Mennonite Weekly Review - January
2011
Obituaries are emailed to MennObits before MWR is printed. Wording may vary in printed version.
Engbrecht,
Tena D.;
Glanzer,
Paul Jacob;
Martens, Debbie Kay Chase; Miller,
Hildegard Eve Peters; Miller, Sturges;
Miller, Verton S.;
Naylor,
Ann Musselman; Olson, Noah Luke;
Ruth, Mary Ella L.; Stucky, Keith
Leroy; Teichroew,
Emma Harder;
Wiens, Mary Jane Gaeddert;
Mennonite Weekly
Review - January 3, 2011 - 89th Year, No. 1 - p. 13
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Wiens, Mary Jane Gaeddert
Mary Jane Gaeddert Wiens, 76,
of North Newton, Kan., died Dec. 15, 2010, at Kidron Bethel Nursing
Home. She was born Oct. 13, 1934, to Frank F. and Katherine Siemens
Gaeddert in Buhler.
She had worked as a bookkeeper for Midwest Thermal, Wiens Auto, Excel
Industries, Pauls Inc. and Hesston Credit Union. She was a past member
of Hebron Mennonite Church and a member of Buhler Mennonite Church.
On Jan. 30, 1988, she married Wilbur R. Wiens at Buhler. He preceded
her in death on April 18, 2000.
Survivors include two children, Kevin Wiens and his wife, Julie, of
Hutchinson, and Melody Bontrager and her husband, Greg, of North
Newton; five siblings, Marna Burckhart and her husband, Paul, of
Hesston, Lois Leinbach and her husband, Gerald, of Hesston, Frank
Gaeddert and his wife, Mary Ellen, of Denver, Leon Gaeddert and his
wife, Ruth, of Buhler, and John Gaeddert and his wife, LaDonna, of
Buhler; five grandchildren; and 13 nieces and nephews who adored their
aunt.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilbur.
Graveside services were held at Hebron Cemetery, rural Buhler. A
memorial service was held at Buhler Mennonite Church.
---------------
Naylor, Ann Musselman
Ann Musselman Naylor, 68, of
Goshen, Ind., died at home on Oct. 27, 2010. She had been in the care
of hospice and her family and friends for ovarian cancer. She was born
April 14, 1942, to Howard Yoder and Ruth Miller Musselman in
Gettysburg, Pa.
She married Lewis Metzler Naylor on June 27, 1964, in Fairfield, Pa.
She was a registered dietitian and last worked at Anne Arundel County
Health Department, Annapolis, Md. She graduated from Bluffton (Ohio)
College and Iowa State University. She served with her husband with the
Teachers Abroad Program under Mennonite Central Committee in Musoma,
Tanzania. While living in Ithaca, N.Y., she was a researcher at Cornell
University, lecturer at Ithaca College, and a volunteer with Offender
Aid and Restoration.
She enjoyed herbal gardening, hospitality, reading and cooking. She was
an active member of Eighth Street Mennonite Church and a counselor at
Ryan’s Place in Goshen.
Survivors include her husband, Lewis; a son, Daniel Musselman Naylor
and his wife, Michelle, of Gurnee, Ill.; a sister, Joyce Shutt and her
husband, Earl, of Fairfield, Pa.; and a granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by a son, Matthew Lee Naylor; and a sister,
Janet Snyder.
A memorial service was held at Eighth Street Mennonite Church.
------------------
Martens, Debbie Kay Chase
Debbie Kay Martens, 55, of
Inman, Kan., died Nov. 3, 2010. She was born Nov. 13, 1954, to Robert
and Rubena Chase in Newton, Kan.
She graduated from Newton High School in 1972. She was involved in 4-H
cooking and sewing, Girl Scouts and outdoor activities, including Bike
Across Kansas. She worked as a teenager on a chicken farm, pulled rye
on a farm and worked as a nurse’s aide. She enjoyed travel.
