The Mennonite - October 2015

"for the record" - Deaths:


The Mennonite, October 2015, pages 48-49, Vol. 18. No. 10.

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Albrecht, Marion Niles, 96, Tiskilwa, Ill., died July 19, of cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. Spouse: Oleeda June Sutter Albrecht (deceased). Parents: Levi O. and Lydia Roth Albrecht. Children: Arlee Blackburn, Wayne Albrecht, Connie Krabill, Sylvia Aschliman; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren. Funeral: July 25 at Willow Springs Mennonite Church, Tiskilwa.

Beachy, Eleanor Ailene Jeanette Niemela, 81, Hesston, Kan., died Aug. 12. Spouse: Perry Beachy (deceased). Parents: Andrew and Selma Ohlgren Niemela. Child: Jonathan Beachy. Funeral: Aug. 22 at Hesston Mennonite Church.

Bontrager, Sharon S. Nisley, 71, Goshen, Ind., died Sept. 1, of cancer. Spouse: Merv Bontrager. Parents: Ervin and Lovina Kropf Nisley. Children: Monica Sperl, Heather Bontrager; two grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 4 at Silverwood Mennonite Church, Goshen.

Detwiler, Wahneta Lucille White, 95, Hesston, Kan., died Aug. 12. Spouse: Oren L. Detwiler. Parents: William and Magdalena White. Children: Rene Jantzi, Austin Detwiler, Rita Schlabach; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 17 at Schowalter Villa, Hesston.

Eby, Bertha "Bertie" Beachy, 77, Sun City, Ariz., died July 19. Spouse: Aaron Eby. Children: Stephanie Simmons, Jennifer Eby Kone, Cindy Eby Mast; five grandchildren. Celebration of life service: July 23 at Trinity Mennonite Church, Glendale, Ariz. Funeral: Aug. 15 at First Mennonite Church, Denver, Colo.

Kauffmann, Marietta Barth, 95, Goshen, Ind., died Aug. 18. Spouse: Melvin L. Kauffmann (deceased). Parents: August and Dorothy Neuswanger Barth. Children: Duane Kauffmann, Donald Kauffmann, Keith Kauffmann, Galen Kauffmann, Curtis D. Kauffmann; 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 22 at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, Goshen.

Kleppinger, Susan I. Mohr, 81, Macungie, Pa., died Aug. 26. Spouse: Walter Kleppinger (deceased). Parents: Lawrence and Susan Schantz Mohr. Children: Sally L. Kleppinger, Nancy J. Kleppinger Scot A. Kleppinger; two grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 29 at Schmoyer Funeral Home, Breinigsville, Pa.

Kurtz, Mahlon K., 90, Elverson, Pa., died Aug. 18. Spouse: Charlotte Piersol Kurtz (deceased). Parents: Abram and Katie King Kurtz. Children: Randall Kurtz, Mahlon Joseph Kurtz, Richard Kurtz, Melody Smith; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 22 at Forest Hills xzMennonite Church, Leola, Pa.

Maisch, Valera Mae, 97, Rifle, Colo., died Sept. 11. Spouse: Fred Maisch (deceased). Parents: Henry and Nettie Tiahrt. Children: Roger Maisch, Sue Maisch, David Maisch, Judith Shackelford Mary Ann Jessup (deceased); seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 17 at First Mennonite Church, Aberdeen, Idaho.

Martin, Larry R., 77, Hesston, Kan., died Aug. 15. Spouse: Donna Bontrager Martin. Parents: Earl and Sylvia Martin. Children: Torrie Martin, Kendell Martin, Kirby Martin; three grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 23 at Hesston Mennonite Church.

Roth, Grace L. Troyer, 89, Milford, Neb., died July 26. Spouse: Robert Roth (deceased). Parents: John and Elsie Eicher Troyer. Children: Diane Stutzman, Charlotte Roth, Terry Roth, Lonnie Roth, Robert Roth Jr.; 14 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren. Funeral: July 29 at Bellwood Mennonite Church, Milford.

