The Mennonite - October, 2001

"for the record" - Deaths:


theMennonite, October 2, 2001, page 13, Vol. 4, No. 37.

Amstutz.- Florence Badertscher, 93, Goshen, Ind., died Sept. 5. Spouse: H. Clair Amstutz (deceased). Parents: John and Ida Sprunger Badertscher (deceased). Survivors: children Barbara Hodel, Vivian Headings, John, Carolyn Patterson, Mabel Blunk, Mary Gilbert; 20 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 9 at College Mennonite Church, Goshen.

Bender.- Elvera (Vera) Schlegel, 96, Tavistock, Ont., died Sept. 4. Spouse: Abner Bender (deceased). Parents: Joseph and Leah Schlegel (deceased). Survivors: children Dorothy Yantzi, Joanne Curran; 13 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 7 at East Zorra Mennonite Church, Tavistock.

Bickel.- Ella Mae, 94, Rocky Ford, Colo., died Sept. 2. Spouse: Fred Bickel (deceased). Parents: Anna and Joseph Yoder (deceased). Funeral: Sept. 5 at Rocky Ford Mennonite Church.

Ebersole.- Martha Yeager, 91, Chambersburg, Pa., died Sept. 4. Spouse: (1st) Henry R. Ebersole (deceased); (2nd) Samuel K. Ebersole (deceased). Parents: Edward and Annie Ernst Yeager (deceased). Survivors: children Ralph, Esther Wadel; stepchildren Fannie Strite, Raymond; 10 grandchildren; 12 step-granchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; 24 step-great-grandchildren.

Hostetler.- John A., 82, Goshen, Ind., died Aug. 28. Spouse: (1st) Hazel Schrock Hostetler (deceased); (2nd) Beulah Stauffer Hostetler. Parents: Joseph and Nancy Hostetler Hostetler (deceased). Other survivors: children Ann, Mary Hoyt, Laura Liechty; five grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 31 at College Mennonite Church, Goshen.

Leischner.- Helen Tallon, 88, Normal, Ill., died Aug. 24. Spouse: Aaron Leischner (deceased). Parents: John and Stella Tallon (deceased). Survivors: children Erma Taylor, Esther Brown, Herman; 12 grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 28 at Mennonite Church of Normal.

Schweitzer.- Roselyn "Belva" Johnson, 76, Milford, Neb., died May 28. Spouse: Burdette Schweitzer (deceased). Parents: Oscar and Rosa Johnson (deceased). Survivors: children Richard, Carol Toovey, Kathleen; 11 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren. Funeral: May 31 at Beth-El Mennonite Church, Milford.

Siemens.- Herman, 88, Buhler, Kan., died Aug. 22. Spouse: Clara Siemens. Parents: John P. and Helena Nachtigal Siemens (deceased). Other survivors: children Loretta Kuehny, Janice Albertson, Ellen Malloy, Larry; 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 25 at Buhler Mennonite Church.

Smucker.- Blanche Hillman, 90, Goshen, Ind., died Aug. 31. Spouse: Orrin Smucker (deceased). Parents: Henry and Lillian Mueller Hillman (deceased). Survivors: children Mary Ann Roth, Carolynn Underwood, Ronald, Richard, Ralph; 14 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 3 at College Mennonite Church, Goshen.

Zehr.- Edith, 74, Normal, Ill., died Aug. 29 of cancer. Parents: Harold and Alma Zehr (deceased). Funeral: Sept. 1 at Mennonite Church of Normal.

Transcribed by: John Ingold


theMennonite, October 9, 2001, page 13, Vol. 4, No. 38.

Beck.- Mary Yedica, 98, Archbold, Ohio, died Sept. 12. Spouse: Oscar Beck (deceased). Parents: Fred and Leah Nofziger Yedica (deceased). Survivors: children Robert, Don, Rollin, Laura Austin, Lois Jackson, Dorothy Miller; 20 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept.15 at Fairlawn Haven Chapel, Archbold.

