Mennonite Weekly Review
May 5, 2003
81st Year, No. 18
p. 11

Ogen Jacob Harms
Ogen Jacob "O.J." Harms, 80, of Corn, Okla., died March 4, 2003, at Corn Heritage Village. He was born Oct. 3, 1922, to Henry W. and Justina (Hiebert) Harms at Corn.
He spent his childhood in Oklahoma and attended school at OK School, Corn Public School and Corn Bible Academy. He was stricken with rheumatic fever and leakage of the heart, which caused him to miss much school. At age 16 he accepted Christ at revival meetings and was baptized Aug. 14, 1938.
He served in Civilian Public Service in Colorado Springs from Jan. 13, 1943, to April 26, 1946.
On Sept. 29, 1950, he married Pauline Schmidt of Lustre, Mont. They made their first home in Cordell, and he worked as a carpenter. Later they moved to Clinton, where he worked for Nash Finch Wholesale Warehouse from December 1950 to 1953. He then began farming but in off-seasons worked as a carpenter, bricklayer and at Colins & Maddox Feed Mill. They moved to Corn in 1970, and he retired from farming in 1985. He then was custodian for Corn Bible Academy for two years and drove the CBA van to transport students.
He worked with Mennonite Disaster Service on numerous occasions, filled in for the custodian at church, helped with MCC meat canning and served as usher and Sunday school treasurer.
He valued a right relationship with the Lord, helping others, a strong work ethic, the value of family and friends. He helped family members and missionaries in their educational endeavors.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Pauline; two daughters, Margaret Schultz of Clinton and Linda Martin and her husband, Tony, of Nevada, Mo.; two brothers, Barney Harms of Midwest City and Leo Harms of Weatherford; a sister, Gladys Lee of Fallbrook, Calif.; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by three brothers and one sister, all in infancy, and a great-granddaughter.

Ruth Kathryn Miller
Ruth Kathryn Miller, 82, of Hydro, Okla., died April 6, 2003, at Norman Regional Hospital. She was born March 6, 1921, to Samuel E. and Barbara (Slagell) Stutzman of Weatherford.
She was raised northeast of Weatherford and attended Cedar Rural School. She graduated from Hesston (Kan.) Academy.
On Dec. 22, 1943, she married LeRoy Miller in Thomas. They lived on the family farm north of Weatherford, where she worked alongside her husband.
She was active in Pleasant View Mennonite Church congregational life, served with LeRoy in Mennonite Disaster Service and volunteered at the Et Cetera Shop. She enjoyed sewing, baking, watching birds, and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include three sons, Keith and his wife, Ruthie, of Hydro, Harold and his wife, Lynn Jackson, of Thomas, and Bill and his wife, Carolene Jackson, of Thomas; a daughter, Donna Vermillion and her husband, Paul, of Norman; two brothers, Roy Stutzman of Haven, Kan., and Howard Stutzman of LaJunta, Colo.; a sister, Dorothy Mast of Weatherford; and 11 grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, LeRoy Miller; a brother, Myron Stutzman; a sister, Lois Waters; an infant son, Eldon; and an infant daughter, Letha.
Funeral services were held at Pleasant View Mennonite Church of Hydro. Burial was in Pleasant View Mennonite Church Cemetery.

Raymond S. Horst
Raymond S. Horst, 80, of New Holland, Pa., died March 29, 2003. He was born May 14, 1922, to Milton and Anna (Sensenig) Horst in Blue Ball.
On Nov. 18, 1944, he married Grace Sensenig. He worked as a carpenter and eventually formed partnerships as a building contractor, first with his uncle and later with his son
He was a member of Weaverland Mennonite Church at East Earl, where he was a song leader for many years and served on the building committee. He participated in a variety of men's quartets and choral groups. He also served on the boards of Philhaven Hospital and Garden Spot Village Retirement Community in New Holland.
Survivors include his wife, Grace; a son, Gerald and his wife, Linda, of New Holland; two daughters, Melba Eshleman and her husband, Leon, of Manheim, and Joyce Leaman and her husband, Ronald, of Lancaster; three sisters, Mary Clymer of Lititz, Florence Martin of East Earl and Evelyn Sauder of Harrisonburg, Va.; 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Miriam Horst.
Funeral services were held at Weaverland Mennonite Church.