Growing up she attended First Mennonite Church in Newton and
participated in choir, summer Bible school, Wednesday night and youth
group. She was baptized on Jan. 18, 1970. After high school she
attended Grace Bible College in Omaha, Neb., graduating in 1976 with a
degree in Bible and Christian ministry. These instilled in her a deep
faith in Jesus as Savior, teacher and Lord, and a desire to minister to
“the least of these.” Some ways she ministered included giving to
Mennonite Central Committee school and health kits and to angel trees
and helping at the MCC relief sale.
She married Orlin Martens on Oct. 25, 1986, at First Mennonite Church,
Newton. They moved to Inman, where they lived thereafter.
After college and in her first few years of marriage she worked at
Menno Travel Service in Newton. In the past decade she worked part time
for the Hallmark card company. She was a member of Hoffnungsau
Mennonite Church of rural Inman.
Unable to have children, she and Orlin entered the adoption process.
They went to Romania, but roadblocks developed and they came home
without a child. But within a month of returning they adopted a girl on
June 7, 1991, and then a boy on Jan. 23, 1992.
Survivors include her husband, Orlin; a daughter, Abigail; a son, Tim;
three sisters, Roberta Schroeder of Newton, Jolene Reed of Sterling and
Carol Hiebert of Newton; and a brother, Bill Chase of Newton.
Funeral services were held at Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church.
-----------------
Miller, Sturges
Sturges Miller, 92, died Dec.
11, 2010, at Walnut Hills Retirement Home, Walnut Creek, Ohio. He was
born Oct. 28, 1918, on the family farm near Berlin, the youngest child
of Joe J. and Lovina (Beechy) Miller.
He graduated from Berlin High School in 1937 and Goshen (Ind.) College
in 1943. In 1945-46 he served in Civilian Public Service in Hill City,
S.D., Fort Collins, Colo., and as closing director at Belton, Mont.
He married Bernice Meyer at Smithville on Dec. 28, 1946. Six months
later they sailed for India, where they engaged in relief work with
Mennonite Central Committee. Upon their return they lived on the family
farm, where they reared their four sons and assisted his parents in
their declining years.
He was a school teacher for more than 40 years, mostly in local public
schools, but also in retirement with MCC in Jos, Nigeria, at Government
Teacher’s College and with Eastern Mennonite Missions at Shirati,
Tanzania, teaching missionary children.
He and Bernice were charter members of Millersburg Mennonite Church,
where he was active in many aspects of church life, including as Sunday
school teacher, song leader and elder. He and Bernice helped form an
MCC thrift store in Millersburg in 1975. In retirement years they
enjoyed working in the store and at times as managers.
He was a gardener and in later years grew and tended house plants, as
well as building doll houses for his granddaughters and the MCC relief
sale at Kidron.
Survivors include his wife, Bernice; four children, Rebecca Slough and
her husband, Joseph, of Goshen, Ind., Ben Miller and his wife, Elaine,
of rural Millersburg, John Miller of Millersburg, and Mark Miller and
his wife, Brenda, of Reinholds, Pa.; and six grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by an infant son; a brother, Donald Miller;
and a sister, Vera Wengerd.
Memorial services were held at Martin’s Creek Mennonite Church, rural
Millersburg.
----------------
Stucky, Keith Leroy
Keith Leroy Stucky, 57, of
Austin, Texas, died Dec. 2, 2010, after being diagnosed three years ago
with pancreatic cancer. He was born Aug. 17, 1953, to Howard and
Mildred Dick (Milly) Stucky in McPherson, Kan.
In 1975 he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bethel College in
North Newton, Kan. He did graduate work in piano performance at Kansas
State University and Wichita State University. In 1983, he moved to
Austin as an accompanist and voice coach for University of Texas
students. To supplement his income, in 1984 he began working nights at
the Internal Revenue Service, where he was still employed at the time
of his death. He was an analyst with the IRS and also taught leadership
classes, for which he won many awards. As a result of this work, he has
friends from around the nation. Many people remember him not only for
his professionalism but also for his sense of humor.
He loved classical music. After his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in
2007, he again purchased a piano and began playing, much to the delight
of friends and family.
