The Mennonite - August, 2001

"for the record" - Deaths:


theMennonite, August 7, 2001, page 16-17, Vol. 4, No. 29.

Alderfer.- Daniel L., 45, Athens, Pa., died June 25 from a farm accident. Spouse: Glenna Moore Alderfer. Parents: Margaret Landes (deceased) and Durrell Alderfer. Other survivors: children Carrie, James, Gina. Funerals: June 28 at North Rome Wesleyan Church, Athens, Pa.; June 29 at Salford Mennonite Church, Harleysville, Pa.

Baer.- Curtis, 76, Moorefield, Ont., died June 9 of a heart attack. Spouse: Pauline Baer. Parents: Ezra and Elizabeth Good Baer (deceased). Other survivors: son David; one grandchild. Funeral: June 12 at Community Mennonite Fellowship, Drayton, Ont.

Bertsche.- Mary M. Kelley, 91, Bluffton, Ohio, died June 23. Spouse: Orville J. Bertsche (deceased). Parents: Beatrice and George Kelley (deceased). Survivors: children Mary Anne Moser, David, Jerry, Joe, Robert; 15 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren. Funeral: June 28 at First Mennonite Church, Bluffton.

Bixler.- David W., 75, Goshen, Ind., died July 7. Spouse: Marjorie Atwater Bixler. Parents: A. Dale and Celesta Smucker Bixler (deceased). Other survivors: children Patricia, Barbara Bixler Lamb, Joyce, Alan, Donald; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Funeral: July 10 at College Mennonite Church, Goshen.

Christner.- Levi, 70, Goshen, Ind., died July 22 of a stroke. Spouse: Martha Christner.

Detweiler.- Gerald B., 69, Secor, Ill., died July 15. Spouse: (1st) Dorothy Chambers Detweiler (deceased); (2nd) Sally Conley Detweiler. Parents: John and Laura Schertz Detweiler (deceased). Other survivors: children Alan, Linda Javor, Michael, Eric; eight grandchildren. Funeral: July 18 at Roanoke Mennonite Church, Eureka, Ill.

Ediger.- Betty Regehr, 79, Hesston, Kan., died July 9. Spouse: Sam Ediger. Parents: George and Mary Pauls Regehr (deceased). Other survivors: children Bruce, Darrell, David, Bette Jo Lehrman; 13 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren. Funeral: July 12 at Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church, Inman, Kan.

Farrell.- Carol Ann Thorp, 67, Syracuse, Ind., died July 12 of liver problems. Spouse: Joseph Farrell. Parents: Cecil and Opal Trual Thorp (deceased). Other survivors: children LuannYoder, Kristin, Andrew Oexmann; stepchildren Tim, Greg; seven grandchildren. Funeral: July 15 at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, Goshen, Ind.

Graber.- Evalyn, 95, Kalona, Iowa, died July 7. Parents: John and Josephine Graber (deceased). Funeral: July 10 at Washington (Iowa) Mennonite Church.

Hershberger.- John Melvin, 90, Canby, Ore., died June 26. Spouse: Etta Kropf Hershberger. Parents: Jacob J. and Melinda Kramer Hershberger (deceased). Other survivors: children Warde, James, Keith; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren. Memorial service: June 29 at Zion Mennonite Church, Hubbard, Ore.

Hess.- Ella Good, 87, Lancaster, Pa., died July 2. Spouse: Mervin M. Hess (deceased). Parents: Daniel and Anna Kreider Good (deceased). Survivors: children Erma Brunk, Mervin, Daniel, J. Harold, Kenneth; 15 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren. Funeral: July 5 at Landisville (Pa.) Mennonite Church.

Horst.- Elvin M., 69, Manheim, Pa., died June 30. Spouse: Arlene R. Shenk Horst. Parents: Paul and Eva Martin Horst (deceased). Other survivor: daughter Andrea Stoltzfus. Funeral: July 5 at East Petersburg (Pa.) Mennonite Church.

Hostetter.- A. Clyde, 93, Lititz, Pa., died June 22. Spouse: (1st) Lillian McMichael Hostetter (deceased), (2nd) Edna G. Brubaker Hostetter. Parents: Joseph and Katie Andrews Hostetter (deceased). Other survivors: children J. Paul, Robert; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren. Funeral: June 26 at Landis Homes Chapel, Lititz.