Mennonite Weekly Review
May 12, 2003
81st Year, No. 19
p. 8

Floyd Miller
Floyd Miller, 83, of Calico Rock, Ark., died April 12, 2003. He was born Nov. 24, 1919, to Baldwin and Katie (Hochstetler) Miller at Protection, Kan. He and his family moved to the Pryor, Okla., area in 1928.
He married Beulah Slaubaugh of Wellman, Iowa, on Nov. 30, 1951, at the bride's home. On Dec. 1, 2001, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at Bethel Springs Mennonite Church in Culp, Ark.
In his youth he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and followed the Lord in baptism and became a member of Zion Mennonite Church near Pryor, Okla.
During World War II he served almost four years in Civilian Public Service.
In 1955, he and Beulah moved to Culp and soon became members of Bethel Springs Mennonite Church. He was a faithful member until his death. He served as a minister for 16 years and dearly loved his Savior and the little country church.
Survivors include his wife, Beulah; a daughter, Brenda Weller and her husband, John, of Calico Rock; a sister, Fern Scheffel of Pryor, Okla.; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and five step-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Elmer, Lloyd (a twin brother) and Eli; a great-grandchild and a step-grandchild.
The funeral service was held at the Calico Rock Mennonite Fellowship. Burial was in the Calico Rock Mennonite Cemetery.

Floyd Irvin Zook
Floyd Irvin Zook, 79, of Strasburg, Pa., died April 13, 2003, in Essa Flory Hospice Center after a stroke one week earlier. He was born Nov. 23, 1923, to Uriel S. and Kathryn Durr Zook in Allensville.
He married Elizabeth "Betty" Brubaker on June 25, 1950.
A graduate of Eastern Mennonite School, he also received his master's degree from Pennsylvania State University. A science teacher, he taught at Western Mennonite School in Salem, Ore.; Belleville (Pa.) Mennonite School; Anne Arundel Senior High School in Maryland; Lewistown (Pa.) Senior High School and Lancaster (Pa.) Mennonite High School. He then worked for the Pennsylvania Dairy Herd Improvement Association.
He was a member of Mount Pleasant Mennonite Church, where he served as a Sunday school teacher, Sunday school superintendent, stewardship secretary, coordinator for the cassette program, as well as other church-related activities. He was a member of the Mifflin County Mennonite Historical Society and Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society.
Survivors include his wife, Betty; five children, Lois Ann Mast and her husband, Lemar, of Morgantown; Duane and his wife, Genie, of Plano, Texas; Ronald and his wife, Judy, of New Holland; Larry and his wife, Dawn, of Manheim; and Robert and his wife, Ethel, of Lancaster; two brothers: Lester and Merle; and 11 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by seven brothers and two sisters.
The funeral was held at Paradise Mennonite Church.