Another of his passions was tennis. He spent many weekends playing with
the Austin Tennis League and in the USTA-sanctioned tournaments. He was
also known for his great love of dogs. Molly was his faithful companion
for 16 years. A year ago he acquired Sadie.
He was married to Rebecka Stucky from 1992 to 1997. She remained a
great friend until his death.
Survivors include his mother, Milly Stucky, of North Newton, Kan.; two
brothers, Clair Stucky of Moundridge, Kan., and Jerome Stucky of
Lawrence, Kan.; and two sisters, Teresa Birky of Detroit Lakes, Minn.,
and Dorothy Harder of Newton, Kan.
He was preceded in death by his father, Howard Stucky, in 1980, and a
brother-in-law, Kurt Harder, in 2007.
Memorial services were held in Austin and at Bethel College Mennonite
Church in North Newton.
Mennonite
Weekly Review - January 10, 2011 - 89th Year, No. 2 - p.
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Ruth, Mary Ella L.
Mary Ella L. Ruth, 100, of the
Souderton (Pa.) Mennonite Homes, died Dec. 20, 2010. She was born to
Henry M. and Mary (Landes) Ruth in Harleysville and lived in both
Harleysville and Telford until moving to an apartment at Souderton
Mennonite Homes in 1993.
She was a lifelong active member of Salford Mennonite Church in
Harleysville. She served as a Sunday and vacation Bible school teacher,
a member of the church council and the Franconia Conference Task Force
on the Aging. She will be remembered as a caring and sharing person,
very interested in family members, and who served as a caregiver for
several years to her housemate, Alma Keyser.
After graduating in 1936 upon completion of two years of study at what
is now Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Va., she did
housework in local homes before beginning employment with Harleysville
Insurance, retiring in 1975 after 32 years in the keypunching
department. Those years were interrupted from 1952 to 1959 to serve in
the ministry of the Brunk Revival team traveling throughout the United
States and Canada.
Her hobbies included tatting, singing, traveling, visiting and working
with extended family. Many people claim ownership to items she crafted
with her skill in tatting, in which she was involved until the age of
98.
Survivors include nine nieces, 11 nephews and their families.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, Paul, Alpheus and Henry;
and two sisters, Elizabeth (Bessie) Rittenhouse and Eva Kratz.
Funeral services were held at the Salford Mennonite meetinghouse.
Burial was in the adjoining cemetery.
--------------------
Glanzer, Paul Jacob
Paul Jacob Glanzer, 90, of
Harrisonburg, Va., died Oct. 21, 2010, at his home. He was born July 5,
1920, to Joseph Paul and Theresa Kleinsasser Glanzer in Dolton, S.D.
He married Lola Derstine Bower on Nov. 4, 1945, in Souderton, Pa. She
preceded him in death in 1971. He married Isabel Gingrich in 1972, who
preceded him in death in 1988. He married Eva Sonifrank on July 14,
1990.
He received a bachelor’s degree in theology from Eastern Mennonite
University and a master’s degree in teaching from South Dakota State
University. He taught on the elementary and college level for 22 years.
He was an ordained minister and active member of Zion Mennonite Church
in Broadway. He founded Friendship Industries in Harrisonburg and
Indian Creek Haven Sheltered Workshop in Harleysville, Pa. He was
active well into retirement in Mennonite church service agencies.
Survivors include his wife, Eva Sonifrank Glanzer; four sons, David
Glanzer, James Glanzer and Jerry Glanzer, all of Harrisonburg, and
Dennis Glanzer of Flagstaff, Ariz.; four stepsons, Millard Sonifrank of
Harrisonburg, Merlan Sonifrank and Eldon Sonifrank, both of Broadway,
and Nelson Sonifrank of Timberville; a stepdaughter, Evelyn Strawderman
of Harrisonburg; two brothers, Moses and Aaron Glanzer, and three
sisters, Mary Ruth Hoffman, Miriam Hamm and Clara Graber, all of
Freeman, S.D.; eight grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren and a
great-grandchild.
