The Mennonite - August 2015

"for the record" - Deaths:


The Mennonite, August 2015, pages 48-49, Vol. 18, No. 9.

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Brenneman.- Ruth Pauline Marner, 93, Wellman, Iowa, died June 25. Spouse: Willard S. Brenneman (deceased). Parents: Vernon and Sadie Yoder Marner. Children: Duane Brenneman, Donald Brenneman, Kathleen Schlabach, Karol Brenneman, Loren "Pete" Brenneman; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren. Funeral: June 29 at Wellman Mennonite Church.

Buckwalter.- Dawn Alice, 62, Goshen, lnd., died Feb. 8, of cancer. Parents: Ralph and Genevieve Lehman Buckwalter. Memorial service: March 29 at Faith Mennonite Church, Goshen.

Buckwalter.- Genevieve Fern Lehman, 91, Goshen, Ind., died Feb. 22. Spouse: Ralph Earl Buckwalter (deceased). Parents: Joseph L. and Stella Elmira Sharp Lehman. Children: Rosemary Hershberger, Michael Earl Buckwalter, Dawn Alice Buckwalter; four grandchildren. Memorial service: March 29 at Faith Mennonite Church, Goshen.

Byler.- Emily Christine, 22, Pratt, Kan., died May 11. Parents: Michael and Jayne Marie Speigle Byler. Partner: Elizabeth Hillegass. Siblings: Kathryn Byler Juarez, Justin Byler. Funeral: May 16 at Pratt Presbyterian Church and May 19 at First Mennonite Church, Sugarcreek, Ohio.

Ediger.- Ronald Dale, 72, Liberal, Kan., died April 28. Spouse: Leanna Martens Ediger. Children: Kevin Ediger, Kelly Carlile, Korey Ediger; five grandchildren. Funeral: May 2 at Turpin Mennonite Church, Turpin, Okla.

Hamm.- Mary Rempel, 84, Altona, Manitoba, died June 15. Spouse: Willie Hamm (deceased). Parents: Peter Rempel and Sara Froese. Children: Elaine Gerbrandt, Elvir Klassen, Robert Hamm, Larry Hamm; 11 grandchildren. Funeral: June 20 at Bergthaler Mennonite Church, Altona.

Harms.- Gladys R. Schmidt, 88, North Newton, Kan., died June 30, of cancer. Spouse: Merril J. Harms. Parents: Arthur and Ruth Schmidt. Children: Marianne Eichelberger, Kenny Marten; two grandchildren. Funeral: July 4 at Grace Hill Mennonite Church, Whitewater, Kan.

Householter.- James P., 56, Wheaton Ill., died April 10, of cancer. Spouse: Karen Householter. Parents: Robert and Madeline Householter. Children: Emily Householter, Peter Householter. Funeral: April 17 at Lombard Mennonite Church, Lombard, Ill.

Hostetler.- Frank C., 88, Middlebury, lnd., died June 19, of congestive heart failure. Spouse: Jean VanZuilen Hostetler (deceased). Parents: Allen J. and Rosa Nelson Hostetler. Children: Jeanne Hostetler, Jennifer Mottier, Monte Hostetler; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Funeral: June 23 at Shore Mennonite Church, Shipshewana, Ind.

Kinsinger.- Peter, 93, Belleville, Pa., died June 14. Spouse: Nancy A. Sharp Kinsinger. Parents: Daniel and Amanda Yoder Kinsinger. Children: Wilma Lee Mays; two grand-children; four great-grandchildren. Funeral: June 18 at Maple Grove Mennonite Church, Belleville.

