave, Elmer,
Irven, Roland and Raymond; and two sisters, Minnie Voth and Katherine
Kasper.
Memorial services were held at Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church. Graveside
service were held at Hoffnungsau Cemetery.
Mennonite Weekly Review - January 29, 2007 - 85th Year, No. 5 - p. 8
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Anna K.
Friesen, 86, of
Hesston, Kan., died Dec. 19, 2006, at Schowalter Villa. She was born
Aug. 11, 1920, to Peter F. and Katherine (Cornelson) Isaac in Meade.
She married Cornelius (Cornie) Z. Friesen on Nov. 12, 1944, in Meade.
They lived in Meade most of their married life. She was supportive of
his work at Friesen Windmill & Supply. In 1998 they moved to
Hesston.
She loved to read books, including her Bible. Her other interests
included crocheting, quilting, talking on the phone, baking and playing
games, especially Scrabble and Skip-Bo. Her family was of utmost
importance to her. She loved spending time playing games with and
reading books to her grandchildren.
Survivors include her spouse, Cornie Z. Friesen of Hesston; three sons,
Galen Friesen and his wife, Esther, of Kansas City, Mo., Leland (Lurch)
Friesen of St. Joseph, Mo., and Weldon (Buck) Friesen and his wife,
Margaret, of Meade; a daughter, Joyce Rosendahl and her husband, Dan,
of Sweden; a brother, Jake K. Isaac of Reedley, Calif.; a sister, Lena
K. Isaac of Hesston; 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Loren James Friesen; three sisters,
Maggie K. Isaac, Katherine K. Isaac and Margaret K. Friesen; and five
brothers, Abe K., Pete K., Corny K., Henry K. and John K. Isaac.
Funeral services were held at Schowalter Villa. Burial was in Garden
Community Church Cemetery of rural Hesston.
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Velma B.
Weaver, 72, of
Manheim, Pa., died Jan. 3, 2007, at Lancaster General Hospital. She was
born June 2, 1934, to Homer D. and Naomi Miller Bomberger.
She was the wife of Paul M. Weaver. She was an active member of Erisman
Mennonite Church and was manager and volunteer at the Mount Joy Gift
and Thrift Shop.
Survivors include her husband, Paul; a daughter, Tina M. Wenger and her
husband, Ron E.; two sons, Jeff L. Weaver and his wife, Louann, and Jay
Robert Weaver and his wife, Brenda; a sister, Joann Weaver; 10
grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, John M. Bomberger.
Funeral services were held at Erb Mennonite Church of Lititz. Burial
was in the adjoining cemetery.
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INDIANA
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