Koehn.- Bryson, 78, Medford, Okla., died July 4 of a cerebral hemorrhage. Spouse: Nathalie B. Decker Koehn. Parents: Adam and Esther Unruh Koehn (deceased). Other survivors: children Dwight, Sandra Foraker, Byron; 10 grandchildren. Funeral: July 9 at Deer Creek (Okla.) Mennonite Church.

Miller.- Marion M., 73, St. Joe, Ind., died June 30 of a stroke. Spouse: Alva Miller. Parents: Amos and Sarah Miller (deceased). Other survivors: children Kerry, Ken, Randy, Annette Chandler, Shawn; 14 grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Funeral: July 3 at North Leo Mennonite Church, Leo, Ind.

Miller.- Maynard G., 73, Salisbury, Pa., died July 2. Parents: Aaron and Alta Yoder Miller (deceased). Funeral: July 5 at Springs (Pa.) Mennonite Church.

Miller.- Rachel M., 95, Goshen, Ind., died July 14. Spouse: Samuel S. Miller (deceased). Parents: Josiah and Magdalena Yoder Miller (deceased). Survivors: children Wayne, Willowdean Schleining, Jeannie Schrock, Winifred Lehman, Sharon Koelzer, Karon Weaver; 19 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren. Funeral: July 18 at Waterford Mennonite Church, Goshen.

Myer.- Eleanor Wenger, 85, Lititz, Pa., died June 27. Spouse: Amos B. Myer (deceased). Parents: Phares C. and Nora Cassel Wenger (deceased). Survivors: children John, Amos, Lois Bucher, Rachel Miller, Jean Landis; 11 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren. Funeral: June 30 at Landis Homes Chapel, Lititz.

Niswander.- Glenn, 90, Chambersburg, Pa., died June 22. Spouse: Orlena Niswander (deceased). Parents: Albert and Alta Niswander (deceased). Funeral: June 26 at Chambersburg Mennonite Church.

Nofziger.- Lena Elizabeth Mullet, 87, Roseburg, Ore., died July 5. Spouse: Virgil Nofziger (deceased). Parents: Jacob J. and Elizabeth Kauffman Mullet (deceased). Survivors: children Carolyn Proven, Carol Miller, Doug; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Funeral: July 9 at Lebanon (Ore.) Mennonite Church.

Peters.- Sara, 91, Steinbach, Man., died June 25. Funeral: June 7 at Steinbach Mennonite Church.

Preheim.- Gladys Waltner, 83, Freeman, S.D., died July 8. Spouse: Leonard Preheim (deceased). Parents: John P. and Anna Schrag Waltner (deceased). Survivors: children Dwight, Randall; one grandchild. Memorial service: July 9 at Salem Mennonite Church, Freeman.

Preheim.- Leonard, 81, Freeman, S.D., died July 6. Spouse: Gladys Preheim (deceased). Parents: Jonath and Ida Graber Preheim (deceased). Survivors: children Dwight, Randall; one grandchild. Memorial service: July 9 at Salem Mennonite Church, Freeman.

Ruby.- Andrew, 86, Tavistock, Ont., died June 17. Funeral: June 20 at East Zorra Mennonite Church, Tavistock.

Schmidt.- Walter H., 91, Goessel, Kan., died July 17. Spouse: Hildred Schmidt (deceased). Survivors: daughter Drucilla Hall; two grandchildren. Funeral: July 20 at Tabor Mennonite Church, Newton, Kan.

Schwenk.- Eleanor M., 62, Souderton, Pa., died June 30 of a cerebral hemorrhage. Spouse: Homer J. Schwenk. Parents: Abram and Ruth Moyer Derstine (deceased). Other survivors: children Richard, Bryan, Nancy, Kendra Lutz; seven grandchildren. Funeral service: July 5 at Souderton Mennonite Church.

Showalter.- Anna R., 94, Stuarts Draft, Va., died July 5. Parents: Amos and Lillie Showalter (deceased). Funeral: July 9 at Springdale Mennonite Church, Waynesboro, Va.

