Mennonite
Weekly Review -
December 2009
Esau, Elma E.;
Kreider, J. Robert;
Landis, Erma Landis;
Miller, Albert J.;
Mennonite
Weekly Review - December 7, 2009 - 87th Year, No. 46 - p. 9
Esau, Elma E.
Elma E. Esau, 92, of North
Newton, Kan., died Nov. 16, 2009, at Kidron Bethel Village. She was
born Sept. 14, 1917, to Edward and Clara (Claassen) Esau near
Whitewater.
She was a lifelong member of Emmaus Mennonite Church. She graduated
from Whitewater High School in 1935 and attended Bethel College for two
years.
Prior to World War II she was a school teacher for two years in Logan
County and two years in the Whitewater community. She then served with
Mennonite Central Committee as a refugee relief worker. She
volunteered, worked and lived in Europe, South America, Canada, the
United States and Lebanon until 1967, when the Six-Day War between
Israel and Arab states forced the closure of the Menno Travel Service
Beirut office.
She graduated in 1969 with a bachelor of arts degree in history from
Bethel College. She continued her work as a travel agent for MTS,
leading tours to many places in the world from the Akron, Pa., office
until 1981. She was affiliated with Akron Mennonite Church. She then
moved back to her family’s farm, living with her brother Victor until
1991. She then moved to Kidron Bethel Village. She was active in the
Remington Area Historical Society.
She traveled in more than 70 countries, was an artist, photographer,
painter, woodworker, author, translator, historian, lifelong student
and teacher, storyteller, independent woman, advocate for all refugees
and for peace in the Middle East, and had a special love for Lebanon.
Survivors include two brothers, Elbert Esau and his wife, Zola,
of Newton and Paul Esau of Jackson, Minn.; and eight nieces and eight
nephews; and many grand-nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by three siblings, Harold, Victor, and Ruth
Marie Esau; two sisters-in-law; and two nieces.
Memorial services were held at Bethel College Mennonite Church, North
Newton. Inurnment was in the Emmaus Mennonite Church Cemetery of
Whitewater.
Mennonite
Weekly Review - December 14, 2009 - 87th Year, No. 47 - p. 13
----------------------
Landis, Erma Landis
Erma Keim Landis, 88, of
Sterling, Ill., died Oct, 23, 2009. She was born June 17, 1921, to Noah
and Mary (Immel) Keim in Sugarcreek, Ohio.
She worked at the local hardware store in Sugarcreek before moving to
Akron, Pa., and working for Mennonite Central Committee, where she met
her husband, Howard Landis. They were married on Nov. 25, 1950. They
moved to Sterling, Ill., where they lived on a farm for 40 years.
She was a faithful member of Science Ridge Mennonite Church and served
on various church committees. She sewed and quilted many items for MCC
and relief sales. She made many cookies, cakes and pies for bake sales,
local events and Bible school. In later years she took a few service
trips to California and Akron. They opened their home to Mennonite Your
Way travelers passing through the area. She was a Mennonite Weekly
Review correspondent for many years.
Survivors include four children, Mark Landis and his wife, Corina, of
Dixon, Beth Swaim and her husband, Jack, of Eagle, Idaho, Lois Oyer and
her husband, Cliff, of Goshen, Ind., and Keith Landis and his wife,
Lois, of Sterling; nine grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; five
great-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard, in 2003; and by her
sister, Ruth Eshleman.
Funeral services were held at Science Ridge Mennonite Church. Burial
was in the Science Ridge cemetery.
--------------------
Miller, Albert J.
Albert J. Miller, 77, of
Hutchinson, Kan., died Nov. 13, 2009, at Promise Regional Medical
Center. He was born Dec. 2, 1931, to John D. and Emma Helmuth Miller in
Hutchinson. He was a lifetime resident of Hutchinson with the exception
of several years spent in Colorado.
He was the founder and co-owner of Humphrey’s Reno Fabricating &
Sales Company from 1956 to 1983. He served with Choice Books of Kansas
from 1984 to 2006. He was a member of Gideons International since 1976.
He was a charter member of Cedar Crest Amish Mennonite Church and an
associate charter member of Skyline Mennonite Church in Canon City,
Colo.
On Feb. 20, 1955, he married Rebecca “Becky” Nisly in rural Reno
County. She survives.
Other survivors include three sons, Steven and Austin, both of
Hutchinson, and Verlon of Athens, Tenn; three daughters, Susan Chaney
of Hutchinson, Karen Snyder of Hillsboro, Ore., and Luann Liljestrom of
Halstead; seven brothers, Eli Jay of Hutchinson, Edward E. and David
E., both of Partridge, Andrew E., of Canon City, Colo., James J., of
Hutchinson, Nathanael J., of Partridge, and Arno, of Hutchinson; two
sisters, Barbara Nisly, Hutchinson, and Rebecca Miller, Partridge; 25
grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his stepmother, Emma Miller; and a sister,
Fannie Miller.
Funeral services were held at Cedar Crest Amish Mennonite Church.
Burial was in West Center Cemetery.
Mennonite Weekly Review - December 21, 2009 - 87th Year, No. 48 - p. 1
Kreider, J. Robert
J. Robert Kreider, 89, died on
Nov. 30, 2009, at Greencroft in Goshen, Ind. He was born Dec. 30, 1919,
the fourth of five children, to Lloyd S. and Adelia (Stover) Kreider in
Wadsworth, Ohio.
He obtained a bachelor’s degree in economics from Goshen College.
He married Virginia Stalter of Flanagan, Ill., on June 10, 1941.
He served for three years in Civilian Public Service in Clearspring,
Md., and Medaryville. He was general manager for the Wright Automotive
Service in Wadsworth while serving as pastor to Bethel Mennonite
Church. As treasurer of the Mennonite General Conference of North
America from 1951 to 1963, he encouraged congregations to move to
unified church budgets. The remainder of his career was devoted to
college administration at Goshen College, where he was director of
development (1956-62), director of public relations (1962-71) and
business manager (1971-85). He served for 20 years as the board
secretary for Mennonite Mutual Aid and was a member of College
Mennonite Church for half a century.
Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Virginia; five sons, J. Evan
Kreider and his wife, Janice, of Vancouver, B.C., Paul Kreider and his
wife, Kay, of Springfield, Ohio, Mark Kreider and his wife, Amy Hill,
of New York, N.Y., Bruce Kreider and his wife, Charlotte, of North
Newton, Kan., and Franklin Kreider and his wife, Lori, of Jackson,
Mich.; a sister, Ruth Heatwole of Harrisonburg, Va.; eight
grandchildren; two great-granddaughters; and numerous nieces and
nephews.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Leonard, Carl and Don.
No issue for Dec. 28, 2009
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