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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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
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