Mennonite Weekly Review - September 2011
Obituaries are emailed to MennObits before MWR is printed. Wording may vary in printed version.
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Epp, Menno
Menno Epp, 79, died Aug. 2, 2011, in Saskatoon, Sask., after a brief illness. He was born April 11, 1932, in Lena, Man.
His life’s work as a Bible school teacher and as a pastor spanned more than 40 years. He taught at Bethel Bible Institute in British Columbia for about 12 years and was involved in the establishment of Camp Squeah in 1960. He served as the director of that camp during its initial years.
He graduated from Canadian Mennonite Bible College in the 1950s, and he was ordained to the ministry at West Abbotsford Mennonite Church in 1964. From 1969 to 1971 he attended Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Ind., after which he became the pastor at Foothills Mennonite Church in Calgary, Alta., until 1984. In 1984 he graduated with a doctor of ministry after writing The Pastor’s Exit.
From Calgary, he and his wife, Irma, moved to Leamington (Ont.) United Mennonite Church, where he served as pastor from 1984 to 1998. Irma preceded him in death in 1990. He then married Elsie Peters Neufeld in 1993.
He was moderator of the Conference of Mennonites in Canada from 1991 to 1996. He chaired the AMBS board for five years. He traveled extensively, including to France, India, Nepal, Greece, South America, Ukraine and Russia. He also spent time living and studying in Palestine. Upon retirement in 1998, he and Elsie moved to Saskatoon, where they became members of Wildwood Mennonite Church.
Survivors include his wife, Elisabeth (Elsie); three children, Charlene Epp and her husband, Dave, Beverly Patkau and her husband, Laverne, and Darrell Epp; four stepchildren, Shelley Bueckert and her husband, Darrell, Jillayne Neufeld and her husband, Mark Gress, Kendra Neufeld-Stephens and her husband, Peter, and Jacqueline Walter and her husband, Michael; 15 grandchildren; and nine siblings, Bruno Epp, Martin Epp, Anna Ens, Lydia Friesen, Susie Froese, Linda Sawatzky, Alvin Epp, Viola Loewen and Rudi Epp.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Irma; three brothers, Henry, Frank and George Epp; and grandson Brenton Epp.
Memorial services were held at Mount Royal Mennonite Church in Saskatoon.
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Weldy, Marjorie E. Conrad
Marjorie E. Weldy, 96, of Goshen, Ind., died Aug. 21, 2011, at Greencroft Healthcare, where she had been since May 24. She was born July 28, 1915, to Peter R. and Barbara (Eicher) Conrad in Smithville, Ohio.
She married Dwight E. Weldy June 8, 1941, in Smithville, Ohio.
A 1933 graduate of Smithville High School and a 1940 graduate of Goshen College, she was a member of College Mennonite Church in Goshen. A Mennonite Central Committee volunteer, she was a member of Phalo Book Club and Questers. She enjoyed entertaining friends, sewing and flowers.
Survivors include her husband, Dwight; three daughters, Cheryl Martin and her husband, James, of Greenwood, Mary Clasen and her husband, Tony, of West Liberty, Ohio, and Ruth Fitz-Gerald and her husband, Kevin, of Lexington, Ky.; a son, David Weldy and his wife, Ann, of Monclova, Ohio; 15 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Nettie Rufenacht and Elva Horst.
A graveside services was conducted at Olive Cemetery East in Wakarusa. Memorial services were held at College Mennonite Church.
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Preheim, Otto
Otto Preheim, 102, of Freeman, S.D., died Aug. 2, 2011. He was born April 8, 1909, to Jacob J. and Frances (Freni Kaufman) Preheim.
He was baptized on May 31, 1925, and became a member of Salem Mennonite Church. He attended this congregation all of his life. He served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher, participated in men’s chorus, the mixed choir, and for some years sang in a male quartet. A charter member of East Freeman Band, he played trombone with them for 18 years.
On June 1, 1938, he married Sieglinda Waltner. They were married for 70 years, and most of these years were spent on a farm a half mile west of Salem Mennonite Church. She preceded him in death in 2008.