Geraldine Harder
Geraldine Gross Harder, 76, of Peabody, Kan., died March 6, 2003, at Legacy Park Nursing Home. She was born March 14, 1926, to Titus L. and Olive (Moyer) Gross in Doylestown, Pa.
She attended Doylestown public schools and was baptized at age 12 at Doylestown Mennonite Church. She was a 1948 graduate from Goshen (Ind.) College, obtaining a bachelor's degree in education.
For two years she taught in a one-room elementary school in Tinicum, Pa. She worked as a writer of children's materials at Mennonite Publishing House, Scottdale, Pa., from 1950 to 1952.
She married Milton J. Harder on June 29, 1952, and accompanied him to seminary in Goshen and Chicago before moving to Enkenbach and Kaiserslautern, Germany, for a five-year MCC assignment.
From 1959 to 1968, she lived a full life as a devoted mother, homemaker, writer and piano teacher in Newton, Kan. She accompanied her husband as he undertook pastorates of Mennonite churches in Seattle, Lansdale, Pa., Geneva, Neb., and Goessel, Kan., between the years 1968 and 1996. She was often a children's Sunday school teacher and worship service pianist.
She was known by many as a freelance writer, especially of children's literature. She published three books, Sunday school curriculum and more than 100 poems, dozens of articles, and songs in a wide range of Mennonite and other Christian periodicals.
For at least the last 25 years of her life, Geraldine and those around her lived with the increasingly severe and painful effects of a mental illness that gradually reduced her capacity to live a normal life. Her marriage ended in 1996.
Survivors include two sons, Robert of Hesston, Kan., and James of Bluffton, Ohio; a brother, Leonard Gross of Goshen; three sisters, Sylvia Bubalo of Goshen, Miriam Meyer of Rittman, Ohio, and Lois Leuz of Chengdu, China; and two grandchildren.
Memorial services were held at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church of Goessel.

Lenora M. Wenger
Lenora Mildred Wenger, 96, of Chesapeake, Va., died April 7, 2003, in the home of her daughter in Pueblo, Colo. She was born to Daniel and Hanna Foreman Harkins in New Providence, Pa.
After her graduation in 1928 from Bridgewater College, she spent a number of years as a school teacher, writer and church news reporter for The Virginian-Pilot.
She was a devoted Christian and a member of Mount Pleasant Mennonite Church of Chesapeake, where she was a pastor's wife of 50 years. She taught Sunday school for more than 50 years and led numerous Bible study classes. She spoke at women's groups and in later years served in the Chesapeake Jail Ministries. As a woman of varied interests, she read through the Bible 57 times, as well as hundreds of other books, was a friend to many people and worked hard as a gardener and a partner in the family orchard and vineyard business.
Survivors include two sons, A. Daniel and his wife, Jane, of Fairfax, and James H. and his wife, Carol, of Chesapeake; two daughters, M. Rachel Roth and her husband, Richard, of Pueblo, Colo., and Joy M. Monroe and her husband, Earl, of Stuart's Draft; a daughter-in-law, Lucille M. Wenger of Jackson, Miss.; 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Amos Daniel Wenger Jr.; and a son, John R. Wenger.
The funeral was held at Mount Pleasant Mennonite Church. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Mary Ann Preheim
Mary Ann Goering Preheim, 84, of Moundridge, Kan., died May 3, 2003, at Memorial Home. She was born Aug. 23, 1918, to Jonathan J. and Katie Zerger Goering on the family farm near Moundridge.
She graduated as valedictorian of her class at Moundridge High School in 1936. She received a bachelor's degree in music and education from Bethel College in North Newton in 1942 and a master's degree in education from Wichita State University in 1971.
She married Delbert Victor Preheim on June 6, 1942, at Eden Mennonite Church in Moundridge. They lived in Iowa City, Puerto Rico, Moundridge and Denver before settling in rural Newton in June 1953.
She was a member of Bethel College Mennonite Church, Bethel Deaconess Hospital Ladies Auxiliary, Ladies Reading Circle, Soroptomist Club and bridge clubs. She taught elementary school children in Moundridge, Kalona, Iowa, and Elbing. Her love of music, art and drama were shared through directing school operattas and church pageants and teaching elementary music and art. She was an accomplished pianist and sculptor. Her commitment to education was epitomized by her service on the Bethel College board of trustees.
Survivors include six children, William of Canton, Delbert of Littleton, Colo., Timothy of Chicago, Peter of Plano, Texas, Naomi Preheim Church of Billings, Mont., and Joseph of Lawrence; eight siblings, Elmer Goering of Moundridge, Harvey Goering of Sarasota, Fla., Philip Goering of Anaheim, Calif., Emil Goering of Topeka, Marjorie Goering Stucky of Moundridge, Donald Goering of Clyde, Marlo Goering of Wichita and Clyde Goering of Moundridge; and eight grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Delbert; sisters Meta Goering Juhnke and Laura Goering Krehbiel; and a brother, Reuben Goering.
A graveside service was held at Salem Mennonite Church in Freeman, S.D. On July 25, there will be a public memorial service at Bethel College Mennonite Church.