Lyndaker.- Norman Joseph, 85 years old, peacefully passed away at home on June 1, encircled by his devoted family. Born to Paul H. and Catherine Lyndaker of Croghan, N.Y., on Jan. 26, 1930, he spent his childhood helping with the family farm and attending Beaver River school. His mother remarked to others that she saw in her son an obvious love for God, and he himself as a teen experienced a calling and commitment to a life of service. Following his high school graduation he worked several years on the farm and in the family sawmill, skilled at keeping busy and working with his hands. On Sept. 26, 1953, he married Phyllis L. Lehman of Castorland, beginning a 61-year partnership filled with mutual love and respect. Together they completed a two-year voluntary service term with the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities in Elkhart, Ind. Norman then enrolled at Goshen College, earning his Bachelors of Arts degree. While he was still a student, their first child, Janette, arrived. In 1959, they returned home to Lewis County, where he became assistant pastor at Woodville Mennonite Church. He worked multiple jobs to support his family while he obtained his Masters in Education from SUNY Potsdam and taught at Clayton and Belleville public schools. During this period, he and Phyllis welcomed two more children, Marcia and Steven. An avid reader and lifelong student, particularly of theology, Norman returned to Indiana in 1967. He obtained his Masters of Divinity from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (known as Goshen Biblical Seminary at that time) in Elkhart, as well as became the lead pastor of North Main Street Mennonite Church in Nappanee, Ind. Norman cherished the relationships he developed there and remained a strong advocate for Goshen College and AMBS throughout his life. In 1974, Norman and Phyllis moved back to New York, where he served 15 years as pastor at Watertown Mennonite Church while teaching at Carthage High School. Never idle, he spent summers painting houses with his son and expertly cutting trees for friends and neighbors. Following his retirement, Norman and Phyllis purchased and restored a beautiful home, which they operated together as the Victoria Guest House for 14 years. Norman and Phyllis also devoted many volunteer hours to church work and to organizations such as the Agape Shoppe, Beaver Camp and the Adirondack Mennonite Heritage Association. In addition, they were loyal members at Lowville Mennonite Church in Dadville. In his later years, after he suffered a stroke, Norman and Phyllis applied their characteristic teamwork to help him recover and adjust to the challenges of a physical disability. It was something they tackled together, and their witness of grace, patience and abiding love and faith continuously inspired their children and their church family. An intelligent, kind and unselfish man who joyfully served God, his family and others has been called home to be with his Lord. He will be missed. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis, children Janette (Dan) Gallagher, Marcia Lyndaker, Dr. Steven (Dr. Shereen Palmer) Lyndaker, grandchildren Aja (Alex) Marchenkoff, Catherine, Sarah, Anna, Emily and Andrew Lyndaker, and great-grandson Charlie
Marchenkoff. He is also survived by his brothers Howard (Lillian), Kenneth (Debra) and Paul Lyndaker and sisters Lena Yancey, Gladys Schweitzer, Alta Noftsier, Catherine (Rex) Dannan, Dorothy (Elmer) Zehr, Helen (Loren) Unruh, as well as many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his brothers Christian (Fern) Lyndaker and infant David Lyndaker, one sister-in-law, Gail Schaefer, and three brothers-in-law, Gerald Yancey, Gerald Schweitzer and Judson Noftsier. A private burial will be held at the family's convenience. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service was scheduled for June 28, at 2 p.m. at Lowville Mennonite Church.

Miller.- Lavina Ellen Herschberger, 79, Goshen, Ind., died June 25. Spouse: Melvin P. Miller (deceased). Parents: Eli and Alma Miller Herschberger. Children: Richard Miller, Myra Lengacher; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren. Funeral: July 4 at Clinton Frame Mennonite Church, Goshen.

Shearer.- Evelyn M. Nice, 83, Telford, Pa., died March 28. Spouse: John William Shearer, Sr. (deceased). Parents: Warren and Miriam Moyer Nice. Children: Lori Shearer, John William Shearer, Jr., Karen Marie Simmons; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren. Funeral: April 2 at Franconia Mennonite Church, Telford.

Toews.- Novalis "Nick," 90, Whitewater, Kan., died June 10. Spouse: Pauline Toews. Parents: Nicolei and Marie Stoesz Toews. Children: Marna Schowalter, Cynthia Rhodes, Jeff Toews, Stewart Keith Toews; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren. Funeral: June 15 at Grace Hill Mennonite Church, Whitewater.

Underwood.- Gary Ray, 54, Stuarts Draft, Va., died June 30. Spouse: Rebecca Deshotel Underwood. Parents: Grady Ray and Ann Shirley Underwood. Children: Daniel Underwood, Jacob Underwood, Martha Underwood. Funeral: July 6 at Springdale Mennonite Church, Waynesboro, Va.

Transcribed by: John Ingold


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