Mennonite World Review - October 2016
Obituaries are emailed to MennObits before MWR is printed. Wording may vary in printed version.
Bachman, Donovan D. ; . . Campbell, Heber "H.C." Coffman ; . . Campbell, Raymond Ersel, Jr. ; . . Dietzel, Wilmetta Dorothy Weaver ; . . Peters, Robert D. ; . . Unrau, William E. ; . .
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Dietzel, Wilmetta Dorothy Weaver
Wilmetta Dorothy Weaver Dietzel, 95, of Hesston, Kan., died Sept. 24, 2016, at Schowalter Villa. She was born Aug. 25, 1921, to Harry Lester and Margaret Dorthea(Deschner) Weaver at Bethel Deaconess Hospital in Newton.
On July 12, 1946, she married Arnold J. Dietzel at Hesston Mennonite Church. She was baptized at age 10 at HMC and was an active member of HMC for many years.
She graduated from eighth grade at French School, rural Hesston, and then was a 1940 high school graduate from Hesston Academy. After one year at Hesston College, she went to nursing school at La Junta (Colo.) Mennonite Hospital and graduated in 1944 as a registered nurse.
She had a long career as an R.N., missionary and travel agent. She worked at La Junta Mennonite Hospital, Axtell Hospital in Newton, Bethesda Hospital in Goessel and Peninsula General Hospital in Salisbury, Md. She was a missionary nurse when she and Arnold served five years in India at the Shantipur leprosy home and hospital. As a travel agent, she worked at the Menno Travel Service office in Beirut, Lebanon, and then she devoted many years to the MTS office in Newton. She retired from MTS in 1988.
She resided in North Newton for 44 years. In 2008 she moved with her husband, Arnold, to Schowalter Villa in Hesston. He preceded her in death on July 4, 2014.
She enjoyed gathering family stories and genealogy, embroidery, gardening and spending time with her family and many friends.
Survivors include three children, Ronald L. (Shirley) Dietzel of Newton, Margaret E. Hillegass of Hollsopple, Pa., and Carol J. Cranston of Newton; a brother, Milford Weaver of Hesston; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Services were held at Hesston Mennonite Church. Burial was in Eastlawn Cemetery at Zimmerdale. Memorials are suggested to Mennonite Central Committee in care of Hesston Mennonite Church.
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Donovan D. Bachman, 86, of Hesston, Kan., died Oct. 3, 2016, at Schowalter Villa. He was born Feb. 2, 1930, to Ernest and Prisca Krehbiel Bachman in Newton.
He farmed, then worked at Hesston Corporation for 30 years. He was a member of First Mennonite Church, Newton, and had volunteered for both Service Opportunities for Older Persons and Mennonite Central Committee.
On Oct. 9, 1951, he married Helen Goertzen.
Survivors include his wife, Helen Bachman, of Hesston; three children, Ron (Karen) Bachman of Hesston, Mary (Bruce) Dyck of Exeter, Calif., and Ken (Rachel) Bachman of Hesston; two sisters, Florene Wiens and Kathryn Penner, both of North Newton; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Dale Bachman; and a sister, Elaine Goertzen.
Graveside services were held at Restlawn Cemetery, Newton. Memorial services were at First Mennonite Church, Newton. Memorials have been designated for Schowalter Villa Good Samarian Fund or Mennonite Central Committee.
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William E. Unrau, 87, died Oct. 4, 2016, in Boulder, Colo. He was born Aug. 19, 1929, to William H. and Margaret Epp Unrau in Goessel, Kan.
Of Mennonite heritage, he grew up on a Kansas farm during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl years near the historic Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church. He was a member of the Bethany College faculty in Lindsborg, Kan., from 1958 to 1965, and from 1965 to 1996 he was a member of the history faculty at Wichita State University, where he was named Emeritus Distinguished Professor of History. He was known nationally as one of the leading historians of Native Americans. As a prolific scholar, he published 11 books and numerous articles about federal Indian policy and Indian/white relations. His gregarious personality, sense of humor and enthusiasm for life will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Survivors include his wife, Millie; two children, Debbie (Tom) McClellan of Wichita, Kan., and Bill (Pam) Unrau of Boulder; a sister, Averil (Bob) Leach of Sacramento, Calif.; and two grandsons.
