The Mennonite - April, 2000

"for the record" - Deaths:


The Mennonite, April 4, 2000, pages 12-13, Vol. 3, No. 13.

Abel.- Virgie, 86, Lancaster, Pa., died Jan. 24. Spouse: William Abel (deceased). Survivors: children George, Robert; two grandchildren. Funeral: Jan. 26 at New Holland, Pa.

Bergey.- Anna, 79, Souderton, Pa., died Feb. 4. Funeral: Feb. 7 at Frederick (Pa.) Mennonite Church.

Grieser.- Galen, 94, Archbold, Ohio, died March 7. Spouse: Ada Rupp Grieser (deceased). Parents: Edward and Aldina Vonier Grieser (deceased). Survivors: children Geneva Good, Richard, J.R.,Wauneta Meller, Linda Vasvery, Diane Nafziger; 22 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild. Funeral: March 10 at Central Mennonite Church, Archbold.

Gross.- Ruth Fliginger, 91, Freeman, S.D., died Feb. 9. Spouse: Alfred Gross. Parents: Peter and Minnie Downer Fliginger (deceased). Other survivors: children Don, Darrol; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 12 at Salem Mennonite Church, Freeman.

Hershey.- Irene, 79, Leacock Township, Pa., died Feb. 25. Parents: Aldus and Ida Wenger Hershey (deceased). Funeral: Feb. 28 at Hershey Mennonite Church, Kinzers, Pa.

Jantz.- Daniel, 89, Spokane, Wash., died Feb. 22. Spouse: Martha Waltner Jantz (deceased). Parents: Jacob and Rosena Miller Jantz (deceased). Survivors: children Carol Holter, Shirley Goldberger, Brenda Olson, Joyce Matlocks, Clifford, Jerry, Dewayne; six grandchildren; four step-grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 26 at Spokane.

Kauffman.- Bertha Lehman, 87, Middlebury, Ind., died Feb. 26. Spouse: Cloyd Kauffman (deceased). Parents: Martin and Mabel Berkey Lehman (deceased). Survivors: children Don, Tom, Chester; 27 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 29 at First Mennonite Church, Middlebury.

Kaufman.- Vernon, 82, Topeka, Ind., died Feb. 22. Spouse: Mary Dintaman Kaufman. Parents: Milton and Effie Hostetler Kaufman (deceased). Other survivors: children Ronald, Bonnie Schultz, Roger, Birdena Ringenberg; 11 grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 26 at First Mennonite Church, Middlebury, Ind.

Martin.- Anna, 97, Lititz, Pa., died Jan. 31. Spouse: Aaron Martin (deceased). Parents: David and Francis Martin (deceased). Survivors: Evelyn Groff, Erma, Mildred Leaman; 15 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 2 at New Holland, Pa.

Metzler.- Alta Maust, 94, Goshen, Ind., died March 11. Spouse: A.J. Metzler (deceased). Parents: Daniel and Anne Baker Maust (deceased). Survivors: children Alice Roth, Dorothy Brunk, Joyce Hostetler, Carl, Edgar, Jay; 19 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren. Funeral: March 14 at Greencroft Meetinghouse, Goshen.

Miller.- Paul Willis, 96, Fairview, Mich., died March 3 of heart failure. Spouse: (1st) Barbara Yoder Miller (deceased); (2nd) Lina Kauffman Snyder Miller (deceased). Parents: Obed and Ella May Yoder Miller (deceased). Survivors: children Donald, James, Duane, Lois Summer, Mary Summer; step-children: Harold Snyder, Delbert Snyder, Ivan Snyder; eight grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren. Burial at Glenns Ferry, Idaho.

Moyer.- Elwyn, 83, Souderton, Pa., died Feb. 23. Spouse: Margaret Heebner Moyer. Parents: Erwin and Anna Overholt Moyer (deceased). Other survivors: children Fern Derstine, Elaine Souder, Sylvia Derstine, Judy Kolb, Harleigh, Bruce; 22 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren. Memorial service: Feb. 28 at Rockhill Mennonite Church, Telford, Pa.

Ratzlaff.- Mary Krehbiel, 87, Buhler, Kan., died March 18. Spouse: Arnold Ratzlaff (deceased). Parents: Jacob and Regina Schrag Krehbiel (deceased). Survivors: children Kenneth, Gerald, Nancy Schmidt, Betty Gehring, Ruth Gehring; 15 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren. Funeral: March 21 at Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church, Inman, Kan.

