The Mennonite - August, 2010

"for the record" - Deaths:


The Mennonite, August 2010, pages 53-55, Vol. 13, No. 8.

Alger.- John Paul, 87, Broadway, Va., died May 25. Spouse: Retha Romaine Mishler Alger (deceased). Parents: John H. and Anna Hostetter Alger. Children: Victor E., Wanda L. Alger Waples; three grandchildren. Memorial service: June 5 at Zion Mennonite Church, Broadway.

Barringer.- Arthur L., 94, Bristol, Ind., died June 11. Parents: Chester A. and Lucy M. Barringer. Funeral: June 14 at Miller-Stewart Funeral Home, Middlebury, Ind.

Boyts.- Jim N., 76, Hesston, Kan., died June 12 of complications related to leukemia. Spouse: Belle Stoltzfus Boyts. Parents: Earl and Marie Barber Boyts. Children: Pam Gerber, Randal, Annette Brant, Diana Young; 14 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren. Funeral: June 19 at Hesston Mennonite Church.

Burkey.- Teresa A. Eicher, 91, Sun City, Ariz., died May 19. Spouse: Perry Burkey (deceased). Parents: William and Lydia Eicher. Children: Lillian Laurinec, Margaret Martin, Bonnie Simons; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren. Funeral: June 12 in Sun City; graveside memorial at Eastlawn Cemetery, Hesston, Kan.

Claassen.- Kathryn D. Linsenmeyer, 84, Goshen, Ind., and Beatrice, Neb., died May 13. Spouse: Edward Claassen (deceased). Parents: Frederick and Agness Riley Linsenmeyer. Children: Shirley Dick, Dennis; five grandchildren. Funeral: May 20 at Greencroft Meetinghouse, Goshen and May 22 at First Mennonite Church, Beatrice, Neb.

Doerksen.- Martin E., 88, Inman, Kan., died June 16. Spouse: Evelyn Dirks Pankratz Doerksen. Parents: Jacob W. and Kathryn Ediger Doerksen. Children: Cal, Brian; 12 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren. Funeral: June 19 at Bethel Mennonite Church, Inman.

Eller.- Barbara Ann Butler, 69, Coopersburg, Pa., died June 5. Spouse: Nile G. Eller. Parents: Harry Earl Butler and Marion Lauer West. Children: Kimberly Stancato, David, Mark; four grandchildren. Funeral: June 9 at Blooming Glen Mennonite Church, Blooming Glen, Pa.

Gaeddert.- Harriett Knowles, 94, North Newton, Kan., died May 31. Spouse: Walter E. Gaeddert (deceased). Parents: Harry P. and Eleanor M. Potter Knowles. Children: Jim, Dick, Allen; nine grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren. Funeral: June 3 at Bethel College Mennonite Church, North Newton.

Graber.- Annie S. Unruh, 95, Vermillion, S.D., died June 18. Spouse: Waldo "Slim" Graber (deceased). Parents: Henry and Marie Wek Unruh. Children: Morris, Kermit, Loren; 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren. Funeral: June 23 at Salem-Zion Mennonite Church, Freeman, S.D.

Graber.- Charles, 97, Stryker, Ohio, died May 4. Spouse: Anna Karen Swartz Graber (deceased). Parents: Amos and Lydia Short Graber. Children: John, Anna K. Hershberger; four grandchildren. Funeral: May 7 at Pin Grove Mennonite Church, Stryker.

Hershberger.- Velma Arlene Hershberger, 85, Hesston, Kan., died June 27. Spouse: Herman Hershberger. Parents: Ora J. and Bertha Guengerich Hershberger. Children: Mary Lou Hershberger, Kermit D., Vietta Hershberger Krehbiel; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren. Funeral: July 1 at Schowalter Villa Chapel, Hesston.

Hofer.- George M., 94, Freeman, S.D., died June 18 following hip surgery. Spouse: Margaret L. Hofer. Parents: Mike K. and Anna Gross Hofer. Children: Yvonne Schnarr, George J., Rodney; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren. Funeral: June 19 at Hutterthal Mennonite Church, Freeman.

Jacoby.- Sharon L. Detweiler, 58, Milford Township, Pa., died May 23. Spouse: James H. Jacoby. Parents: Paul K. and Joyce M. Snyder Detweiler. Children: Jamie P., Tanya Jenkins; two grandchildren. Funeral: May 27 at Rockhill Mennonite Church, Telford, Pa.

