Mennonite Weekly Review - February
2009
Obituaries are emailed to MennObits before MWR is printed. Wording may vary in printed version.
Abrahams, Norman E.; Kandel, Clayton Mast; Knarr, Irma D. Gahman; Liechty, Adam J.; Troyer, Norma L. Reber;
Mennonite
Weekly Review - February 2, 2009 - 87th Year, No. 5 - p. 9
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Abrahams, Norman E.
Norman E. Abrahams, 85, of
North Newton, Kan., died Jan. 8, 2009. He was born Jan. 16, 1923, to
Cornelius and Anna (Dalke) Abrahams in Goessel.
He married Ethel Grace Ewert on Sept. 26, 1944.
He served in Civilian Public Service at Colorado Springs, Colo., and at
the National Service Board in Washington, D.C. He was an optometrist in
Hillsboro until his retirement. He helped establish a program in which
optometrists traveled to underdeveloped countries to provide eye care
and dispense used glasses — Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity.
Survivors include his wife, Ethel; three children, Nan Graber and her
husband, Don, of Monument, Colo., Dwayne Abrahams and his wife, Ruth,
of Newton, and Nadine Abrahams and her husband, Norman Epp, of Denver,
Colo.; two brothers, Ray Abrahams and Chuck Abrahams, both of
Hillsboro; six grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by a son, David E. Abrahams, who died in 1962,
and by a sister, Verna Koehn.
There was a private burial service on Jan. 12. A memorial service is
planned for Feb. 1 at Bethel College Mennonite Church of North Newton.
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Knarr, Irma D. Gahman
Irma D. (Gahman) Knarr, 70, of
Bechtelsville, Pa., and formerly of Telford, died Dec. 15, 2008, at
Grand View Hospital. She was born to Harvey and Maggie (Derstine)
Gahman in Doylestown.
She was married to Allen Knarr for 45 years.
She graduated from Christopher Dock High School in 1955. After high
school she served in the voluntary service program in Albuquerque,
N.M., in 1962, where she met Allen, her future husband.
She was a seamstress at the former Sackman’s in Telford. She was a
foster parent for Montgomery County Children’s Aid Society for 20 years
at her residence in Telford. She worked with the Mennonite Central
Committee International Visitor Exchange Program for 19 years.
Throughout her life she worked as a secretary at Rockhill Mennonite
Church, where she was a member and part of the ladies sewing circle and
taught vacation Bible school. She loved the piano and played accordian
with the late Joseph Clemmer’s musical group. She enjoyed reading,
crocheting, quilting, listening to music, traveling, babysitting and
collecting Precious Moments memorabilia.
Survivors include her husband, Allen; a son, Kenton Knarr and his wife,
Beatrice, of Bechtelsville; a daughter, Kristal Bitner and her husband,
Mike, of Pennsburg; a brother, Harold Gahman and his wife, Lucille, of
Telford; and six grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at Rockhill Mennonite Church of Telford.
Burial was in the adjoining cemetery.
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Troyer, Norma L. Reber
Norma Louise Troyer, 78, of
Mio, Mich., died Dec. 28, 2008, after a short battle with cancer. She
was born Sept. 14, 1930, to Elmer and Alice (Kauffman) Reber in
Fairview.
She lived in the Fairview area her entire life. In her youth, she
accepted Christ and was a faithful member of Fairview Mennonite Church.
On Sept. 15, 1950, she married Emmerson Troyer of Mio.
Being a wife, mother and grandmother were important to her. She was
employed at Fairview Area Schools for 24 years. After retirement, she
enjoyed doing volunteer work, reading, gardening, quilting and cooking.
Survivors include her husband of 58 years, Emmerson; four children,
Ardis Miller and her husband, Dean, of Mio, Rodney Troyer and his wife,
Sherry, of Mio, Brenda Kauffman and her husband, David, of Fairview,
and Kyle Troyer of East Tawas; and seven grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Alton and Grant Reber; and
four sisters, Mavis Esch, Katherine Esch, Melva Maris and an infant
sister.
Funeral services were held at Fairview Mennonite Church. Burial was in
Fairview Cemetery.
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Kandel, Clayton Mast
Clayton Mast Kandel, 88, of
Berlin, Ohio, died Jan. 8, 2009, at Aultman Hospital in Canton after a
heart attack. He was born Oct. 5, 1920, to Joseph E. and Lydia (Mast)
Kandel in Millersburg.
He married Doris Miller on Aug. 14, 1943. She preceded him in death on
Jan. 25, 1990.
He was a life member of Martin’s Creek Mennonite Church and enjoyed
traveling, including many trips with Wycliffe. He was the initiator of
the first Mennonite Information Center in Berlin, and was founder,
co-owner and salesman of Central Farm Supply of Wooster.
