The Mennonite - October, 2010

"for the record" - Deaths:


The Mennonite, October 2010, pages 53-55, Vol. 13, No. 10.

Amstutz.- Myron Jay, 82, Kidron, Ohio, died Aug. 24 of pulmonary fibrosis. Spouse: Gladys Lehman Amstutz. Parents: Albert and Della Gerber Amstutz. Children: Jane Miller, Merle, Louise Hernley, Deb Miller, Julie Amstutz; 13 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 27 at Living Water Community Church, Dalton, Ohio.

Boehr.- Laura Friesen, 88, Henderson, Neb., died Aug. 19. Spouse: Donald Boehr (deceased). Parents: Peter D. and Katharina Friesen. Children: Stanley, Vivian Pereboom, Stuart, Laura Jane Steingard, Doris Miller, Dr. Brenda Srof; 15 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 23 at Bethesda Mennonite Church, Henderson.

Brooks, Allen D., 72, Elkhart, Ind., died July 27 of a pulmonary embolism. Spouse: Sharon K. Nunemaker Brooks. Parents: Harold and Mae Heistand Brooks. Children: David, Cheryl Wise, Michael; four grandchildren. Funeral: July 31 at Holdeman Mennonite Church, Wakarusa, Ind.

Burkhalter.- Ramoth Lowe. The family celebrates the life of Ramoth Lowe Burkhalter who passed away, surrounded by her family, on Aug. 14th at the age of 86. Ramoth Isabel Lowe Burkhalter was born on Nov. 7, 1923 in Asheville, N.C., the daughter of Oscar and Mary Knox Lowe. With her brothers Reid, James and Oscar Jr., she completed her schooling in Asheville. Following her graduation from Lee Edwards High School, she completed two years of business administration at a junior college in Asheville, followed by two years at Wheaton College, in Wheaton, Illinois. Where she met Edward Burkhalter of Berne, Indiana. They were married on Aug. 29, 1945 in Asheville. Together they continued their studies for an additional year at Wheaton, where she completed a master's degree in Christian education. They then moved to New York City where Edward received his master's of divinity from New York Biblical Seminary and Ramoth developed her deep love of education while teaching kindergarten. In Nov. 1947, the couple and four month old daughter, Mary Kay, left the United States for India where they spent forty-two years. Five more children were born in India. All six completed their education at Woodstock School in the Himalayan foothills, where Ramoth was active in the hillside community. They served in central India as Mennonite missionaries with Indian churches and communities in Korba, Saraipali, and Jagdeeshpur. During her years of service, Ramoth sought to create opportunities for young leaders through informal and formal education, as well as offering dignity and life skills to young women through ASHA, ('hope') a sewing project she helped to found. In 1989, the couple retired to Berne, where they found avenues for ministry and supportive bonds. Following Edward's death in 1993, she continued to live in Berne until she moved to Minneapolis, Minn. in 2007 to be near her family, where she found a home at Bethany Covenant Village. As a wise counselor, she crossed boundaries, befriending and drawing others into community. She is survived by her six children and their families: Mary Kay (Jonathan) Larson of Atlanta, Ga.; Beth Ann (George) Taylor of Bridgewater, Va.; John (Barbara) Burkhalter of Indianapolis; Joyce (Mike) Flueckiger of Atlanta, Ga.; Amy (Chris Bauer) Burkhalter of Minneapolis, Minn.; and Sheryl (Vivek Gupta) Burkhalter of Chicago, Ill. She is also survived by her brother, Oscar Lowe Jr. of Strawberry, Ariz. She will be greatly missed by her children, her brother, her nieces, her 10 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Memorial gifts may be made to a scholarship fund for the training of women leaders in the Indian church or to a fund in support of South Asian immigrant women in America. The respective organizations are: the Mennonite Mission Network, c/o First Mennonite Church of Berne; or, Raksha (meaning "protection" in Hindi), at raksha.org.

Deputy.- Norma Virginia Shank, 89, Harrisonburg, Va., died Sept. 2. Spouse: John Jacob Deputy (deceased). Parents: Dan G. and Irene Heatwole Shank. Children: Betty Holder, Lois Huffman; two grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Funeral: Sept. 4 at Crestwood of Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, Harrisonburg.