Robinson.- William, 78, Massillon, Ohio, died March 2 of a heart attack. Spouse: June Hatfield Robinson. Parents: Isaac and Dora Robinson (deceased). Other survivors: children William, John; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren. Funeral: March 7 at Pleasant View Mennonite Church, North Lawrence, Ohio.

Shelly.- Kathryn, 92, Bristol, Pa., died Feb. 24 of cardiovascular disease. Parents: Elwood and Katie Rickert Shelly (deceased). Memorial service: March 5 at Hereford Mennonite Church, Bally, Pa.

Stutzman.- Harry Eason, 78, Beemer, Neb., died March 2 of cardiac arrest. Spouse: Millie Bellar Stutzman. Parents: Ed and Lydia Stutzman (deceased). Other survivors: children Janet Hinkel, Jim, Rita Leirman; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Funeral: March 6 at Beemer Mennonite Church.

Transcribed by: John Ingold


The Mennonite, April 11, 2000, page 12, Vol. 3, No. 14.

Bergey.- Anne Derstine, 60, Lexington, Mass., died March 8. Spouse: Ted Bergey. Parents: Abram and Ruth Derstine (deceased). Other survivors: children James, Kimberly. Memorial service: April 2 in Lexington.

Bontrager.- Mabel Miller, 77, South Hutchinson, Kan., died March 14 of a stroke. Spouse: Enos Bontrager(deceased). Parents: Abraham and Susie Miller (deceased). Survivors: children Treva Lichti, Carl, Judy Langley, LaDonna Monaldo; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Funeral: March 20 at South Hutchinson Mennonite Church.

Dellinger.- Richard, 77, Manheim, Pa., died March 7. Survivors: children Verdi Bays, Richard, Margaret Williams; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Funeral: March 10 at Mount Joy, Pa.

Dick.- Arthur, 100, Hesston, Kan., died Feb. 23. Parents: Jacob and Elizabeth Penner Dick. Memorial service: Feb. 25 at Schowalter Villa Chapel, Hesston.

Habegger.- Lillian Bailey, 75, Bluffton, Ohio, died March 12. Spouse: Merl Habegger (deceased). Parents: Forest and Ethel Bailey (deceased). Survivors: children Terry, Gloria Jean Miller; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Funeral: March 14 at First Mennonite Church, Bluffton.

Nissley.- Ruth Mylin, 84, Mount Joy, Pa., died March 19 of cancer. Spouse: Arthur Nissley. Other survivors: children Carol Fisher, Gerald; two grandchildren. Funeral: March 22 at Erisman Mennonite Church, Manheim, Pa.

Pfeiffer.- Joel, 26, Fort Myers, Fla., died Feb. 23 of renal failure. Parents: John (deceased) and Jean Pfeiffer. Funeral: Feb. 28 at Bay Shore Mennonite Church, Sarasota, Fla.

Shutt.- Madaline Mizer, 88, Walnut Creek, Ohio, died March 3 of a stroke. Spouse: Frank Shutt (deceased). Parents: Luther and Irene Cline Mizer (deceased). Funeral: March 7 at First Mennonite Church, Sugarcreek, Ohio.

Snyder.- Alice Laura, 82, Kitchener, Ont., died Feb. 23. Parents: Menno and Ida Groh Snyder (deceased). Funeral: Feb. 26 at First Mennonite Church, Kitchener.

Transcribed by: John Ingold


The Mennonite, April 18, 2000, pages 16-17, Vol. 3, No. 15.

Blank.- Sylvester, 86, Lititz, Pa., died March 28. Spouse: Roberta Fisher Blank. Parents: Samuel and Nancy Byler Blank (deceased). Other survivors: children Irvin, Harold, Calvin, James, Doris Lefever, Thelma Delong, Brenda Buckwalter; 17 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren. Funeral: March 31 at Landis Homes, Lititz.

Cressman.- Cecil, 82, Waterloo, Ont., died March 20. Spouse: Violet Francis Cressman. Parents: Noah and Catharine Brubacher Cressman (deceased). Other survivors: children Doug, Rob; two grandchildren. Funeral: March 23 at First Mennonite Church, Kitchener, Ont.

Erb.- Laurane Kipfer, 83, Sarasota, Fla., died Feb. 3. Spouse: Allen Erb (deceased). Parents: Amos and Rebecca Kipfer (deceased). Survivors: children Mahlon, Larry; five grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 7 at Bahia Vista Mennonite Church, Sarasota.

Gascho.- Earlus, 82, Kitchener, Ont., died March 18. Spouse: Sylvia Swartzentruber Gascho. Parents: Daniel and Lavina Steinman Gascho (deceased). Other survivors: children Mary Anne Daly, Terry; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Funeral: March 22 at First Mennonite Church, Kitchener.