A memorial service will be held Nov. 4 at Boulder Mennonite Church. Kansas friends and family will gather in Wichita to celebrate his life at a later date. Donations may be made to the Craig Miner-William Unrau Fund for Graduate Students at the Wichita State University History Department.
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Robert “Bob” Peters, 82, of Goshen, Ind., died Sept. 12, 2016, at IU Health Goshen Hospital. He was born Nov. 13, 1933, to Theodore C. and Alice (Doell) Peters in Henderson, Neb.
On June 8, 1955, he married Geraldine “Geri”?Graber in Freeman, S.D.
He grew upon a farm in Henderson, graduated from Freeman (S.D.)?Academy and completed two years of alternative service at McKim Boys Haven in Baltimore, Md., where he later was director.
Working with troubled teens was a high priority in his life and was visible in his accomplishments. He received his master’s degree in education from Southern Illinois University while he worked with the Delinquency Study Project. After doctoral studies at Penn State University, he worked for the juvenile division of the Illinois Department of Corrections. Later he joined the faculty of College of DuPage Community College, Glen Ellyn, Ill., where he held positions as associate dean and academic counselor. He retired in 1994 and moved to Goshen, where he tirelessly gave his time and services to the Center for Community Justice, including the Victim Offender Reconciliation Program.
Service to the church was important to him, and he was involved for many years at both Lombard (Ill.) Mennonite Church and Eighth Street Mennonite Church, Goshen. He served on the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary board for 10 years. He was skilled at woodworking, metal and mechanics.
Survivors include his wife, Geraldine; two sons, Randall T. (Katrina)Peters of Goshen and Lyle C. (Kathryn) Peters of Rock Hill, S.C.; a daughter, Diane “Lisa” (Dan) Tinneny of Lansdale, Pa.; a brother, Donald Peters, and a sister, Vera Epp, both of Henderson; seven grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Theodore Peters.
Memorial services were held at Eighth Street Mennonite Church, Goshen. Donations may be given to the Robert Peters Internship Scholarship Fund at the Center for Community Justice, Elkhart.
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Raymond Ersel Campbell Jr., 83, of Harrisonburg, Va., died Sept. 22, 2016. He was born March 21, 1933, to Raymond Ercil and Sarah (Coffman) Campbell in Rockingham County.
He graduated from Eastern Mennonite High School in 1950 and did alternative service during the Korean War at Eastern State Mental Hospital in Williamsburg. He was a faithful member and supporter of Weavers Mennonite Church.
He married Mary Frances “Francie” Martin on Oct. 19, 1963.
He worked jobs in farming, construction, driving a bus and hauling feed until finding his career work as the route driver for Shank Wholesalers. He worked there for 31 years until a heart attack in 2006 forced him into retirement. He will be remembered as a relaxed, talkative, encouraging man who usually never knew a stranger for long. His values of dependability, promptness, hard work and a quiet faith added to his character.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Frances; a son, Jeffrey Ersel (Pam) Campbell; five siblings, Barbara Campbell Showalter, Lewis Campbell, Heber Campbell and Sarah Campbell Byler, all of Harrisonburg, and Dorcas Campbell Blair of Stephens City; and four grandchildren.
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emorial services were held at Weavers Mennonite Church. Donations may be made to Harrisonburg Rescue Squad.
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Campbell, Heber "H.C." Coffman
Heber “H.C.” Coffman Campbell, 79, of Harrisonburg, Va., died Sept. 23, 2016. He was born April 28, 1937, to Raymond Ercil and Sarah (Coffman) Campbell in Rockingham County.
He was employed at Eastern State Hospital, Williamsburg, Pat Logan at The National Coach Sales and John Sherrell’s Windshield City, both of Harrisonburg. He was a longtime franchise owner/operator with Southland Corp.’s 7-Eleven Inc. in Harrisonburg.
Survivors include a daughter, Sandra (Jay)?White of Grayson, Ga.; four siblings, Lewis Campbell, Barbara Campbell Showalter and Sarah Campbell Byler, all of Harrisonburg, and Dorcas Campbell Blair of Stephens City; and three grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Raymond Ersel Campbell Jr., on Sept. 22, 2016.
Graveside services were held at Weavers Cemetery.