Albert L. Ediger
Albert L. Ediger, 88, died April 28, 2003, at Hutchinson (Kan.) Hospital. He was born Aug. 10, 1914, in Henderson, Neb., to Henry A. and Katherine Toews Ediger.
When he was 3 years old, his family moved to Oklahoma. He attended school and helped on the family farm, an occupation he enjoyed all his life.
He served in the Army Air Corps as an airplane mechanic during World War II. He was crew chief, working on B-25 and B-26 bombers.
He married Ethel Schroeder of Hillsboro, Kan., on Aug. 23, 1942, in the Mennonite Brethren church. They began their married life at Sheppard Field Army Base in Wichita Falls, Texas. They lived on various army bases during their early years.
After his discharge on Nov. 15, 1945, they settled in eastern Colorado, near Holly, to begin farming. The years in eastern Colorado were not always good. The dirt storms took their toll, and for five years there were no crops. He took any job he could, but even through these difficult times he spent one winter remodeling First Baptist Church in Holly without pay. The family moved back to Kansas and eventually bought a farm northwest of Inman.
His family was his greatest concern. He did his best to provide for them and set a good example. He believed in the value of hard work. Honesty was his trademark. He served as a Sunday school teacher, was on the church trustee board and was a deacon. He worked as a leader in Andover 4-H Club and helped many of his neighbors remodel and fix their homes.
Survivors include his wife, Ethel; two daughters, Kathleen Lafferty and her husband, James, and Janiece DeSocio and her husband, John; two sons, Steve and his wife, Melanie, and David; two brothers, Henry and Neal; three sisters, Mary Fletcher, Lynda Willems and Adina Schmidt; 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at Zoar Mennonite Brethren Church of Inman. Burial was in Zoar Cemetery.

Mennonite Weekly Review
May 19, 2003
91st Year, No. 20
p. 11

Orie J. Eigsti
Orie J. Eigsti, 94, of Goshen, Ind., died May 3, 2003. He was born July 23, 1908, to Jacob Eigsti and Lydia (Gerig) Eigsti in Morton, Ill.
He was a 1931 graduate of Goshen College and completed two years at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill. He received his master's and doctorate degrees from the University of Illinois.
He married Agnes Weaver on May 22, 1936, in Akron, Ohio.
The major work of his life centered on a scientific discovery he made in 1937, which was that the drug Colchicine, used as a common cure for gout, would change the chromosomes of some plants when applied to them. This led to many positive results for plant breeders. He used this to develop the American Seedless Watermelon variety known as 313.
He was a professor at Greenville (Ill.) College, at the University of Oklahoma at Norman (where he started community gardens during World War II for additional food supplies), at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., and at Chicago State University. He was a Fulbright Professor in Bangladesh and in Pakistan for four months each, and worked for Funk Brothers Seed Co. in Normal, Ill., for 10 years. He formed the American Seedless Watermelon Seed Corp. in 1954, which supplied seedless watermelon seed.
He was a member of College Mennonite Church of Goshen. He was a benefactor of Goshen College, with the Eigsti Track and Field being a gift of he and his wife, Agnes. They also contributed to Merry Lea Learning Center and the new music building.
Survivors include his wife of almost 67 years, Agnes; two sons, Karl Jacob of Boston, Mass., and Nicholas Weber of Sarasota, Fla.; two brothers, Willis and Clayton, both of Morton, Ill.; and three grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Emery and Mahlon; and a sister, Minnie Swedburg.
Funeral services were held at College Mennonite Church. Burial was in Pleasant Grove Cemetery of Morton, Ill.