Stuckey.- Florence Guth, 96, Deer Creek, Ill., died July 12. Spouse: Earl Stuckey (deceased). Parents: Peter and Bertha Naffziger Guth (deceased). Survivors: children Edith Lehman, Ann Stacy, Sandra Risser, Paul, Keith; 16 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren. Funeral: July 16 at Calvary Mennonite Church, Washington, Ill.

Troyer.- Larry M., 62, Walnut Creek, Ohio, died July 2 of a stroke. Parents: Roy and Opal Miller Troyer (deceased). Funeral: July 6 at Walnut Creek Mennonite Church.

Troyer.- Ted R., 79, Harper, Kan., died July 12 in a farm accident. Spouse: Violet Eicher Troyer. Parents: Fred and Bertha Schindler Troyer (deceased). Other survivors: children Rod, Rita Smoked; four grandchildren. Funeral: July 16 at Crystal Springs Mennonite Church, Harper.

Weaver.- Katie Grove, 91, Waynesboro, Va., died July 6. Spouse: Franklin Earl Weaver (deceased). Parents: Isaac and Emma Grove (deceased). Survivors: children Marion, Oliver, Alice Soppe, Dwight, Daniel, Maggie Brenneman, Orpha Beyeler; 20 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild. Funeral: July 10 at Springdale Mennonite Church, Waynesboro.

Wenger.- Lawrence R., 79, Montezuma, Ga., died July 10. Spouse: Agnes Stutzman Wenger. Parents: Noah and Anna Ramer Wenger(deceased). Other survivors: children Marilyn Watson, Linda Yoder, Judy, Stanley; foster son Joe Foster; nine grandchildren. Funeral: July 13 at Waterford Mennonite Church, Goshen, Ind.

Yoder.- C. Harold, 96, Goshen, Ind., died July 13. Spouse: N. Louise Yoder (deceased). Parents: Frank and Anna Raber Yoder (deceased). Survivors: daughter Mary Sue Miller; two grandchildren. Funeral: July 16 at the Meeting House at Greencroft, Goshen.

Yoder.- Florence Schrock, 95, died July 7. Spouse: Christy P. Yoder (deceased). Parents: David and Susanna Diener Schrock (deceased). Survivors: children Evelyn Zook, Leroy, Joe; 13 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren. Funeral: July 10 at Clearfork Cemetery, Garden City, Mo.

Yoder.- Mary Miller, 78, Sarasota, Fla., died July 1. Spouse: Amos Yoder (deceased). Parents: Gertrude and Mahlon Miller (deceased). Survivors: children Abbie Redcay, Gerald; three grandchildren. Funeral: July 5 at Ashton Mennonite Church, Sarasota, Fla.

Yoder.- Shirley Stauffer, 66, Leo-Cedarville, Ind., died July 15. Spouse: Meredith Yoder. Parents: Menno and Lena Stauffer (deceased). Other survivors: children Lori Clark, Leslie, Lisa; six grandchildren. Funeral: July 19 at North Leo Mennonite Church, Leo-Cedarville.

Young.- Doris Blair, 78, West Liberty, Ohio, died July 1. Parents: Frank and Dorothy Blair (deceased). Survivors: children Rebecca Allen, Elizabeth Figley, Martha Mount; five grandchildren. Funeral: July 4 at Bethel Mennonite Church, West Liberty.

Zehr.- Mabel Litwiller, 94, Gibson City, Ill., died May 29. Spouse: Silas Zehr (deceased). Parents: Amos and Barbara Nofziger Litwiller (deceased). Survivors: children John, LaVern; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren. Funeral: June 1 at East Bend Mennonite Church, Fisher, Ill.

Transcribed by: John Ingold


theMennonite, August 14, 2001, page 13, Vol. 4, No. 30.

Bumgardner.- Charles, 72, Morton, Ill., died July 21. Spouse: Frances Zimmerman Bumgardner. Parents: George and Hester Bumgardner (deceased). Funeral: July 25 at First Mennonite Church, Morton.

Friesen.- Linda Zielke, 91, North Newton, Kan., died July 9. Spouse: Waldo Friesen (deceased). Parents: Peter B. and Evelyn Wiebe Zielke (deceased). Survivors: children Duane, Larry; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Funeral: July 13 at Bethel College Mennonite Church, North Newton.

