The Mennonite - March 2006

"for the record" - Deaths:

The Mennonite, March 7, 2006, pages 24-25, Vol. 9, No. 5.

Bachman.- Oleta Dorothy Good, 84, Eureka, Ill., died Feb. 15. Spouse: Orville Bachman (deceased). Parents: Alvin and Bessie Kaufman Good. Children: Theodore, Frederick; five grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 18 at Hopedale (Ill.) Mennonite Church.

Becker.- David D., 100, Aberdeen, Idaho, died Feb. 6. Spouse: Lizzie Unruh Koehn Becker. Parents: David and Elizabeth Schultz Becker. Children: Edith Isaak, Milton, Donald, Don; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 9 at First Mennonite Church, Aberdeen.

Bergthold.- Hildur Ahlstrom, 87, Reedley, Calif., died Jan. 30. Spouse: Reuben Bergthold. Parents: Ephraim and Malin Ahlstrom. Children: Aleta Wedel, Bruce, Dean; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 3 at First Mennonite Church, Reedley.

Braun.- Jank N., 82, Altona, Man., died Feb. 1. Spouse: Anita Hoffman Braun. Parents: John B. and Anna Braun. Children: Sharon Voth, Barry J., Marilyn Dick, Lorraine Nickel; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 5 at Bergthaler Mennonite Church, Altona.

Buller.- Elma Mierau, 86, North Newton, Kan., died Feb. 5. Spouse: Howard K. Buller. Parents: Cornelius J. and Maria Peters Mierau. Children: Ruth, Stanley, Charles; five grandchildren. Funeral: Bethel College Mennonite Church, North Newton.

Eash.- Levi (Lee), 68, Carlsbad, N.M., died Dec. 24, 2005. Spouse: Eileen Stichter Eash. Parents: Enos and Mary Hershberger Eash. Children: Joanna Harrison, John Kenton; two grandchildren. Funeral: Dec. 31, 2005, in Goshen, Ind.

Graber.- Wilbert James, 89, Freeman, S.D., died Feb. 14. Spouse: Alice Rulla Graber. Parents: Jonathan and Louise Miller Graber. Children: Tim, Sharon Waltner; seven grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 18 at Salem-Zion Mennonite Church, Freeman.

Graham.- Verna May, 76, Grodonville,* Pa., died Dec. 23, 2005. Parents: Warren and Barbara Groff Graham. Funeral: Dec. 27 at Kinzer Mennonite Church, Kinzers, Pa.
*Transcriber’s note:  Grodonville may be Gordonville.

Grieser.- Beulah A., 94, Archbold, Ohio, died Feb. 9 of congestive heart failure. Spouse: Truman Grieser (deceased). Parents: Harvey and Carrie Rupp King. Children: Janet Esh, Carol Martin, Ethel Swartzendruber; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 13 at Fairlawn Chapel.

Gross.- Erwin R., 83, Freeman, S.D., died Jan. 19. Spouse: Adella Kleinsasser Walter Gross. Parents: George J.C. and Mary Gross. Children: Donald, Harley, Derrick Walter, Vera Heiman, LaVern Walter, Errol Walter; 17 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Jan. 21 at Hutterthal Mennonite Church, Freeman.

Harter.- Walter, 69, Elkhart, Ind., died Feb. 1. Spouse: Rita Hartman. Parents: Elmer and Lilly Newcomer Harter. Children: Susan Martin, Connie Clark, Cindy Grove; eight grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 6 at Olive Mennonite Church, Elkhart.

Hershberger.- Grace, 78, Davidsville, Pa., died Jan. 29. Parents: Milton and Anna Hershberger. Memorial service: Jan. 31 at Laurel View Village Vista Room.

Hershberger.- Samuel Lee, 95, Peoria, Ariz., died Jan. 26. Spouse: Marie Yoder Hershberger. Parents: Ephraim and Dora Kempf Hershberger. Child: Donald; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren. Funeral: Jan. 31 at Glencroft Community Church, Glendale, Ariz.

Hollinger.- Edith Marie, 81, Lititz, Pa., died Feb. 7 of Alzheimer's disease. Spouse: Lloyd Leaman Hollinger. Parents: Harry S. and Elizabeth W. Rutt Horst. Children: Marilyn Weaver, Clyde, L. Kenneth, Rosanne Gingrich, Jane Good, Brenda Grimes, Ellen Kanagy; 19 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 11 at Stony Brook Mennonite Church, York, Pa.

Hummel.- Brian J., 55, Millersburg, Ohio, died Feb. 16. Spouse: Karen Gerber Hummel. Parents: Paul and Mary Yoder Hummel. Children: Trent, Darrick; one grandchild. Funeral: Feb. 21 at Walnut Creek (Ohio) Mennonite Church.

Kauffman.- Clara Fricke, 97, Hesston, Kan., died Feb. 8. Spouse: Milo Kauffman (deceased). Parents: Charles and Anna Dietrich Fricke. Children: Marilyn Kauffman Miller, Joy Kauffman Sears, Evelyn Kauffman Shellenberger, Gloria Kauffman Yoder, Milo F. Jr., Bonnie Kauffman Sowers, Phyllis Kauffman Hysong; 28 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 11 at Hesston Mennonite Church.