Freyenberger.- Irene Good, 83, Kouts, Ind., died Aug. 22. Spouse: Edward Freyenberger (deceased). Parents: Joseph and Anna Martin Good. Children: Cheryl Nix, Beverly Moyer, Keith, Douglas, Todd, David; 17 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 27 at Hopewell Mennonite Church, Kouts.

Freyenberger, Janice Carolyn Roth, 77, Wayland, Iowa, died Aug. 12. Spouse: Joe Freyenberger. Parents: Joseph Nicholas and Sarah Short Roth. Children: Barbara Freyenberger, Michelle Frederick, Carmen Martinez, Maria Roth; eight grandchildren; one great-granddaughter. Funeral: Aug. 15 at Sugar Creek Mennonite Church, Wayland.

Gahman, M. Earl, 77, Telford, Pa., died Sept. 6. Spouse: Doris N. Moyer Gahman. Parents: Melvin H. and Hannah L. Detweiler Gahman. Children: Deborah L. Johnston, Sharon K. Moyer; two grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 11 at Rockhill Mennonite Church, Telford.

Geiser, Elmer S., 88, Dalton, Ohio, died Aug. 10 of cancer. Spouse: Agnes Irene Amstutz Geiser (deceased). Parents: John and Helena Gerber Geiser. Children: Karen Mishler, Arlene Frazier, Marceil, Olin; five grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 14 at Sonnenberg Mennonite Church, Kidron, Ohio.

Harnish, A. Thomas, 79, Quarryville, Pa., died Aug. 8. Spouse: Joanne Haverstick Harnish. Parents: Clayton C. and Elizabeth Thomas Harnish. Children: June L. Minnich, John L., Joy L. Schoenhals; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 13 at Willow Street Mennonite Church, Willow Street, Pa.

Helmuth.- Menno, 88, Kalona, Iowa, died Aug. 19. Spouse: Dorothy E. Kreider Helmuth. Parents: Chris I. and Mary Miller Helmuth. Funeral: Aug. 22 at East Union Mennonite Church, Kalona.

Hickey.- Claire E. Tammany, 75, Lancaster, Pa., died May 26. Spouse: John Hickey (deceased). Parents: Harry and Martha Tammany. Children: Claire "Sue" McMichael, Dinah Wise, John, Jr., Roseanne Keller, Christopher, Michael; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren. Funeral: June 2 at Sunnyside Mennonite Church, Lancaster.

Hooley.- LaVern, 87, Shipsehwana, Ind., died Aug. 31. Spouse: Lois Lambright Hooley. Parents: Noah J. and Sovilla Blough Holley. Children: Beverly Hooley, Phil, Byron; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 7 at Shore Mennonite Church, Shipshewana.

Hoover.- Lester Martin, 89, Lititz, Pa., died Aug. 22 of renal failure. Spouse: Anna Esbenshade Siegrist Hoover. Spouse: Lena M. Weaver Hoover (deceased). Children: Ruth Hoover Seitz, Esther H. Bucher, Sharon W. Hoover Bucher, Jay W.; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 19 at Landis Valley Christian Fellowship, Lancaster, Pa.

Kehler, Jacob K., 87, Altona, Manitoba, died Aug.29. Spouse: Margaret Kehler. Parents: Jacob J. and Helena Klippenstein Kehler. Children: Betty, Verna, Linda, Rosella and Gloria Kroeker; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 2 at Bergthaler Mennonite Church, Altona.

Knudson, Jacqueline J. Lane, 72, South Bend, Ind., died July 31. Spouse: Theodore Knudson. Parents: Lawrence C. and Dorothy F. Lee Lane. Children: Todd, Kari Kippen, Janet Ritchie, Lori Alderfer; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 7 at Kern Road Mennonite Church, South Bend.

Kulp, Dorothy Stear, 93, Sellersville, Pa., died Aug. 10. Spouse: Walter Kulp (deceased). Parents: Elmer K. and Clara Myers Stear. Children: Scott, Carol Kulp Gosart; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 14 at Rockhill Mennonite Community Chapel, Sellersville.

Linder, Elsie M. Rohrer, 90, Louisville, Ohio, died Aug. 12. Spouse: Leonard Linder (deceased). Parents: Harvey and Maggie Kurtz Rohrer. Children: Barbara Engelhard, Brenda Smith; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 16 at Beech Mennonite Church, Louisville.