Lucile M. Schumacher
Lucile M. Schumacher, 82, of Bluffton, Ohio, died April 29, 2003, at Blanchard Valley Regional Health Center. She was born Aug. 23, 1920, to Ira and Irene Moser Stucky in Berne, Ind.
On Jan. 30, 1949, she married Vernon R. Schumacher. He preceded her in death on Jan. 24, 1998.
She was a graduate of Geneva (Ind.) High School. She worked at Gustwiller's Clothing Store in Ottawa and at The Leader Store in Lima. She was a member of St. John Mennonite Church of Pandora. She enjoyed her Swiss heritage and the Swiss Mennonite culture of the Bluffton and Berne areas.
Survivors include four sons, Thomas and his wife, Doris, of Brookings, S.D., Joe of Brookings, Dan of Dublin, and Bill and his wife, Carole, of Columbus; two sisters, Romaine Lehman of Berne and Esther Bailey of David City, Neb.; and eight grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon, and a sister, Marie Burry.
Services were held at St. John Mennonite Church. Burial was in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery of Pandora.

Samuel Eldon Teague
Samuel Eldon Teague, 52, of Sunnyvale, Calif., died April 18, 2003. He was born Aug. 3, 1950, in Kansas City, Kan., to Norman and Fannie Teague.
He spent his childhood in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. He attended Hesston (Kan.) College.
On Dec. 24, 1972, he married Diane Rich in Albuquerque, N.M.
He was a gifted carpenter and could repair, design and build. He took great delight in worshiping the Lord with singing and playing the guitar. When he was younger he composed many songs.
Survivors include his wife, Diane; two daughters, Andrea Haeusel and Amie Teague; his parents, Norman and Fannie Teague of Linville, Va.; four siblings, Sharon Vincent of Hattiesburg, Miss., Carole Schumacher of Highlands Ranch, Colo., Wanda Alger of Winchester and David Teague of St. Roberts, Mo.; and four grandchildren.
Services were held at Berean Bible Church of San Carlos, Calif., and Covenant Presbyterian Church of Harrisonburg, Va.

Lester Joseph Miller
Lester Joseph Miller, 83, of Kalona, Iowa, died May 10, 2003, at Pleasantview Home. He was born June 30, 1919, to Menno and Barbara Swartzendruber Miller near Wellman.
He was baptized and was a lifelong member of Upper Deer Creek Mennonite Church of Wellman.
On May 25, 1941, he married Katie Ann Kauffman at Upper Deer Creek Mennonite Church. She preceded him in death on May 2, 2003.
They lived in the Wellman area, where he farmed and raised purebred Guernsey cattle. They lived in Wisconsin for more than three years while in Civilian Public Service. They retired to Kalona in 1983.
He was an active supporter of Mennonite Central Committee. He volunteered at the Mennonite Historical Society of Iowa and was a historian and genealogist.
Survivors include three sons, Duane and his wife, Sharon, of Burlington, Calvin and his wife, Jean, of Abingdon, Va., and Kenneth of Wellman; four daughters, Marietta Yoder of Kalona, Elvesta Hochstedler and her husband, Loren, of Kalona, Rita Miller and her husband, Ellis, of Apple Creek, Ohio, and Ruth Beachy and her husband, Craig, of Plain City, Ohio; a brother, Paul Miller of Wellman; 21 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Katie Ann; a son-in-law, Jim Yoder; two sisters, Ruth and Lydia Miller; and a granddaughter.
Funeral services were held at Upper Deer Creek Mennonite Church. Burial was in Upper Deer Creek Cemetery.