Goering.- Justina Epp, 82, Nanaimo, B.C., died April 4. Spouse: Edwin Goering. Parents: Jakob and Justina Epp (deceased). Other survivors: children Ute Goering-Boone, Dag, Jurgen; one grandchild. Memorial service: April 9 at Peace Mennonite Church, Richmond, B.C.

Miller.- Howard R. Sr., 70, died May 27 of pancreatic cancer. Spouse: Sarah Mae Miller. Other survivors: children Carol Jean Sommers, Howard Ray Jr., Wayne Allen, Ruby Kay Wittmer, Nancy Ann Coblentz, Marlene Sue; 20 grandchildren. Funeral: May 30 at Hartville (Ohio) Mennonite Church.

Troyer.- Vera Miller, 90, LaGrange, Ind., died July 10 of organ failure. Spouse: Willis C. Troyer. Parents: Francis and Magdelena Wager Miller (deceased). Other survivors: children Helen Egli, Leona Overholt, Lena Delagrange, Donald, Philip, Bruce, Verlin, Willis Jr.; 25 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren. Funeral: July 13 at Shore Mennonite Church, Shipshewana, Ind.

White.- Floyd, 93, Dalton, Ohio, died June 24. Spouse: Mary White (deceased). Parents: William and Nettie Martin White (deceased). Survivors: children Jay, Chloe Senften; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Funeral: June 29 at Kidron (Ohio) Mennonite Church.

Wyse.- Monroe B., 94, Harrisonburg, Va., died July 16. Spouse: Dora Short Wyse (deceased). Survivors: children Paul, John Mark, Rosalie Derstine, Grace Laffoon; 10 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren. Burial: July 19 at Harrisonburg, Va.

Transcribed by: John Ingold


theMennonite, August 21, 2001, page 13, Vol. 4, No. 31.

Derstine.- Florence D., 89, Souderton, Pa., died June 26. Spouse: Linford Derstine (deceased). Parents: Harvey and Lizzie Rice (deceased). Survivors: children Ferril, Louise Histand, Sonja Moyer; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren. Funeral: July 31 at Souderton Mennonite Homes.

Hartzler.- John, 85, Goshen, Ind., died July 14 of heart failure. Spouse: Catherine Fisher Hartman. Parents: Simon and Magdalene Beuter Hartzler (deceased). Other survivors: children Earnest, Lewis, Floyd, Kenneth, Wayne, Juanita, Laveta Randall, Vivian Hunt; 10 grandchildren. Funeral: July 17 at Yellow Creek Mennonite Church, Goshen.

Jantzi.- Annie, 89, Stratford, Ont., died July 20. Parents: Michael and Barbara Gerber Jantzi (deceased). Funeral: July 24 at First Mennonite Church, Kitchener, Ont.

Kennedy.- Adele J. Chaffee, 40, Wauseon, Ohio, died July 28 of cancer. Spouse: Mark Kennedy. Parents: Lloyd (deceased) and Minnie Chaffee. Other survivors: children Matthew, Samantha. Funeral: Aug. 1 at West Clinton Mennonite Church, Wauseon.

Landis.- Elias (J.R.) Alderfer, 66, Harleysville, Pa., died June 10. Spouse: Glenda Landis. Other survivors: children Kevin, Sally Derstine, Janet Blum; six grandchildren. Funeral: June 13 at Plains Mennonite Church, Hatfield, Pa.

Lehman.- Daniel S., 69, New Bremen, N.Y., died July 17. Spouse: Florence Zehr Lehman. Parents: Benjamin and Bertha Lehman (deceased). Other survivors: children Perry, Mark, Sheryl Nespor, Sue Roggie, Cynthia Lapp; nine grandchildren. Funeral: July 20 at Lowville (N.Y.) Mennonite Church.

Schroeder.- Diedrich J., 88, Winkler, Man., died July 7. Spouse: Helena Schroeder. Parents: Johann and Susana Schroeder (deceased). Other survivors: children Marlene Wiens, Dennis, Randy, six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren. Funeral: July 13 at Altona (Man.) Bergthaler Mennonite Church.

Swartley.- Paul P., 87, Towamencin (Pa.) Township, died July 24. Spouse: Eva Swartley. Other survivors: children Arlene Wambold, Richard, Jean Rodenberg, John; three grandchildren. Funeral: July 27 at Plains Mennonite Church, Hatfield, Pa.