Gehman.- Luke, 70, Pennsburg, Pa., died March 23 of multiple myeloma. Spouse: Anna Geissinger Gehman. Parents: Jacob and Katie Gehman (deceased). Other survivors: children Rachel Ferguson, Lowell; five grandchildren. Funeral: March 27 at Swamp Mennonite Church, Quakertown, Pa.

Gross.- Myrtle Krout, 81, Souderton, Pa., died March 24 of cancer. Spouse: Henry Gross. Parents: William and Stella Meyers Krout(deceased). Other survivors: step-son Richard; four step-grandchildren. Funeral: March 28 at Souderton Mennonite Homes Chapel.

Grove.- Dwight, 85, Greencastie, Pa., died March 25 of cancer. Spouse: (1st) Evelyn Helm Grove (deceased); (2nd) Leona Wehry Grove. Parents: John and Almeda Landis Grove (deceased). Other survivors: step-son James Davis; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Funeral: March 29 at Greencastle.

Hersh.- Harry, 86, Line Lexington, Pa., died April 1. Spouse: Dorothy Hersh (deceased). Survivors: children David, Ruth Delp, Esther Kollars; five grandchildren. Funeral: April 6 at Grace Mennonite Church, Lansdale, Pa.

Keller.- Reuben, 61, Quakertown, Pa., died March 21. Spouse: Bernice Derstine Keller. Parents: Reuben and Evelyn Weisel Keller (deceased). Other survivors: children Brent, Duane, Terry, Lori Farrell; five grandchildren. Funeral: March 27 at West Swamp Mennonite Church, Quakertown.

Lehman.- Janet Schloneger, 64, Kidron, Ohio, died Feb. 26 of metastatic cancer of the pancreas. Spouse: Merlin Lehman. Parents: Alvin and Gladys Schloneger (deceased). Other survivors: children Linda Thomas, Kathy; three grandchildren. Funeral: March 1 at Kidron Mennonite Church.

Linder.- Eva, 88, Louisville, Ohio, died March 24 of a heart attack. Parents: Eli and Lizzie Schmucker Linder (deceased). Funeral: March 28 at Beech Mennonite Church, Louisville.

Nussbaum.- Rhoda Gerber, 84, Dalton, Ohio, died March 24. Spouse: George Nussbaum. Parents: Phillip and Pauline Gerber (deceased). Other survivors: children Mary Lou Roth, Richard, Ronald, Ray; 12 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren. Funeral: March 27 at Kidron (Ohio) Mennonite Church.

Schlegel.- Earl Joseph, 76, Tavistock, Ont., died March 9. Spouse: Florence Bender Schlegel. Parents: Aaron and Barbara Sommer Schlegel(deceased). Other survivors: children Carol Drudge, Pauline Shank, Peter, Brenda Jewitt, Clare, Harold; 15 grandchildren. Funeral: March 13 at East Zorra Mennonite Church, Tavistock.

Steckly.- Rose Bender, 51, Tavistock, Ont., died March 14. Spouse: Ron Steckly. Parents: Elva and Wallace Bender. Other survivors: children Rochelle, Ryan. Funeral: March 18 at East Zorra Mennonite Church, Tavistock.

Widrick.- Sherwood, 72, Lowville, N.Y., died Feb. 16 of cancer. Spouse: Rachael Zehr Widrick. Parents: Joseph and Anna Moser Widrick (deceased). Other survivors: children Veronica Wetmore, Harlan, Norbert, Philip, Patrick; 11 grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 19 at Lowville Mennonite Church.

Wilson.- Harold, 83, Mount Jackson, Va., died March 24, Spouse: Elizabeth Wilson. Parents: Maurice and Lelah Dayson Wilson (deceased). Other survivors: children James, Kathleen Becker, Judith Bell; five grandchildren.

Wingard.- Esther Spory, 78, Hollsopple, Pa., died March 2. Spouse: Paul Wingard (deceased). Parents: Harry and Katie Croyle Spory (deceased). Funeral: March 5 at Kaufman Mennonite Church, Davidsville, Pa.

Yoder.- Mahlon, 95, Middlebury, Ind., died March 6. Spouse: (1st) Minnie Mae Miller Yoder (deceased); (2nd) Amanda Schrock Yoder (deceased). Parents: John and Elizabeth Troyer Yoder (deceased). Survivors: daughter Miriam Heath; 16 grandchildren: 21 great-grandchildren. Funeral: March 9 at North Main Street Mennonite Church, Nappanee, Ind.

Transcribed by: John Ingold


The Mennonite, April 25, 2000, pages 12-13, Vol. 3, No. 16.