Kuttab.- George M., 83, Wyncote, Pa., died Jan. 24. Spouse: Frocina Ibrahim Nesheiwat Kuttab. Children: Jonathan, Daoud, Lydia Brenneman, Samuel, Phoebe Wurst, Grace El-Yateem, Daniel; 24 grandchildren. Funeral: Jan. 28 at Calvary Assembly of God, Wyncote.

Ratzlaff.- Harold Cecil, 94, Newton, Kan., died Feb. 10. Spouse: Ruth Regier Ratzlaff (deceased). Parents: J.C. and Mary Becker Ratzlaff. Child: Mary Ann Ratzlaff Jensen (deceased); two grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 18 at Bethel College Mennonite Church, North Newton, Kan.

Schlabach.- Owen J., 84, Sugarcreek, Ohio, died Feb. 5. Spouse: Mary Troyer Schlabach (deceased). Parents: Jonas and Susanna Troyer Schlabach. Children: Esther Warren, Clara, Frances Keim, Freda Troyer, Nancy Miller, Ray; 13 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 9 at Walnut Creek (Ohio) Mennonite Church.

Schmidt.- Frederick Paul, 58, Newton, Kan., died Feb. 12. Spouse: Jo-Ann Enns Schmidt. Parents: Rudy and Luella Funk Schmidt. Children: Jeffrey, Rachel, Michael; two grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 16 at Tabor Mennonite Church, Newton.

Troyer.- Royden R., 82, Milford, Neb., died Feb. 4. Spouse: Doreen Stutzman Troyer (deceased). Parents: John and Elsie Troyer. Children: Rod, Lynn, Trish McWain, Paula Pickerill; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 7 at Bellwood Mennonite Church, Milford.

Transcribed by:  John Ingold

The Mennonite, March 21, 2006, pages 25-26, Vol. 9, No. 6.

Baker.- Robert J., 85, Elkhart, Ind., died Feb. 19. Spouse: Anna Mae Moyer Baker. Parents: Frank and Florence Baker. Children: Doug, Solly Walker, Timothy, Nancy, Rebecca Hoyt; 16 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 24 at Belmont Mennonite Church, Elkhart.

Bishop.- Mary Hunsberger, 105, Souderton, Pa., died Feb. 23. Spouse: William Bishop (deceased). Parents: Jacob and Kate Hunsberger. Child: Kenneth; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 27 at Souderton Mennonite Community.

Bowman.- Lydia Ann Horst, 78, died Feb. 18 from complications due to a stroke. Spouse: Leroy H. Bowman. Parents: Joseph and Bertha Sensenig Horst. Children: James L., Richard L., Elvin R."Bo", Janet L., Dale E., Leon M.; 20 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 22 at Sunnyside Mennonite Church, Lancaster, Pa.

Eby.- Everett J., 92, Elkhart, Ind., died Feb. 21 of cancer. Spouse: (lst) Anna Hunsberger (deceased), (2nd) Katy Persing. Parents: Mervin and Goldie Eby. Children: Roger, Rolland, Rex, Carolyn Blosser, Shelba Lenaburg, Linda Rider; 16 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 25 at Nappanee (Ind.) Missionary Church.

Fisher.- Vernon, 87, Kalona, Iowa, died Feb. 10. Spouse: Hilda Gingerich (deceased). Parents: Samuel and Mary Yoder Fisher. Child: Cheryl Monemi; two grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 13 at East Union Mennonite Church, Kalona.

Goerzen.- Sue Nikkel, 80, Harrow, Ont., died Jan. 14. Spouse: Gerhard Goerzen. Parents: Peter and Katie Nikkel. Children: John, Mary Goerzen Sheard; two grand-Children. Funeral: Jan. 18 at Harrow Mennonite Church.

Graber.- Bertha Gering, 101, Ritzville, Wa., died Feb. 11. Spouse: Joe J. Graber (deceased). Parents: Adolf P. and Elizabeth Schrag Gering. Funeral: Feb. 16 at Menno Mennonite Church, Ritzville.

Hahn.- Mabel, 91, Elkhart, Ind., died Feb. 21 due to complications from a stroke. Parents: Charles and Emma Jane Hahn. Funeral: Feb. 24 at Olive Mennonite Church, Elkhart.

Hunsberger.- Charlotte Meier, 82, Sellersville, Pa., died Jan. 14. Spouse: Harold Hunsberger. Parents: Herman and Clara Rice Meier. Children: Mark, Sylvia H. Shelly, Lynette H. Marksberry, James; 11 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren. Funeral: Jan. 15 at Blooming Glen (Pa.) Mennonite Church.

Jantzen.- Naomi Shellenberg, 75, Cincinnati, Ohio, died Oct. 27, 2005. Parents: Isaac and Tena Schellenberg. Child: Franz; two grandchildren. Memorial service: Dec. 10, 2005, at Cincinnati Mennonite Fellowship.