Jennings.- John, 91, Goshen, Ind., died June 18. John was born Aug. 29, 1918, in Knoxville, Tenn., to Rev. William and Anna Good Jennings and was the youngest of 11 children. He attended the University of Tennessee and Goshen College. There he met and married Polly Blosser Jennings April 12, 1941. They shared 63 years together. John owned John Jennings and Associates Insurance Agency for 32 years and was a leader in life insurance sales becoming a member of the national Million Dollar Round Table. Mr. Jennings was one of the founders of Greencroft Retirement Communities and served as Chairman of the Board from 1962-1978. He leaves to cherish his memory, three daughters, Marilyn (Jim) Berkey of Austin, Texas, Elaine (Steve) Buerge of Fort Scott, Kan., and Vicki Jennings of South Bend, Ind.; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Those who wish may make memorial contributions in John Jennings name to Greencroft Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 819, Goshen, IN 46526.

Kaufman.- Leona Wilma Herbst, 87, Marion, S.D., died July 1. Spouse: Richard Kaufman (deceased). Parents: Herman and Martha Arbeiter Herbst. Child: Kenton. Funeral: July 6 at Salem-Zion Mennonite Church, Freeman, S.D.

Keeler.- Alvin W., 85, Telford, Pa., died June 17 of cancer. Spouse: Thelma Pearl Freed Keeler. Parents: Alvin C. and Addie R. Wisler Keeler. Children: Terry L., Timothy S.; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren. Funeral: June 22 at Franconia Mennonite Church, Telford.

Klopfenstein.- Orpha A. Fielitz, 91, Archbold, Ohio, died July 3. Spouse: Roy G. Klopfenstein (deceased). Parents: John Sr. and Verna Graber Fielitz. Children: Wynemia Waidelich, Sharon Lantz; eight grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren. Funeral: July 7 at Zion Mennonite Church, Archbold.

Koch.- Roy Swartz, 96, Goshen, Ind., died June 12. Spouse: Martha Horst Koch. Parents: Charles and Minerva Swartz Koch. Children: Robert, Arlene Holdeman, Richard, Rodney, Jane Oyer, Sheila Graber; 18 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren. Funeral: June 16 at East Goshen Mennonite Church.

Lapp.- Allen Wayne, 81, Kalispell, Mont., died March 18 following a stroke. Spouse: Mary Alice Eby Lapp. Parents: Frank and Lena Kauffman Lapp. Children: Robert, Sandi Heine, Nancy Kanagy, Julie Lapp, John; 11 grandchildren. Funeral: March 22 at Mountain View Mennonite Church, Kalispell.

Leichty.- Lorene E., 73, Wayland, Iowa, died June 2. Parents: Simon and Lavina Marie Roth Leichty. Funeral: June 6 at Sugar Creek Mennonite Church, Wayland.

Loux.- Dr. Norman L., 90, Lansdale, Pa., died May 20. Spouse: Esther Elizabeth Brunk Loux (deceased). Parents: Abram C. and Martha Landis Loux. Children: Elizabeth L. Kraybill, Peter D., Philip M.; six grandchildren. Funeral: May 23 at Blooming Glen Mennonite Church, Blooming Glen, Pa.

Martin.- Gladys Koch, 94, Elmira, Ontario, died June 20. Spouse: Norman Martin (deceased). Parents: Charles and Minerva Swartz Koch. Children: Winston, Raymond, Isabel Bauman, Bernice Brubacher, Elaine Stolzfus, Edith Edmiston; 18 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren. Funeral: June 23 at St. Jacobs Mennonite Church, St. Jacobs, Ontario.

Miller.- Alpha B. Yoder, 98, Goshen, Ind., died May 25. Spouse: David M. Miller (deceased), Roy R. Birkey (deceased). Parents: Mose and Mary Troyer Yoder. Child: Carol Beachy; three grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild. Funeral: May 29 at the Gathering Place, Greecroft Retirement Communities, Goshen.

Miller.- Roby* M. Miller, 95, Berlin, Ohio, died June 27. Spouse: Lester N. Miller (deceased). Parents: Harvey H. and Amanda Mast Miller. Children: Robert, Budd, Duane, Ted; 11 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren. Funeral: June 30 at Walnut Creek Mennonite Church, Walnut Creek, Ohio.
* Name is Ruby

Nafziger.- Carl J., 86, Wauseon, Ohio, died June 12. Spouse: Maribell Brown Nafziger. Parents: Elmer and Lillie Yoder Nafziger. Children: Linda Nafziger, Elaine Swartzbaugh. Funeral: June 17 at Central Mennonite Church, Archbold.