Funeral services were held at Zion Mennonite Church. Burial was in the
church cemetery.
Mennonite Weekly Review - January 17, 2011 - 89th Year, No. 3 - p. 9
------------------
Olson, Noah Luke
Noah Luke Olson, 2 months old,
of rural Odin, Minn., died Oct. 21, 2010, at Sanford Hospital in Sioux
Falls, S.D. He was born Aug. 4, 2010, to Luke and Celeste (Buller)
Olson at Sanford Hospital.
Survivors include his parents, Luke and Celeste Olson of rural Odin;
two brothers, Isaac and Jeremiah Olson; his maternal grandparents,
Harvey and Esther Jane Buller of rural Mountain Lake; his paternal
grandparents, Eldon W. and Nila Gene Olson of Trimont; his paternal
great-grandmother, Loretta Hertle of Mountain Lake; his maternal aunts
and uncles, Eric and Ruth Buller of Inman, Kan., Joe and Jen Buller of
Alpha, Melanie Buller of Gold Canyon, Ariz., Tom and Karla Buller of
Mountain Lake, and Sonya Buller of rural Bingham Lake; and his paternal
aunts and uncles, Gretchen and Cory Olson of rural Trimont and Betsy
and Brian Johnson of Alpha.
He was preceded in death by his maternal great-grandparents, Valentine
and Elsie Harms and Peter and Katharina Buller; his paternal
great-grandparents, Albert Hertle and Willie and Alice Olson; and an
infant cousin, Jacey Buller.
Services were held at Evangelical Covenant Church in Trimont. Burial
was in Cedar Hill Cemetery of rural Trimont.
---------------------
Miller, Hildegard Eve Peters
Hildegard Eva Peters Miller,
88, died Dec. 23, 2010, in San Antonio, Texas. She was born June 15,
1922, to Isaac D. Peters and Tina Penner Peters in Henderson, Neb.
She graduated from Bethel College in North Newton, Kan., in 1947.
Shortly after graduation she went to Puerto Rico to teach English in
Barranquitas, where she met her future husband, Eugene. They were
married in 1950, and after returning to Nebraska to teach they shared
their home with Aida and Miguel Solivan of Cayey, Puerto Rico, with
whom she maintained close ties. She will be remembered for her love of
teaching and her artistry.
Survivors include two children, Philip Miller and his wife, Jo Ann, of
Castroville, Texas, and Ramona Miller of Camden, Maine; a sister,
Esther Unruh of North Newton; in-laws Myrtle Miller, Eldo and Bertha
Miller of La Junta, Colo., and Maurine Miller of Pueblo, Colo.; three
grandchildren and a great-grandson.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene A. Miller; an infant
son, Steven Miller; a daughter, Jeanne Miller; and two sisters, Anne
Friesen and Tina Friesen.
Her memorial service will be held in LaJunta, Colo., at a later date.
Mennonite
Weekly Review - January 24, 2011 - 89th Year, No. 4 - p. 9
-------------------------
Teichroew, Emma Harder
Emma Teichroew, 101, died Dec.
22, 2010, at the Avera Center in Yankton, S.D., where she had lived
since 2004. She was born on July 9, 1909, to John B. and Marie Janzen
Harder of Mountain Lake, Minn., the granddaughter of immigrants from
Ukraine, South Russia.
She was baptized on confession of faith in the Mountain Lake Mennoniten
Kirchen, now First Mennonite Church, in 1928. She graduated from
Mountain Lake Public High School in 1930, also having studied at the
local German Preparatory School. After graduation, she worked as a cook
at Bethel Hospital and took private art lessons.
She married Peter A. Teichroew on June 29, 1932, and together they
farmed until retiring in 1976. They worked on the Teichroew homestead
and then moved to another family farm in 1965. They moved to the town
of Mountain Lake in 1984, to Yankton in 1994, and to Salem Mennonite
Home in Freeman in 1997, before beginning residence at the Avera Center.