Byler.- Sarah Miller, 82, Walnut Creek, Ohio, died Sept. 16. Spouse: Edward Byler (deceased). Parents: Abraham and Fannie Weaver Miller (deceased). Survivors: children Alfred, John, Edward Jr., Janet Miller, Sally Kanagy, Frances Martin, Sandra Ardelian; 20 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 20 at Berlin (Ohio) Mennonite Church.

Conrad.- Mary, 99, Reading, Pa., died Aug. 26. Spouse: Percy Conrad (deceased). Survivors: daughter Leah Mae Freed; two grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 30 at Gilbertsville, Pa.

Dorsey.- William L., 46, Telford, Pa., died Sept. 12. Parents: Thelma Hassinger Coe and Stephen Dorsey Jr. Funeral: Sept. 23 at Souderton (Pa.) Mennonite Church.

Drawbond.- Amos, 82, Glendale, Ariz., died Sept. 3 of Parkinson's disease. Spouse: Lois Hauder Drawbond. Parents: J. Samuel and Ella Mae Harshbarger Drawbond (deceased). Other survivors: children Douglas, Jeffrey, Donna Yutzy; two grandchildren.

Enz.- Jacob J., 82, Elkhart, Ind., died Sept. 9. Spouse: Joan Veston Enz. Parents: Henry and Lydia Enz (deceased). Other survivors: children John, David; three grandchildren. Memorial service: Sept. 13 at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart.

Herschberger.- Gerald "Gary," 45, Shipshewana, Ind., died Aug. 29 in a grain silo accident. Spouse: Rose Hershberger Herschberger. Parents: Perry and Annabelle Yoder Herschberger. Other survivors: children Jared, Joel, Jessica. Funeral: Sept. 2 at First Mennonite Church, Middlebury, Ind.

Kaufman.- Mary Dintaman, 82, Topeka, Ind., died Aug. 27. Spouse: Vernon Kaufman (deceased). Parents: William and Susan Seidner Dintaman (deceased). Survivors: children Ronald, Bonnie Schultz, Roger, Birdene Ringenberg; 11 grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 31 at First Mennonite Church, Middlebury, Ind.

Kiehl.- Sharon Long, 58, Delavan, Ill., died Sept. 17. Spouse: Robert G. Kiehl. Parents: Curtis and Geraldine Crawford Long (deceased). Other survivors: children Bobbie Litwiller, Kelly Taylor, Teresa Miller; seven grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 20 at Hopedale, Ill.

Landes.- Edna Bishop, 82, Souderton, Pa., died Sept. 10. Spouse: Daniel M. Landes (deceased). Parents: Henry and Clara Gross Bishop (deceased). Survivors: children D. Richard, R. Dale, Gerald, Judy Garrido; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 12 at Doylestown (Pa.) Mennonite Church.

Leichty.- Lavina Roth, 90, Wayland, Iowa, died Sept. 5. Spouse: Simon Leichty (deceased). Parents: Ben and Mary Graber Roth (deceased). Survivors: children Esther Marner, Rachel, Orlin, Lorene, Anna Lewis, Russell, Roger, Kenneth, Phyllis Schlatter, Wilbur; 23 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 8 at Sugar Creek Mennonite Church, Wayland, Iowa.

Longacre.- Susan Gehman, 45, Quakertown, Pa., died Aug. 17. Spouse: Horace A. Longacre. Parents: Addie and Robert Gehman. Other survivors: children Gregory, Nathan, Brandon. Funeral: Aug. 22 at Quakertown.

Transcribed by: John Ingold


theMennonite, October 16, 2001, page 13, Vol. 4, No. 39.

Freeburg.- Verne A., 85, Great Bend, Kan., died Sept. 1. Spouse: Laura Mae Unruh Freeburg. Parents: David and Agnes Sjogren Freeburg (deceased). Other survivors: children Sandra Darcy, Patricia Hankin; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 4 at Great Bend.