Marner, Jason Jay, 22, Brighton, Iowa, died July 1 in a motorcycle accident. Parents: Stan and Joan Roth Marner. Siblings: David, Christopher. Funeral: July 7 at Iowa Mennonite School, Kalona, Iowa.

Mix.- Mike, 64, Wauseon, Ohio, died July 24. Parents: Ralph and Irma Mix. Funeral: July 20 at West Clinton Mennonite Church, Wauseon.

Moyer.- Kathryn D. Leatherman, 90, Souderton, Pa., died July 30. Spouse: Harold L. Moyer (deceased). Parents: Jacob and Bessie Detweiler Leatherman. Children: Dale, Carl, Glen, Lynette Martin, Lois Hackman, Nancy Delp; 17 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 7 at Souderton Mennonite Home.

Ritter.- James Allen, 50, Harrisonburg, Va., died Aug. 21. Spouse: Deborah L. Ritter. Parents: Clayton and Elsie Ritter Witmer. Funeral: Aug. 26 at Harrisonburg Mennonite Church.

Schmidt.- Dorothy M. Unruh, 94, Newton, Kan., died Sept. 3. Spouse: Reinhold F. Schmidt (deceased). Parents: Harrison and Anna Schroeder Unruh. Children: Betta Kym, Deanna Entz, Randall, Ralph; 12 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 11 at Grace Hill Mennonite Church, Whitewater, Kan.

Senner.- Alvina Hieb, 98, Freeman, S.D., died Aug. 28. Spouse: Eldon P. Senner. Parents: Stephan and Magdalena Senner. Children: Doris Tieszen, Joan Preheim, Patricia Huffaker, Eldon; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 2 at Salem-Zion Mennonite Church, Freeman.

Shenk.- Marie Leaman, 72, Harrisonburg, Va., died Sept. 7 of cancer. Spouse:
Calvin Shenk. Parents: Daniel and Elizabeth Leaman. Children: Douglas, Duane, Donna Shenk; nine grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 12 at Park View Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg.

Shenk, Stanley C., 91, Goshen, Ind., died Sept. 2. Spouse: Doris Sell Shenk (deceased). Parents: Coffman and Icie Pearl Shank Shenk. Stepmother: Retta Boyer Shenk. Children: Dave, Dan, Rhoda Keener, Phil; 13 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 6 at Clinton Frame Mennonite Church, Goshen.

Shoemaker.- Ila June Litwiller, 83, Dakota, Ill., and Goshen, Ind., died Aug. 23 from the effects of pulmonary fibrosis. Spouse: Donald Shoemaker. Parents: Albert and Verna Conrad Litwiller. Children: Larry, Joyce Yoder, Sandra Friesen, Nelda Wittig; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 27 at College Mennonite Church, Goshen.

Steiner.- Levi A., 99, Apple Creek, Ohio, died July 18. Spouse: Orpha K. Geiser Steiner (deceased). Parents: Aaron J. and Sarah J. Amstutz Steiner. Children: Lois Holdsclaw, Margaret Himes, Palmer, Ethel Hoffman, Kathleen Ramer; 18 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren. Funeral: July 21 at Sonnenberg Mennonite Church, Kidron, Ohio.

Summer.- Marjorie Stalter, 91, Goshen, Ind., died Aug. 21. Spouse: Milton G. Summer (deceased). Parents: Daniel D. and Alice Miller Stalter. Children: Shelby Morrisey, Adris King, Sharon Axline; seven grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; nine great-step-grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 27 at North Goshen Mennonite Church, Goshen.

Wyse.- Richard, 80, Archbold, Ohio, died Aug. 24. Spouse: Grace Prough Wyse. Parents: Leland and Ilva King Wyse. Children: Patrick, Rhonda McGraw, Beth Wall, Becky Rupp; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Funeral: Aug. 28 at Lockport Mennonite Church, Stryker, Ohio.

Yoder.- Perry E., 71, Goshen, Ind., died Sept. 1. Spouse: Gail Peak Yoder. Parents: Ervin J. and Barbara Ann Eash Yoder. Children: Allen W., Holly Yoder. Funeral: Sept. 13 at North Goshen Mennonite Church, Goshen.

Transcribed by:  John Ingold


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