A devout Mennonite in faith and culture, she was active in many church
activities, including the First Mennonite Mission Society and Oakleaf
Mission Society, and helping at Care and Share in Mountain Lake and at
yearly Mennonite Central Committee relief sales. She excelled at
quilting, knitting, crocheting and sewing and was a fine cook and baker
in the Russian Mennonite tradition. She was always happy to share her
beautiful flower garden and the fruits of her vegetable garden. She
enjoyed reading and listening to books on tape.
Survivors include four children, Harlan and his wife, Carolyn, of
Yankton, Lowell of Utrecht, the Netherlands, Charlotte and her husband,
Larry Eliot, of Ipswich, Mass., and Allan and his wife, Jean, of Silver
Spring, Md.; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren and eight
great-great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Peter, in December 1997.
------------------
Engbrecht, Tena D.
Tena Engbrecht, 92, died Nov. 22, 2010, at Sanford Hospital in
Sioux Falls, S.D. She was born March 18, 1918, to Dietrech and Eva
(Schartner) Engbrecht on a farm north of Marion.
She was baptized upon the confession of her faith on May 21, 1935, and
was received into the membership of Bethesda Mennonite Church in
Marion, of which she remained a faithful member until her death. She
enjoyed serving the Lord as a Sunday school teacher for children and
adults, enjoyed teaching vacation Bible school and was church librarian
for many years. She was very involved with Women’s Mission Society,
especially making quilts for the poor. She spent a number of years
corresponding with missionaries to encourage them in the work they were
doing for the Lord. In the summer of 1994, she was honored to be
recognized for not missing the Swan Lake Women Christian Camp since
1968, when the first women’s retreat was held.
Most of her life was spent on the farm north of Dolton where she loved
farm life, working long and hard hours using horses to do much of the
work when she was younger. She had an interest in growing a garden and
raising farm animals. She remained on the farm before moving to Marion
in 1997. In the past years she was in and out of Tieszen Memorial Home
and Sanford Hospital due to health issues.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Nettie and Helena, who died
in infancy, her sister Susie and brother Daniel.
Survivors include her sister, Alma; her sister-in-law, Elva; nine
nieces and nephews, Jerry and Bonnie Engbrecht, Betty and Ken Andela,
Ben and Janice Engbrecht, Donna and Garland Petersen, Janalea and Jerry
Bentley, Don and Linda Engbrecht, Carolyn and Mark Clark, Darrell and
Hollie Engbrecht and Dennis Engbrecht.
Services were held at Bethesda Mennonite Church, Marion. Burial was in
Schartner Cemetery.
-----------------
Miller, Verton S.
Verton S. Miller, 87, of
Kalona, Iowa, died Jan. 14, 2011, at Pleasant View Home. He was born
July 2, 1923, to Pastor Albert S. and Maggie (Miller) Miller near
Kalona.
He attended Sharon Center High School. He married Anna Pearl Brenneman
on Dec. 7, 1947, at Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church, rural Kalona.
He was a lifelong farmer in the Kalona area. He sold pioneer seed for
30 years. He enjoyed working in his apple orchard, at the fish pond,
making taffy, gardening and visiting with friends and family. He was a
member of Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church, where he taught Sunday
school, Bible school and was an MYF sponsor.
Survivors include his wife, Pearl; three children, Ken Miller and his
wife, Chris, of Iowa City, Kathy Scheuerman of Denver, Colo., and Donna
Darby and her husband, Carol, of Iowa City; a brother, Willis Miller of
Kalona; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Sharm Scheuerman; four
brothers, Joe, Roy, Chester and Albert Jr.; and a sister, Katie.
Funeral Services were held at Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church, rural
Kalona. Burial was in the Lower Deer Creek Cemetery.
Copyright 2003 - All rights reserved
- Mennonite Publishing House, Scottdale, PA
Used with permission by the Archives of the Mennonite Church,
Goshen, INDIANA
Permission granted to private family researchers to use selected
portions of these files to tell their family stories.
May not be mass-produced in any form for commercial purposes.