Ruth, Marjorie Wienss, 85, Goshen, Ind., died Aug. 12. Spouse: Paul Landis Ruth (deceased). Leo H. and M. Wiens Wienss. Children: Janet Ruth, Rita Rupp, Doug Ruth, Michael Ruth; eight grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 16 at College Mennonite Church, Goshen.

Shank, Miriam E. Ebersole, 97, Sterling, Ill., died Aug. 12. Spouse: Ralph DeWitt Shank (deceased). Parents: Roy H. and Ruth Nice Ebersole. Children: Phil Shank, Arden Shank, Ivan Shank, Ruth Martin, Ginny Martin; 12 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild. Funeral: Aug. 15 at Science Ridge Mennonite Church, Sterling.

Snider, Howard Mervin, 92, Bethel College Professor Emeritus, died at his home in North Newton, Kan., on Aug. 2. He was born March 19, 1923, in Guernsey, Saskatchewan, to Clemens and Samantha (Biehn) Snider. He graduated from Rosthern Academy, Saskatchewan, in 1942, and attended Eastern Mennonite College for the year of 1948-1949. In the fall of 1953, he went to Goshen College to complete college and attend seminary. Here he met Marie Gingerich from Lowville, N.Y., and they were married Nov. 27, 1954. The next year, Howard took a break from seminary to write adult Sunday school curriculum at the Mennonite Publishing House in Scottdale. In 1957, both Howard and Marie graduated from Goshen Biblical Seminary and moved to Edmonton, Alberta, where Howard became pastor of the newly formed Holyrood Mennonite Church. He earned a master's degree in sociology at the University of Alberta and a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas. In 1966, he joined the Bethel College faculty. In recent years, Howard returned to his lifelong interest in sociology of religion and authored four books about theology: The Cultural Creation of Christianity (2005); Jesus or Christ (2007); and Two Gospels (2011). His final book, Knowing the Unknowable (2015), deals with Gnosticism and was completed two weeks before his death. All four books are available on Amazon. Survivors include his wife Marie and daughter Vada Snider of North Newton; son Conrad Snider of Newton; brother-in-law James Gingerich and wife Roberta of Moundridge.

Sommers, Wayne D., 92, Goshen, Ind., died Aug. 12. Spouse: Susie Keim Sommers (deceased). Parents: Noah and Esther Strebin Sommers. Children: Lorraine Reinlord, Fern Delagrange, Wayne Arlee Sommers, Darrel Sommers, Dallas Sommers; 14 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 23 at Waterford Mennonite Church, Goshen.

Widmer, Stanley Allen, 78, Wayland, Iowa, died April 18, of cancer. Spouse: Martha Ann Graber Widmer. Parents: Daniel George and Viola Esther Wyse Widmer. Son: Todd Michael and Marcia Widmer; two granddaughters: Sadie Widmer, Claire Widmer. Stan attended Prospect Country School, graduated from Wayland High School in 1954 and from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1963 with a BA in Business and a minor in Psychology, being the only one in his family to go to college. Stan served in 1W from 1957-1958 at the Denver General Hospital, during the time of the Korean War. He was united in marriage to Martha Ann Graber on Sept. 24, 1967, at the home of Rev. Vernon and Mabel Gerig in rural Wayland. Stan was involved in the Feed and Grain business, a hog buyer, turkey hatchery, raised turkeys, and many years in insurance sales for Iowa Mennonite Mutual Aid for 35 years and MMA for 20 years. He was a lifelong member of Sugar Creek Mennonite Church, baptized in the fall of 1949 where he taught Sunday school for many years. He enjoyed sports and was an avid Hawkeye and Cubs fan, enjoyed his coffee club the "Round Table," and most of all spending time with his family. He was known to his family and friends for his quick wit and humor. Funeral: April 23 at Sugar Creek Mennonite Church, Wayland.

Yoder, M. Pauline, 97, Goshen, Ind., died June 23. Parents: Elmer Lester and Bertha Florence Yoder Yoder. Funeral: Aug. 14 at College Mennonite Church, Goshen.

Transcribed by: John Ingold


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