Froese.- Letha Marie Evers, 81, Cheraw, Colo., died July 6. Spouse: Harry Froese. Other survivors: children Marcia Beachy, David, Kathleen Froese, Ann Froese-Fretz, Kevin, Julia, Lori; 16 grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Memorial service: July 10 at East Holbrook Mennonite Church, Cheraw.

Jantzi.- Donald D., 83, Goshen, Ind., died July 31. Spouse: Doris Schaefer Jantzi. Parents: Michael and Alma Zehr Jantzi (deceased). Other survivors: children Cynthia Bell, Barbara McFall, Carol Montgomery, Glenda Hooley, Lowell, Donald; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Funeral: Aug.4 at East Goshen (Ind.) Mennonite Church.

Lawler.- Maryann B. Wedel, 82, Reedley, Calif., died Aug. 28. Spouse: Maurice Lawler. Parents: Peter and Emma Wedel (deceased). Other survivors: children Monty, Merle, Mark; two grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Memorial service: Sept. 4 at Sierra View Homes, Reedley.

Louden.- M. Ruth Myers, 96, Lancaster, Pa., died Sept. 14. Spouse: Albert D. Louden (deceased). Parents: William and Emma Martin Myers (deceased). Survivors: daughter Virginia Stauffer; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 18 at Mennonite Home Chapel, Lancaster.

Moyer.- Wilmer R., 75, Bechtelsville, Pa., died Sept. 13. Spouse: Ruth Stapleton Moyer. Parents: LeRoy and Erna Moyer (deceased). Other survivors: children Michael, Lois Fronheiser; four grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 18 at Hereford Mennonite Church, Bally, Pa.

Penner.- Gertrude Fast, 92, Beatrice, Neb., died Sept. 13. Spouse: Louis B. Penner. Parents: Gerhard and Helene Andreas Fast (deceased). Other survivors: children Harold, Marilyn Epp; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 17 at First Mennonite Church, Beatrice.

Siebert.- Clayton, 98, Kitchener, Ont., died Sept. 11. Spouse: Mabel Weber Siebert (deceased). Parents: Edward and Wilhelmina Siebert (deceased). Survivors: children Margaret Hoffmann, Joyce Rooney, Sharon; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 14 at First Mennonite Church, Kitchener.

Thomas.- Ella, 65, Goshen, Ind., died Sept. 9. Parents: Samuel D. and Lizzie Yoder Thomas (deceased). Funeral: Sept. 12 at North Goshen (Ind.) Mennonite Church.

Troyer.- Dorothy King, 83, Hesston, Kan., died Sept. 19. Spouse: Mervin Troyer. Parents: Henry and Anna Hartzler King (deceased). Other survivors: children Elnor Stutzman, Ronald, Donald; 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 22 at Schowalter Villa, Hesston.

Yoder.- Anna Bontrager, 97, South Hutchinson, Kan., died Sept. 4. Spouse: Fred R.Yoder (deceased). Memorial service: Sept. 8 at South Hutchinson Mennonite Church.

Zook.- Mary Kurtz, 80, McVeytown, Pa., died Sept. 13. Spouse: Jesse M. Zook (deceased). Parents: Enos and Mary Kurtz (deceased). Survivors: children Lena Lakjer, Floyd, Marlin, John, Mary Banker, Kathryn Breon, Alan; 21 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 16 at Valley View Amish Mennonite Church, Belleville, Pa.
Transcribed by: John Ingold


theMennonite, October 23, 2001, page 16, Vol. 4, No. 40.

Crooks.- Doreen Rudiger, 75, Great Bend, Kan., died Sept. 24 of a heart attack. Parents: Ed and Myrtle Rudiger (deceased). Survivors: children Bob Campbell, Mikael, Linda Ford; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren. Graveside service at Mennonite Cemetery, Pawnee Rock, Kan.