On the farm he raised polled Hereford cattle. He helped take cattle, sheep and pigs to Paraguay in 1968 to help Mennonites there. He served on the Freeman Academy board for six years. He joined the South Dakota Hereford Breeder’s Association and the American Hereford Association in his 40s, and in 1984 the SDHBA honored him for his contribution to that organization.
He was a good listener and interested in his community and the larger world, and kept a list of questions he wanted to ask his visitors. He had an active prayer life.
Survivors include four children, Ron Preheim and his wife, Lois T., of Henderson, Neb., Gayle Preheim and his wife, Jana, of Monument, Colo., Lyle Preheim and his wife, Lois J., of Freeman, and Noreen Gingerich and her husband, Ken, of Iowa City, Iowa; 12 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Sieglinda; five brothers, Rudolph, Emil, Julius, Edward and Jacob Ray; and two sisters, Ida and Edna.
Services were held at Salem Mennonite Church. Burial was in Salem Mennonite Cemetery.
Mennonite Weekly Review - September 12, 2011 - 89th Year, No. 32 - p. 9
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Penner, Jesse Theresa Hiebert
Jesse Theresa Penner died Aug. 25, 2011, at her home in Bakersfield, Calif.
She was born Oct. 8, 1920, to Peter N. Hiebert and Helen Kinkel Hiebert in Hillsboro, Kan.
Her education was in Inman, Kan., Freeman, S.D., and Bakersfield. She graduated from Kern County High School and Tabor College in Hillsboro, majoring in art and elementary education. She took postgraduate art courses at Bakersfield College.
She taught elementary school in Marion County, Kan., and in the Hillsboro school system and did substitute teaching in Bakersfield.
On July 22, 1945, she married Herbert A. Penner of Hillsboro in the French Church in South Gato, Calif. They were married 67 years.
She is survived by her husband, Herbert; a son Loel J. Penner of Elmira, Ont.; a grandson; three brothers, Talmage of Traverse City, Mich., Lowell, and Ray of Maryland; and a sister, Carol of Trinidad, Calif.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Lester; and a sister, Evelyn.
Services were held at Heritage Bible Church in Bakersfield. Burial was at Hillcrest Memorial Park.
Mennonite Weekly Review - September 19, 2011 - 89th Year, No. 33 - p. 9
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Horst, Laurence Milton
Laurence Milton Horst, 96, resident of the Gables at Greencroft, died Sept. 7, 2011, at Goshen (Ind.) Hospital. He was born on the windy Kansas plain on Feb. 17, 1915, the fifth child of Jacob and Anna Grabill (Beck) Horst.
He grew up a hard worker on the farm, with a love for singing and music. He experienced an early call to service in the local church and was ordained at the age of 21. He continued his education, pastored, taught, and led the first voluntary service unit, always glad to be busy in the Lord’s work.
He met Marian Messner while both were teachers at Hesston (Kan.) College. They married in 1949, and he then finished seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
There followed a life of service: from pastorates in Chicago and Evanston, Ill., to nine years in Ghana in West Africa, to an active retirement at Greencroft with multiple interim pastorates. He never met a stranger. He went through life with a twinkle in his eye, ready to lend a hand wherever needed. He saw his life as an adventure of service whether in school, leading VS units, teaching; being a missionary or pastor or interim pastor; or playing the harmonica with friends. It was all to bring glory to God.
Survivors include his daughter, Ramona Bailey and her husband, David; and two grandchildren, Jordan and Dinah Bailey.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Marian; three sisters and two brothers.
A memorial service was held at College Mennonite Church.
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Kauffman, Beulah E. Good
Beulah E. (Good) Kauffman, 92, of Goshen, Ind., died Aug. 20, 2011. She was born Feb. 9, 1919, to Minnie (Snyder) and Ezra Good in Elida, Ohio.
She married Alvin Kauffman on April 17, 1938, in Cheraw, Colo.