Survivors include seven children, Ethel Miller and her husband, Andy,
of Walnut Creek, Shirley Kandel of Berlin, Kenneth Kandel and his wife,
Rosalie, of Sugarcreek, Keith Kandel and his wife, Margaret, of Lisbon,
Marlene Swartzendruber and her husband, Tom, of Shickley, Neb., Karla
Kandel of Masillon, and Julie Stutzman and her husband, Mark, of Walnut
Creek; two brothers, Forrest Kandel and his wife, Mary Ann, and
Clifford Kandel and his wife, Joan, both of Millersburg; two sisters,
Mary Troyer of Millersburg, and Ethel Miller and her husband, Clarence,
of Orrville; a sister-in-law, Mary Kandel of Berlin; 17 grandchildren
and 18 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris; an infant son, Roger; a
brother, Robert Kandel; and a sister, Fern Miller.
Mennonite
Weekly Review - February 9, 2009 - 87th Year, No. 6 - p. 9
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Friesen, Harry
Harry Friesen, 85, died Jan.
28, 2009, at St. Luke Hospital in Marion, Kan. He was born Sept. 30,
1923, to Jacob F. and Margaret (Isaac) Friesen in Meade, Kan. He
married Millie Brenner on June 1, 1945, in Durham. He had been a
missionary. He was a member of Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church of
Hillsboro.
Survivors include his wife, Millie; two sons, Steve Friesen of Newton
and Phil Friesen of Concord, Calif.; four daughters, Marilyn Fast of
Sao Paulo, Brazil, Grace Steele of Tyler, Texas, Joyce Herrington of
Krasnodar, Russia, and Debbie Phillips of Rowlett, Texas; two brothers,
Lee Friesen of Rosebud, Texas, and Dwaine Friesen of Fairbury, Neb.;
two sisters, Lena Friesen and Ann Wiens, both of Reedley, Calif.; 17
grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Services were held at Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church. There was a
private family burial.
Mennonite Weekly Review - February 16, 2009 - 87th Year, No. 7 - p. 9
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Liechty, Adam J.
Adam J. Liechty, 90, of Berne,
Ind., died Jan. 14, 2009, from lung cancer. He was born June 24, 1918,
to John H. and Clara May (Witmer) Liechty at Brinsmade, N.D.
He married Marcella Sprunger on Jan. 3, 1942. She preceded him in death
on May 30, 1987. On Jan. 7, 1989, he married Julia G. Beitler.
He was a veteran of World War II, where he served in the Medical Corps
and was attached to the 48th Armored Infantry of the 7th Armored
Division. He was on the front line for eight months and was awarded the
Bronze Star, Purple Heart, four Battle Stars, Good Conduct Medal and
other decorations.
He came to Berne after being discharged in October 1945. He got a job
at the 5 cent to $1 store in Berne. After a few years he bought the
store and became owner and manager. A few years later he sold the
business, went to Liechty Motors and sold cars. In 1962 he went to Home
Dairy as a salesman for 17 years. His most recent venture was building
Park Village and Continental Village Apartments, where he was part
owner and manager. He was also responsible for Chalet Village Nursing
Home coming to the Berne community. He was a member of Indiana Rural
Rental Housing Association for 15 years. He retired at age 80.
He was a member of First Mennonite Church in Berne. He sang in the
Mennonite Men’s Chorus for 25 years. He was a member of Gideons
International for 58 years and placed many Gideon Bibles in hotels and
motels from New York to Chicago and many cities in Indiana.
Survivors include his wife, Julia; three sons, Stanley W. Liechty and
his wife, Shirley, of Port Huron, Mich., John Liechty and his wife,
Peggy, of Ypsilanti, Mich., and Dallas C. Liechty and his wife, Jacki,
of Osceola; two daughters, Anita C. Wenger and her husband, Daniel, of
Berne and Audrey M. Kah and her husband, Gary, of Fishers; four
stepchildren, Robert B. Beiler and his wife, Sharon, of Forest, Ohio,
John S. Beitler and his wife, Brenda, of Kennet Square, Pa., Christine
A. Nofziger and her husband, Laurence, of Alberta, and Stanley W.
Beitler of Bluffton, Ind.; four brothers, Ezra, Jonathan, Silas and
Reuben Liechty, all of Jamestown, N.D.; 15 grandchildren; 10
step-grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren and nine
step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Marcella; a brother, Paul
Liechty; and a sister, Ruth.
Funeral services were held at First Mennonite Church of Berne. Burial
was in the MRE Cemetery of rural Berne.
No
obituaries for Feb. 23, 2009
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