Fehr.- Justina, 91, Steinbach, Man., died Sept. 8. Funeral: Sept. 13.

Hilty.- Celia Sprunger, 89, Bluffton, Ohio, died Sept. 13. Spouse: Herman E. Hilty (deceased). Parents: Albert and Elma Sprunger (deceased). Survivors: children Ann, Judith Kingsley, Rachel Friesen, Suzanne Lind; 11 grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 23 at First Mennonite Church, Bluffton.

Iwanowski.- Katharyn Dashkiewich, 74, Wayland, Iowa, died Sept. 26 of cancer. Spouse: Leon Iwanowski. Parents: John and Maria Dashkiewich (deceased). Other survivors: children Wesley, Victor; two grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 29 at Bethel Mennonite Church,Wayland.

Long.- Howard M., 72, Washington Boro, Pa., died Aug. 14 of a stroke. Spouse: Betty J. Swisher Long. Parents: Charles and Mamie Eberly Long (deceased). Other survivors: children Glenn, Gary, Galen, Gordon; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Funeral: Aug. 18 at Habecker Mennonite Church, Washington Boro.

Martin.- Norman, 87, St. Jacobs, Ont., died Sept. 24 of cancer. Spouse: Gladys Koch Martin. Parents: Norman and Magdalena Bowman Martin (deceased). Other survivors: children Winston, Raymond, Isabel Bauman, Bernice Brubacher, Elaine Stoltzfus, Edith Edmiston; 17 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 27 at St. Jacobs Mennonite Church.

Miller.- Helen Erb, 88, Marshville, N.C, died Sept. 19. Spouse: Ira E. Miller. Parents: David and Minnie Witmer Erb (deceased). Other survivors: daughter Loretta Miller Helmuth; two grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Funeral: Sept. 29 at Park View Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg,Va.

Miller.- Icie Dora Yoder, 97, Sterling, Ohio, died Sept. 13. Spouse: Dan W. Miller (deceased). Parents: Amos and Amanda SmuckerYoder (deceased). Survivors: children Clifford, Gerald, Carol Nolt; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 17 at Oak Grove Mennonite Church, Smithville, Ohio.

Minnis.- Carlton, 71, Philadelphia, died Sept. 26 of heart failure. Spouse: Hattie Ellis Minnis. Parents: Carl Minnis (deceased) and Kathrin Minnis Green. Other survivors: son Carlton Anthony Minnis; four grandchildren. Funeral: Oct. 6 at Second Mennonite Church, Philadelphia.

Nissley.- Ruth Newcomer, 90, Lancaster, Pa., died Aug. 25. Spouse: Roy R. Nissley (deceased). Parents: Jacob Brubaker and Sarah Greider Newcomer (deceased). Survivors: children Wilber, Sara Ann Howard, Mary Jane, Barbara; two grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 29 at Habecker Mennonite Church,Washington Boro, Pa.

Penner.- Ella Jantzen, 93, Beatrice, Neb., died Sept. 24. Spouse: Henry W. Penner. Parents: Alexander and Helen Ensz Jantzen (deceased). Other survivors: son John; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 27 at First Mennonite Church, Beatrice.

Correction: In the obituary for Ella Jantzen Penner (Oct.23 issue), spouse Henry W. Penner is deceased.

Reynolds.- Elsie M. Rupp, 89, Archbold, Ohio, died Sept. 23. Spouse: Albert Reynolds (deceased). Parents: Simon and Emma Wyse Rupp (deceased). Survivors: children Roger, Ron, Jerry, Shirley Hochstedler, Marlene Weaver, Susie Norris; 25 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 27 at West Clinton Mennonite Church, Wauseon, Ohio.

Shoemaker.- Eugene E., 87, Eureka, Ill., died Sept. 23. Spouse: Eda Shoemaker. Parents: Arthur and Lucy Engel Shoemaker (deceased). Other survivors: children Alice, Marilyn Longfellow, Leola, Geneva Swartzentruber, Loren, Ivan, Merle, Ronald, Jerald; 11 grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Funeral: Sept. 27 at Freeport (Ill.) Mennonite Church.