Boiler.- Florence Kurtz Smoker, 78, New Holland, Pa, died April 6. Spouse: (1st) David Smoker (deceased); (2nd) Jesse Beiler. Parents: David and Carrie Beiler Kurtz (deceased). Other survivors: children Shirley Smoker Beiler, David Smoker; step-children Newton Beiler, Ray Beiler; 14 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren. Funeral: April 10 at Conestoga Mennonite Church, Morgantown, Pa.

Birky.- Ivan, 80, Strang, Neb., died March 24. Spouse: Roine Birky. Parents: Jacob and Alma Eichelberger Birky (deceased). Other survivors: children Jim, Genie Tirrel, Dona Imhoff; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren. Memorial service: March 28 at Salem Mennonite Church, Shickley, Neb.

Classen.- Peter, 76, Philadelphia, died March 22. Spouse: Hulda Loewen Classen. Parents: Peter and Sarah Reimer Classen (deceased). Other survivors: children Tim, Sheryl Armington, Bev Hesterberg; six grandchildren. Memorial service: April 8 at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary Chapel, Elkhart, Ind.

Dutton.- Darren, 21, Uniontown, Ohio, died March 22 in a motorcycle accident. Parents: Dan and Paula Dutton. Funeral: March 25 at Hartville (Ohio) Mennonite Church.

Esch.- Lewis Clayton, 98, Glendale, Ariz., died April 2. Spouse: Maggie Wideman Esch. Parents: Daniel and Elizabeth Guengerich Esch (deceased). Other survivors: children Clayton, Dwight, Eldora Eicher, Marilyn Ludwig; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren. Memorial service: April 5 at Glencroft Community Church, Glendale.

Frey.- Alice, 61, Elmira, Ont., died Feb. 25. Parents: Menno and Lizzie Frey (deceased). Funeral: Feb. 28 at Floradale (Ont.) Mennonite Church.

Hilty.- Gertrude, 99, Bluffton, Ohio, died March 31. Parents: Christian and Anna Gilliom Hilty (deceased). Funeral: April 4 at Grace Mennonite Church, Pandora, Ohio.

Kaufman.- Everett Eugene, 76, Kingman, Kan., died March 23. Spouse: Eileen Schwartz Kaufman. Parents: Rudolph and Caroline Kaufman (deceased). Other survivors: children Karen Helm, Kathy Kuhns, Debbie Lechner; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Funeral: March 27 at Kingman.

Klassen.- Jerry, 56, Hillsboro, Kan., died March 20 of complications from a car accident. Spouse: Violet Funk Klassen. Parents: Sam and Hulda Klassen (deceased). Other survivors: children Anita Unruh, Amy Ratzlaff; four grandchildren. Funeral: March 23 at Trinity Mennonite Church, Hillsboro.

Kratz.- Amanda Mininger, 85, Souderton, Pa., died April 4 of aortic stenosis. Spouse: Wayne Kratz. Parents: John and Martha Nice Landis Mininger (deceased). Other survivors: children Wayne, Laverne, Jane Haines; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren. Funeral: April 8 at Plains Mennonite Church, Hatfield, Pa.

Martin.- Elsie, 74, Kinzers, Pa., died March 19. Parents: Joseph and Mary Benner Martin (deceased). Funeral: March 24 at Hershey Mennonite Church, Kinzers.

Miller.- Mary Emma, 82, Hartville, Ohio, died March 6. Spouse: Atlee Miller. Other survivors: children Lois Jones, James; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Funeral: March 10 at Hartville Mennonite Church.

Regier.- Ferdinand, 89, Henderson, Neb., died April 2. Spouse: Tena Regier. Parents: Abraham and Susanna Regier (deceased). Other survivors: children Wendell, Richard, Eugene, Janice Anderson; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren. Funeral: April 5 at Bethesda Mennonite Church, Henderson.

Schrock.- Rufus, 89, Phoenix, died March 26. Spouse: Edna Troyer Schrock. Parents: Jonas and Susie Kauffman Schrock (deceased). Other survivors: children Irene Beckler, Susie Graber, Glen, Orvan, Larry; 13 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren. Memorial service: March 30 at Sunnyslope Mennonite Church, Phoenix.

Sundheimer.- Don Ray, 60, Fresno, Ohio, died March 28 from a tree-trimming accident. Spouse: Janice Lewis Sundheimer. Parents: Fred and Mary Schindler Sundheimer (deceased). Other survivors: children Melissa, Tiffany, Dirk. Funeral: March 31 at Sugarcreek, Ohio.

Transcribed by: John Ingold


Copyright 1999 - 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.