Troyer.- M. Raymond, 88, Goshen, Ind., died July 23. Spouse: Kathryn Hartzler Troyer. Parents: N.E. and Eva Allgyer Troyer (deceased). Other survivors: children Betty Hartzler, Janet Yordy, Dennis, David, Norman; 16 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren. Funerals: July 26 at Greencroft Meetinghouse, Goshen; July 28 at Oak Grove Mennonite Church, West Liberty, Ohio.

Transcribed by: John Ingold


theMennonite, August 28, 2001, page 13, Vol. 4, No. 32.

Clemmer.- Ella Landes, 91, Hatfield, Pa., died Aug. 2. Spouse: Willis H. Clemmer (deceased). Parents: Joseph and Sallie Alderfer Landes (deceased). Survivors: daughter Ruth C. Gahman; two grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 6 at Plains Mennonite Church, Hatfield, Pa.

Egli.- Thomas E., 69, Yoder, Kan., died Aug. 4. Spouse: Glenna Schrock Egli. Parents: Emery and Edna Peterson Egli (deceased). Other survivors: children Karen, Kurt; three grandchildren. Memorial service: Aug. 7 at South Hutchinson (Kan.) Mennonite Church.

Esch.- Mabel V., 95, Morton, Ill., died Aug. 5. Parents: Sol and Emma Nafziger Esch (deceased). Funeral: Aug. 7 at Calvary Mennonite Church, Washington, Ill.

Friesen.- David A., 81, Henderson, Neb., died Aug. 2. Spouse: Nettie Friesen. Parents: Frank and Anna Thieszen Friesen (deceased). Other survivors: children Jerrene Watzel, Dwaine; 10 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 6 at Bethesda Mennonite Church, Henderson.

Gardner.- Shirley Shenk, 65, Aurora, Colo., died July 31 of cancer. Spouse: Lonny Gardner. Parents: J. Roy (deceased) and Ferne Shenk. Other survivors: children Steve, Lori; two grandchildren. Memorial service: Aug. 3 at First Mennonite Church, Denver.

Graybill.- Vera C., 99, Mifflin, Pa., died June 9. Spouse: Everett Graybill (deceased). Parents: Samuel and Olive Shelley (deceased). Survivors: children Lloyd, Arlene Brubaker; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild. Funeral: June 12 at Lost Creek Mennonite Church, Mifflintown, Pa.

Miller.- Clarence M. (Shorty), 93, Kalona, Iowa, died July 29. Spouse: Mary Mullet Miller. Parents: Harvey and Mary Fry Miller (deceased). Other survivors: children Clara Yoder, Albert, Fanny, Mamie Nisly, Ezra; 28 grandchildren; 67 great-grandchildren; 20 great-great-grandchildren. Funeral: Aug.1 at Kalona Mennonite Church.

Oyer.- Wilmer "Bud", 78, Eureka, Ill., died July 27 of complications from surgery. Spouse: Marie P. Birkey Oyer. Parents: John R. and Mary A. Oyer (deceased). Other survivors: children Michael, Craig, Kevin, Jean Bernardi; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren. Burial: July 30 at Metamora, Ill.

Regier.- Reuben "Jeff", 83, South Hutchinson, Kan., died Aug. 3. Spouse: Neva Mae Koehn Regier. Parents: Jacob and Mary Cornelson Regier (deceased). Other survivors: children Janice Hoppes, Denise Gerber; two grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 8 at South Hutchinson Mennonite Church.

Stuckey.- Ronald Jay, 48, Archbold, Ohio, died July 28 from injuries suffered in a farm accident. Spouse: Karen Stuckey. Parents: Chauncey and Pearl Stuckey. Other survivors: child Monrico Cummings. Burial: Aug. 2 at Stryker, Ohio.

Swartzentruber.- Vernon, 85, Pigeon, Mich., died July 17. Spouse: Elizabeth Christner Swartzentruber. Parents: Joel and Sarah Bender Swartzentruber (deceased). Other survivors: children Leon, Joyce Marmion, Elva Barstow, Melva Mast, Harold; 14 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren. Funeral: July 22 at Pigeon River Mennonite Church, Pigeon.

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.