She attended high school and business college in La Junta, Colo., and worked at La Junta Production Credit Association for four years prior to her marriage. From 1952 to 1956 she was employed at Hesston (Kan.) College as secretary to the college president. From June 1963 to June 1966 she served as literature secretary of the Women’s Missionary and Service Auxiliary of the Mennonite Church. In 1966 she and Alvin moved to Elkhart, where she served as executive secretary of the Women’s Missionary Service Commission from September 1966 to January 1979. During this time she also was associate secretary for family life education with the Mennonite Board of Congregational Ministries. From August 1980 to March 1987 she served at Mennonite Board of Missions as administrative assistant to Paul Gingerich, president of MBM. She was a longtime member of Belmont Mennonite Church, serving in music, as congregational chair and in other capacities. First and foremost she was a dedicated and loving wife and mother.
Survivors include two daughters, Barbara Powell and her husband, Charles, of Champaign, Ill., and Ruth Zehr and her husband, Edward, of Fox Lake, Ill.; a son, Ralph Kauffman and his wife, Laurel, of Kansas City, Mo.; eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin; and a sister, Vera Stjernholm.
A memorial service was held at Belmont Mennonite Church in Elkhart.
Mennonite Weekly Review - September 26, 2011 - 89th Year, No. 34 - p. 9
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Reimer, Alda L. Epp
Alda L. Reimer, 81, of Henderson, Neb., and formerly of Beatrice, died Sept. 12, 2011, at the Henderson Care Center. She was born Dec. 27, 1929, at rural Henderson.
She graduated from Henderson High School in 1950. She attended Omaha Grace Bible College for two years and then took practical nurses training in Omaha. She worked at the York Hospital for 25 years.
She married Bernhard H. Reimer on Jan. 1, 1976, at Henderson. They owned and operated a grain and dairy farm in rural Beatrice.
She also worked at the Mennonite Hospital in Beatrice in Geriatrics, retiring in 1996. She was a member of First Mennonite Church. She enjoyed playing the piano and taking pictures.
Survivors include a brother, Philip Epp and his wife, Karen, of Newton, Kan.; two brothers-in-law, John Wolfenbarger of San Martin, Calif., and William Edelman of Henderson; two sisters-in-law, Marion Jane Reimer of St. Paul, Minn., and Catherine Irene Friesen and her husband, Harold, of Dunwoody, Ga.; three nephews, Mark Edelman, Justin Epp and Jerry Capps; and two nieces, Sharon Hanson and Kate Jantz.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bernhard, who died on Oct. 3, 2004; and two sisters, Leona Wolfenbarger and Freda Edelman.
Memorial services were held at First Mennonite Church of rural Beatrice. Burial was in the First Mennonite Cemetery west of Beatrice.
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Godshall, Paul
Paul Godshall, 71, of Norristown, Pa., died peacefully in his sleep at home on Sept. 9, 2011. He was born to Norman and Mae (Detweiler) Godshall in Sellersville.
As a teenager, he entered voluntary service with a church in Mathis, Texas. He then enrolled in Eastern Mennonite University, where he met Cathy, whom he married. They served 15 years as missionaries in Mexico City. The family then moved to Elkhart, Ind., where he enrolled at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, graduating with a master of divinity degree. He also worked as a family counselor. In 1991 he was called to become pastor of the Mennonite church in Durham, N.C. Upon retiring in 2006, he moved to Norristown and then entered a three-year term of service with Mennonite Central Committee in West Papua, Indonesia, teaching in a theological school.
He touched the lives of many and is remembered around the world. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, friend, missionary, pastor, teacher, counselor, woodworker, world traveler, hiker, birdwatcher and singer.
Survivors include his loving wife of 48 years, Catherine Louise (Yost); three sons, Anthony and his wife, Sandy, of San Francisco, David and his fiancée, Cherie, of Cleveland, Ohio, and John Alvin of Durham, N.C.; a daughter, Cecilia Torres and her husband, Nestor, of Philadelphia; three sisters, Dorothy Beidler of Norristown, Anna Mae Landis of Lebanon and Marie Griffith of Awendaw, S.C.; and one grandson.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, David, Norman and Kenneth.
Services were held at Iglesia Nueva Vida Norristown New Life Church in Norristown.