Oester.- David "Gord" Gordon, 72, Springs, Pa., died July 1. Spouse: Lois M. Deemer Oester. Spouse: Sandy Gortner Oester (deceased). Parents: Lewis and Ruth Miller Oester. Step-children: Larry Householder, Linda Laurinatis, Pamela Shatraw; 11 step-grandchildren; eight step-great-grandchildren. Funeral: July 4 at Springs Mennonite Church.

Oyer.- Margaret Vera Birkey, 85, Cheona,* Ill., died July 3. Spouse: Verle Oyer (deceased). Parents: Alvin and Amelia Zehr Birkey. Children: Verle Curtis, Vera Christine Oyer, Vance Gordon. Funeral: July 7 at East Bend Mennonite Church, Fisher, Ill.
*It should be Chenoa.

Ranck.- Robert H., 89, Lancaster, Pa., died June 17 of cancer. Spouse: Alta M. Martin Hoover Ranck. Spouse: Mildred Denlinger Ranck (deceased). Spouse: Pauline Peifer Ranck (deceased). Parents: David Herr Ranck and Susan Kreider Hostetter Ranck. Children: John, Jim, Janet Martin, Jean Cann, Joe, Doug Ranck Dirks; 12 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren. Funeral: June 21 at Rohrerstown Mennonite Church, Rohrerstown, Pa.

Regier.- Eugene, 77, Turpin, Okla., died May 24 of cancer. Spouse: Florence Dick Regier. Parents: Henry B. and Lena Nachtigal Regier. Children: Bob, Alan, Kerry; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren. Funeral: May 28 at Turpin Mennonite Church.

Roth.- Velma Mae Short, 88, Archbold, Ohio, died June 26. Spouse: Amos Roth (deceased). Parents: Adam H. and Edith Roth Short. Funeral: July 1 at Central Mennonite Church, Archbold.

Schrag.- John Mark, 65, East Lansing, Mich., died May 25 of cardiac arrest. Fiancee: Kathy Ackerman. Spouse: Nancy Davis Schrag (deceased). Parents: Gordon and Laura Nettie Sherk Schrag. Memorial service: June 6 at Timber Ridge Golf Club, East Lansing.

Sneary.- Wayne Lewis, 41, Harrisonburg, Va., died June 2 of brain cancer. Spouse: Shannon Yvette Martens Sneary. Parents: Floyd Clinton and Barbara Faye Souders Sneary. Children: Justus Keith, Jalyn Rae, Jedrek Lewis. Funeral: June 7 at Community Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg.

Souder.- Stanley K., 80, Telford, Pa., died June 6. Spouse: Velma M. Martin Souder. Parents: Edwin and Ruth Kraybill Souder. Children: Kris Detweiler, Kathy Risser, Deb Hedrick, Donna Derstine, Jane Seaman, Michael, D. Kevin, Lisa Grasse; 21 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren. Funeral: June 10 at Rockhill Mennonite Church, Telford.

Stutzman.- Marianna Maude Reiff, 93, Goshen, Ind., died March 5. Spouse: Roman Stutzman (deceased). Parents: Vernon and Zaidee Brenneman Reiff. Child: Ron; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Funeral: June 2 at College Mennonite Church, Goshen.

Weaver.- Dale M., 71, New Holland, Pa., died June 13 of cancer and meningitis. Spouse: Irene Martin Weaver. Parents: Victor F. and Edith Martin Weaver. Children: Dawn Isley, Sue Weaver, Tina Smigocki; three grandchildren. Funeral: June 27 at Weaverland Mennonite Church, East Earl, Pa.

Zehr.- Adeline Widrick Kirch, 80, Lowville, N.Y., died June 25. Spouse: Richard Zehr (deceased). Robert Kirch (deceased). Parents: John and Ellen Lehman Widrick. Children: Katherine Donovan, Lynn Dobranksy, John Kirch, Bob Kirch Jr., Diane Lewis, Alan Kirch, Cheryl Hilton, Nancy Woodard, Marcia Howard; step-children: Carolyn Ashcraft, Cheryl Zehr, Cynthia Zehr, Cathleen Zehr; 22 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren. Funeral: June 28 at Ideneker Funeral Home, Lowville.

Transcribed by: John Ingold


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