Tarvin.- Elma, 90, Dewey, Ill, died Sept. 20. Spouse: Wayne Tarvin (deceased). Survivors: son Richard. Funeral: Sept. 22 at East Bend Mennonite Church, Fisher, Ill.

Zook.- Manie Hochstetler, 100, Walnut Creek, Ohio, died Sept. 26. Spouse: Ralph D. Zook (deceased). Parents: Alexander and Mary Jane Miller Hochstetler (deceased). Survivors: seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 29 at Walnut Creek Mennonite Church.

Transcribed by: John Ingold


theMennonite, October 30, 2001, page 13, Vol. 4, No. 41.

Buller. Hilda Epp, 80, Henderson, Neb., died Sept. 26. Spouse: Henry H. Buller (deceased). Parents: Jacob F. and Sarah Dalke Epp (deceased). Survivors: children Arnold, Henry, Ronald, Marlys Oestreich; 14 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 29 at Bethesda Mennonite Church, Henderson.

Eichelberger.- Alie, 81,Wayland, Iowa, died Oct. 1. Spouse: Barbara Eichelberger. Parents: William and Katie Eichelberger (deceased). Other survviors: children Roger, Dean, Lynn, Sharlene Reichenberger, Lisa; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren. Funeral: Oct. 4 at Sugar Creek Mennonite Church, Wayland.

Horning.- Grace Nissly, 84, Lancaster, Pa., died Sept. 27. Spouse: Titus H. Horning. Parents: Christian and Barbara Herr Nissly (deceased). Other survivors: children Barbara Weaver, Nancy; three grandchildren; two great grandchildren. Burial in Lancaster.

Roth.- Violet Stutzman, 77, Milford, Neb., died Oct. 3 of complications following heart surgery Spouse: Delmer Roth. Parents: David and Phoebe Stutzman (deceased). Other survivors: children Yvonne Bontrager, Russell, Lenore Meyer, Cecil; 10 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren. Funeral: Oct. 6 at Bellwood Mennonite Church, Milford.

Scott.- Susie Petersheim, 71, Honey Brook, Pa., died Oct. 4 of pneumonia. Parents: Samuel and Ada Zook Petersheim (deceased). Survivors: children Deborah, Clarence (C.J.); two grandchildren. Funeral: Oct. 8 at Conestoga Mennonite Church, Morgantown, Pa.

Stroud.- Marion, 79, Wadsworth, Ohio, died Oct. 4 of cancer. Spouse: Robert Stroud. Other survviors: children Christine Breeze, Allis Simpson, Lucy Cliburn, Sara Grimm, Robert Jr., James, David; eight grandchildren. Memorial service: Oct. 8 at First Mennonite Church, Wadsworth.

Unternahrer.- Ralph, 60, Wayland, Iowa, died Sept. 30. Spouse: Martha Speake Unternahrer. Parents: Jacob and Mayme Leichty Unternahrer (deceased). Other survivors: children Jason, Cynthia Hammen, Rita Colover; eight grandchildren. Funeral: Oct. 3 at Sugar Creek Mennonite Church, Wayland.

Wiens.- Elmer J., 80, North Newton, Kan., died Sept. 27. Spouse: Leola Siebert Wiens. Parents: Jacob and Katie Siemens Wiens (deceased). Other survviors: children Pamela Hodson, Timothy, Keith, Nancy Wiens Graf; seven grandchildren. Memorial service: Oct. 1 at Bethel College Mennonite Church, North Newton.

Yoder.- F. Berneice Reber, 85, Milford, Neb., died Oct. 1 of cancer. Spouse: Paul Yoder. Parents: Cora and Noah Reber (deceased). Other survivors: children Robert, Carolyn, Steven; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Funeral: Oct. 4 at Bellwood Mennonite Church, Milford.

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.