Kaufman*.- Esther Bontrager*, 85, Kalispell, Mont., died Feb. 12. Spouse: Paul S. Kaufman*. Parents: Glen Joseph and Cora May Chupp Bontrager*. Children: E. Elaine, Daniel D., Kenneth G., Stephen G., Brenda M. Younger, Alice L. Arneson; 14 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 17 at Mountain View Mennonite Church, Kalispell.  *Editor's note: names corrected to Kauffman and Borntrager in the Mennonite April 4, 2006.

Krenicky.- Harry Jr., 77, Millersburg, Ind., died Feb. 18 of congestive heart failure. Spouse: Arlis Whirledge Krenicky. Parents: Harry and Mary Dudiak Krenicky. Stepchild: Ronald Spring; two grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 21 at Clinton Frame Mennonite Church, Goshen, Ind.

Landis.- I. Marvin, 90, Lititz, Pa., died Jan. 15 of cardiac failure. Spouse: (1st) Belva Dombach (deceased), (2nd) Anna Mae Groff. Parents: Phares B. and Martha B. Landis. Memorial service: Jan. 19 at Forest Hills Mennonite Church, Leola, Pa.

Lauber.- Fern E., 87, Archbold, Ohio, died Feb. 19. Spouse: Kenneth Lauber (deceased). Parents: William J. and Elizabeth Godshall Rupp. Children: John, Jerry, Keith, Brenda Dickinson, Karen Smith; 12 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren. Memorial service: Feb. 22 at Evangelical Mennonite Church, Archbold.

Martin-. Nelson Lester, 82, Chambersburg, Pa., died Feb. 22. Spouse: Janet Kipe Martin. Parents: David and Rhoda Diller Martin. Children: Arvid, Yvonne, Twila, Freda Witmer; step-children: Joyce Cooper, Warren Hostetter; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 26 at Cedar Grove Mennonite Church, Greencastle, Pa. 

Mierau.- Jacob, 81, Goshen, Ind., died Feb. 19. Spouse: Lucille Culp Mierau. Parents: John and Lena Mierau. Children: Brenda Yoder, Bonnie Bailey, Patricia Martin, Judy Miller, Karyn, Bryan; 23 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 25 at Silverwood Mennonite Church, Goshen.

Miller.- Barbara, 87, Lagrange, Ind., died March 1. Spouse: Freman S. Miller (deceased). Parents: John and Elizabeth Miller. Children: Norma Freeman Weaver, Donald R., DeWayne E.; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren. Funeral: March 5 at Shore Mennonite Church, Shipshewana, Ind.

Moser.- Raymond K., 91, Oley, Pa., died Feb. 12 of cancer. Spouse: Hannah Weller Moser (deceased). Parents: Raymond A. and Sally A. Moser. Children: Betty Angstadt, Donna Moyer, Daniel; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 16 at Ark Bible Chapel, Boyertown, Pa.

Neufeld.- Bruce L., 54, Inman, Kan., died Feb. 17. Parents: Abe E. and Lenora Bartel Neufeld. Burial: Feb. 21 in Inman.

Neuhouser.- Mary Gardner, 83, Leo, Ind., died Feb. 16. Spouse: Merle Neuhouser (deceased). Parents: Jesse and Dora Miller Gardner. Children: Lynne D. Kurtz, Donald M., David A., Sue A. Pownall, Kathy J. Brown; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 19 at North Leo Mennonite Church, Leo-Cedarville, Ind.

Quiring.- Frank Stanley, 78, North Newton, Kan., died Feb. 23 in a car-pedestrian accident. Spouse: Evelyn Wiebe Quiring. Parents: Henry and Helen Lehrman Quiring. Children: Sam, Sherwood, Natalie, Powell; 12 grandchildren. Funeral: March 11 at Bethel College Mennonite Church, North Newton.

Rempel.- Arthur, 81, Winnipeg, Man., died Feb. 16 from inflammation of the lungs. Spouse: Helen Wiens Rempel. Parents: Peter and Maria Wiebe Rempel. Children: Evelyn Rempel Petkau, Melita Rempel-Burkholder, Roberta M. Renz, Janet L. Anderson, Therresa H. Rempel; seven grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 21 at Bethel Mennonite Church, Winnipeg.

Sawatzky.- Mabel Worms, 87, Mountain Lake, Minn., died Feb. 13. Spouse: John J. Sawatzky. Parents: Jacob J. and Marie Goertzen Worms. Children: Fay Krause, Elsie Stomberg, Liz Schmidt, Lorena Mierau, David, Gerhardt, Mary Ann Fredrickson; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren. Funeral: Feb. 17 at Bethel Mennonite Church, Mountain Lake.

Vercler.- May Yoder, 98, Eureka, Ill., died Feb. 23. Spouse: Ralph E. Vercler (deceased). Parents: Cary and Maud Strubhar Yoder. Foster child: Marcia Russell; two grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren. Funeral: March 2 at Calvary Mennonite Church, Washington, Ill.

Wyse.- Delila B., 92, Archbold, Ohio, died March 2. Spouse: Rolland Wyse (deceased). Parents: Adam J. and Edith Short. Children: Linda Kinnan, Jeanette Miller, Richard; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren. Funeral: March 6 at Fairlawn Chapel, Archbold.
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.