An expanded obituary project of
MennObits. Includes additional information of obituaries
appearing in
The Mennonite and other newspapers. Source of
individual obituaries given with each record. Project managed by
Thelma Martin.
2006
- W to Z
Witmer, Norman Henry
January 1, 1918 - August 11, 2006
Norman Henry Witmer, 88, Augusta, Wis., passed away peacefully at his home Friday afternoon, Aug. 11, 2006.
He was born Jan. 1, 1918, the third child of Aaron and Elizabeth (Kuhns) Witmer of Chambersburg, Pa. He grew up in Pennsylvania and attended the Rowe School, Shippenburg, Pa. He lived in Pennsylvania until shortly before his marriage to Anna E. Hershey, daughter of Benjamin and Abbie Hershey, who preceded him in death in November of 1999.
He was married on March 22, 1939, and they lived in Wisconsin for the first several months then moved to Shippensburg, Pa., where they lived for two years.
From there, they moved back to Wisconsin and began dairy farming near Sheldon. Later Norman bought a property, clearing the land and developing a dairy farm where they moved in 1947, also near Sheldon. Here he spent most of his life until he sold the farm and moved to Phoenix, Ariz., in February of 1981. In 1983, they left Phoenix and moved to Farmington, N.M., where they lived four years before moving back to Wisconsin, settling in Augusta in 1987.
He is survived by three daughters, Carolyn and her husband, Glenn Baer of Conrath, Pauline Hindal of Grandin, Mo., Lorene Witmer of Augusta; seven sons, Harvey and his wife, Marilyn Witmer of Wild Rose, Claire and his wife, Florence Witmer of Sheldon, Dennis and his wife, Naomi Witmer of Bangor, Calif., Dallas and his wife, Rhoda Witmer of Augusta, Aaron and his wife Rhoda Witmer of Goodhue, Minn., Ernest and his wife Rachel Witmer of International Falls, Minn., Ervin and his wife, Ruth Witmer of Owen; 61 grandchildren, 147 great-grandchildren; one sister, Elsie Ritter of Harrisonburg, Va.; and a sister-in-law, Susan Witmer.
Preceding him in death besides his wife were his parents, three sisters, four brothers and four grandchildren.
Norman attended school at the Rowe School at Shippenburg, Pa., as he grew up. In his youth he accepted Christ as his personal Saviour and was a member of the Mennonite Church all his life. He was useful in the ministry, being ordained deacon on Aug. 29, 1949, minister on Aug. 26, 1951, and bishop on July 15, 1962, serving 34 years in the ministry. He was a faithful husband and father as well as faithful in Christian service.
Funeral services were scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2006, at 10 a.m. in the Augusta Mennonite Church with burial in the church cemetery beside his wife. Visitation was at the Augusta Mennonite Church where he was a member at the time of his death. Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta assisted the family
Yoder, Clara Herschberger
Aug. 5, 1923 - Sept. 19, 2006
Clara (Herschberger) Yoder, 83, Amboy, died at 10:20 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2006, at her residence. She was born Aug. 5, 1923, in Amboy, to Joe E. and Lovina Gingerich Herschberger. She married Andrew E. Yoder on Oct. 31, 1946, and he survives. She was a member of Old Order Amish Church and was a homemaker.
Surviving are her children, Joseph and wife Martha (Stutzman) Yoder and Leander Yoder, both of Amboy, Edith and husband Ervin Mast, Arthur, Ill., Ezra and wife Ella (Gingerich) Yoder, Bloomfield, Iowa, Alma and husband Jonas Herschberger Jr., Dover, Del., Ruth and husband Ruben Herschberger, Seymour, Iowa, and Joni and wife Rosa Yoder, Homer, Mich.; sisters, Fannie Yoder, Kalona, Iowa, Elizabeth Bontrager, Tillie and husband Moses Bontrager, and Rosa Herschberger, all of Kokomo; 30 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a half-sister Mary and husband Truman Helmuth; one brother, Simon; three brothers-in-law, Ed Bontrager, Andy Herschberger, and Leo Yoder; one daughter-in-law, Elnora Miller; and four grandchildren.
Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Friday at the residence, with Bishop Marvin Otto officiating. Burial will be in Christner Cemetery. Visitation will be after 11 a.m. Wednesday and all day Thursday at the residence. Arrangements have been made by Laird Funeral Home.