Katie Ann Miller
Katie Ann Miller, 82, of Kalona, Iowa, died May 2, 2003, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. She was born Jan. 20, 1921, to Henry J. and Mary Ann (Stutzman) Kauffman in Arthur, Ill.
She grew up in Illinois and Oklahoma and was baptized in Arthur. On May 25, 1941, she married Lester Miller at Upper Deer Creek Mennonite Church.
She was a member of Upper Deer Creek Mennonite Church and volunteered at the Crowded Closet and Pleasantview Home for 10 years. She loved to make quilts and enjoyed helping people.
Survivors include her husband, Lester; three sons, Duane and his wife, Sharon, of Burlington, Calvin and his wife, Jean, of Abingdon, Va., and Kenneth of Wellman; four daughters, Marietta Yoder of Kalona, Elvesta Hochstedler and her husband, Loren, of Kalona, Rita Miller and her husband, Ellis, of Apple Creek, Ohio, and Ruth Beachy and her husband, Craig, of Plain City, Ohio; two sisters, Martha Stutzman of Kalona and Clara Gingerich of Iowa City; two brothers, Jacob Kauffman of Kalona and Harvey Kauffman of Middlebury, Ind.; 21 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Jim Yoder; two brothers, Levi and Joe Kauffman; a sister, Esther Borntrager; and a granddaughter.
Funeral services were held at Upper Deer Creek Mennonite Church. Burial was in Upper Deer Creek Cemetery.

Mennonite Weekly Review
May 26, 2003
81st year, No. 21
p. 8

Aurelia Joy Schrock
Aurelia Joy Schrock, 89, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., died May 6, 2003, at Upland Rehabilitation Center after suffering a major stroke. She was born Feb. 16, 1914, in LaGrange, Ind. She had lived in Rancho Cucamonga for the past year and in Ontario for 50 years prior to that.
She received her bachelor's degree from Goshen (Ind.) College. She was a school teacher for the Ontario/Montclair School District for 45 years. She began her teaching career in 1937 in a one-room schoolhouse at the Miller District in Middlefield, Ohio.
She was a member of Mountain View Mennonite Church of Upland, Calif., where she was a Sunday school teacher for many years.
Survivors include her husband of 51 years, Harry M. Schrock; and son Harry J. and his wife, Diana, of Corona.
Services were held at Bellevue Mausoleum, Ontario. Burial followed there.

Emily Mast
Emily Mast, 77, of New Holland, Pa., and formerly of Lancaster, died April 21, 2003, at Garden Spot Village after a brief battle with cancer. She was under the care of Hospice of Lancaster County. She was born to George F. and Anna Holloway Brunk in Washington, D.C.
She was a counselor, supervisor, director of professional services and acting director at Family and Children's Services in Lancaster from 1960 to 1987.
She attended Eastern Mennonite University and earned her master's degree in sociology from the University of Maryland at College Park in 1949 and her master's degree in social work from Bryn Mawr College in 1966.
From 1949 to 1951, she served with Mennonite Central Committee in the British zone of Germany distributing food and clothing at an international service camp in the Espelkamp refugee settlement. Her experiences there were the basis for her 1951 book Espelkamp: The Mennonite Central Committee Shares in Community Building in a New Settlement for German Refugees.
She volunteered at Bird-in-Hand Self Help Store from 1985 to 1988. She served on the board of Parents Anonymous of Lancaster County from 1975 to 1980. She was a member of and served on the legislative committee of Delaware Valley Adoption Council from 1975 to 1987.
She was a member of Forest Hills Mennonite Church, National Association of Social Workers from 1966 to 1987 and the Register of Clinical Social Workers from 1975 to 1978.
In 1988, she was named Lancaster County Social Worker of the Year. In 1990, she was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Lancaster County Program Unit of the National Association of Social Workers.
Survivors include three daughters, Mary Pat Mast, Karen M. Smith, and Phyllis L. Ashline and her husband, John R., all of Lancaster; four grandchildren; and two sisters, Marie Hodel of New Holland and Irma Ogburn of Biglerville.