Mennonite World Review - December 2013

Mennonite World Review - December 9, 2013 - 91st Year, No. 25 - p. 16

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Unruh, Vera Matthies

Vera Unruh, 93, of North Newton, Kan., died Nov. 7, 2013. She was born Feb. 3, 1920, to George W. and Mary (Dick) Matthies on a farm near Buhler.
At age 10, her family moved to a farm near Halstead. She went to Halstead High School and graduated in 1938. She attended First Mennonite Church in Halstead and was baptized Dec. 29, 1935.

On June 11, 1941, she married Otis Unruh at First Mennonite Church in Halstead. They made their first home in Halstead. A year later, Otis was drafted and served as a noncombatant during World War II at an army hospital in England until 1945. During this time apart, she lived in Wichita and worked at Fourth National Bank.

After the war they made their home in Newton. Later he began working for Kansas Gas & Electric Co., and they moved to rural Burns. They then moved back to Newton, where they lived from 1947 to 2002, when they moved to Kidron-Bethel retirement village. They were active in First Mennonite Church in Newton.

She enjoyed cooking, baking and canning. She was active in Harvey County extension homemaker unit and served on the church kitchen committee. She enjoyed sewing, quilting and crocheting. She made 45 afghans, many of which she gave to family and friends, and 22 were donated to the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale.
After retiring, they enjoyed spending winters in Arizona, visiting family there. Their most memorable trip was to the Mennonite World Conference in Strasbourg, France, which also included a two-week trip to the Holy Land.

Survivors include her husband of 72 years, Otis; three children, Wayne and his wife, Laura, Daryl and his wife, Cindy, and Sandy; a brother, Lester Matthies; a sister, Mary Janzen; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

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Stutzman, W. Dale

W. Dale Stutzman, 87, of Goshen, Ind., died Nov. 24, 2013, at his home after a five-month illness. He was born Dec. 22, 1925, to Abraham and Martha (Miller) Stutzman in Sugar Creek, Ohio.

On June 19, 1948, he married Ethel Miller in Wissenbourg, France.
He served with Civilian Public Service for two years and then with Mennonite Central Committee for another two years. An educator, he worked in both the Middlebury and Westview school systems as a teacher and an administrator. His heart was at Amigo Centre, where he played an integral part since its beginning. Across many years he volunteered in many capacities there. It was his vision that started the camp's outdoor education program. He was a very involved and loving husband, father and grandfather.

Survivors include his wife, Ethel; three children, Carmen Thompson of Mishawaka, Rose Baldridge of Goshen and Dexter Stutzman and his wife, Cindi, of Asheville, N.C.; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Richard and Edward Stutzman.
Memorial services were conducted at College Mennonite Church. Cremation took place at Yoder-Culp Crematory.

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Regehr, Virgil Andrew

Virgil Andrew Regehr, 87, of Inman, Kan., died Nov. 26, 2013, at the Hospice House, Hutchinson. He was born April 2, 1926, to Curt T. and Sarah Androes Regehr on a farm southwest of Inman.

He was a farmer, operated a service station, and retired from Cessna Fluid Power after 27 years. While working at Cessna he started to plan and guide bus tours part time and started his own tour company, Heritage Tours. After 33 years and more than 450 bus tours, he retired from the tour business. He enjoyed collecting, especially license plates, and attended tag meets. He was a member of the Inman Lions Club and a faithful member of Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church.

He married Marie Martens on Oct. 20, 1946, at Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church.

Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Marie; four children, Galen Dean Regehr and his wife, Pam, Gary Lynn Regehr and his wife, Joanne, Barbara Jane Reeves and her husband, Jim, and Betty Diane Schrag and her husband, Lowell; two sisters, LaVera Neufeld and Arlene Schroeder; three stepbrothers, Alvin Bergen, Gerald Bergen and Edgar Bergen; one stepsister, Jeanette Walters; 10 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Bob Regehr and Henry Regehr; and a great-grandson, Nicholas Regehr Parsons.

Graveside services were held at Hoffnungsau Cemetery. A celebration of his life service was at Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church.

Martha Sieber, 91, of Mahomet, Ill., died Nov. 23, 2013. She was born Nov. 11, 1922, to Clarence and Mable (Resh) Meck in Freeport.

She graduated from Dakota (Ill.) High School. On April 24, 1943, she married Paul Clarence Sieber in Freeport.

She became a faithful partner to Paul, supporting him first as matron at a children's home in West Liberty, Ohio, and in numerous pastoral assignments over the next 47 years. She was a loving wife and mother who lived her life to raise her children and support her husband. She had a gentle spirit and gift of hospitality. Throughout the many moves she and Paul made, her patience, adaptability and support were always evident. She was best known for her amazing cooking skills and all the wonderful meals she graciously prepared.

A cookbook published by Arthur Mennonite Church was dedicated to her: "We, the members of the Women's Council, wish to dedicate this book to one who has not only proven to be a good cook, but has also done much to provide spiritual food for many. Her service is often not of the most obvious nature, but she gives freely of her time and talents. It is an inspiration to us as we see the fruits of the spirit at work in her life. We would like to take this opportunity to show our appreciation."

Survivors include her husband of 70 years, Paul Sieber of Mahomet; three sons, Gerald Sieber and his wife, Yvonne, of Hesston, Kan., Delmar Sieber and his wife, Sandy, of Champaign, and Marlin Sieber and his wife, Peggy, of Mansfield; two daughters, Norma Symns and her husband, Thomas, of Longmont, Colo., and Nancy Seaman and her husband, Dennis, of Champaign; two sisters, Arlene Schaefer of Phoenix, Ariz., and Ethel Smucker of Archbold, Ohio; 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Lois Elizabeth Rhodes, 78, of Middlebury, Ind., died Oct. 29, 2013, after having cancer for three years. She was born March 12, 1935, to Nathan and Sue (Miller) Landvater in Hershey, Pa.

She graduated from Eastern Mennonite High School in Harrisonburg, Va. It was there she met James Rhodes, and they were married Jan. 1, 1956.
She worked as a dental assistant for Dr. Kermit Bechtel in Goshen and as a community reporter for the Goshen News and the Elkhart Truth. She also served as a community appointee to the Goshen Hospital board. She retired as a school secretary from Northridge High School.

She was active in First Mennonite Church of Middlebury, where she had been a member since 1974. She had a love for Bible verses, many of which she learned from her grandfather. She was particularly fond of Gospel music with four-part harmony. Since retirement she and her husband participated in more than 40 work projects with the Mobile Missionary Assistance Program. She enjoyed traveling in the RV, meeting and working with people in the ministry of service.

Survivors include her husband, James; a son, Robert "Bob" Rhodes and his wife, Maribeth Miller, of Middlebury; a daughter, Rhonda Fehring and her husband, John, of Churubusco; a sister, Delores Landvater of Halifax, Pa.; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.