Mennonite Weekly Review -
October 2006
Mennonite Weekly
Review - October
2, 2006 - 84th Year, No. 40 - p. 8
--------------
Abe F. Enns, 91, of Inman,
Kan., died Sept. 17, 2006, at Pleasant View
Home. He was born Oct. 18, 1914, to John P. and Anna Friesen Enns in
Inman.
He graduated from Lake Valley Grace School. He married Linda Wiens on
June 6, 1934, at Inman. They were married 68 years, and she preceded
him in death on Sept. 12, 2002.
They lived on a farm near Inman, where he and his brother John farmed
together. He was an employee of Buhler Mills in Inman for 22 years and
retired in 1979. After his retirement, he became a volunteer at
Hutchinson Hospital, escorting patients to and from therapy.
He started a woodworking hobby called Wind Art Designs. He was know at
craft shows throughout Kansas for his butter churn Dutch windmills and
his Cardinal wind indicator. He donated a wind indicator to 40
different state Mennonite Central Committee relief sales.
He was a lifetime member of Bethel Mennonite Church of Inman. He served
as a Sunday school superintendent for many years.
Survivors include a daughter, Doris Enns of West Liberty, Ohio; a
sister-in-law, Rachel Enns of Newton; and a brother-in-law, Art Penner
and his wife, Ella, of Fresno, Calif.
He was preceded in death by a brother, John F. Enns; an infant brother,
Abbie; and two infant sisters, Annie and Eva.
Funeral services were held at Bethel Mennonite Church. Burial was in
North Inman Cemetery.
----------------
Donald E. Cooprider, 80, of
Hesston, Kan., died Sept. 18, 2006. He was
born Feb. 3, 1926, to Irl and Lizzie (Zimmerman) Cooprider in Newton.
He grew up on a farm near Hesston. He accepted Christ as his Savior and
was baptized on Oct. 20, 1939, at Hesston Mennonite Church. He was
deferred on the farm during World War II.
In October 1949 he volunteered to serve at Mennonite Central Committee
headquarters in Akron, Pa., where he was an accountant in the business
office. There he met Lena Slagell. They were married on May 31, 1952,
in Hydro, Okla.
He was an accountant, a member of Hesston Mennonite Church, and
treasurer of South Central Mennonite Conference for 14 years. His
grandchildren were special to him, and he was pleased to participate in
four of their baptismal services.
Survivors include a son, Philip Cooprider and his wife, Phyllis, of
Vancouver, Wash.; two daughters, Claudia Nathe of Apopka, Fla., and
Catherine Ediger and her husband, Roger, of Enid, Okla.; and seven
grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lena, in 1984; and by two infant
sisters.
Memorial services were held at Hesston Mennonite Church. Burial was in
Eastlawn Cemetery in Hesston.
Mennonite Weekly Review - October 9, 2006 -
84th Year, No. 41 - p. 8
-----------------
John R. Smucker, 74, of Goshen,
Ind., died Sept. 1, 2006. He was born
July 28, 1932, to J. Mervin and Icie (Wenger) Smucker in Smithville,
Ohio.
He married Donna L. Gerber on July 21, 1956, in Walnut Creek, Ohio.
He was a graduate of Smithville (Ohio) High School, Goshen College and
Goshen Biblical Seminary.
He was a retired Mennonite pastor, having served pastorates in Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Iowa and Indiana. He was a former director of Camp Amigo,
and he taught at Christopher Dock Mennonite High School in Lansdale,
Pa., and Bethany Christian High School in Goshen. He served on many
Mennonite Church and conference committees. He wrote articles and took
photos for church-related publications. He enjoyed running an income
tax business and working as a painting contractor.
He was a member of North Goshen Mennonite Church. He was also a member
of the Elkhart Genealogical Society, J.I. Case Collectors Association
and a past president of the North American Schmucker/Smoker/Smucker
Family Association.
Survivors include his wife, Donna; two daughters, Elizabeth Grieser and
her husband, Michael, of Goshen, and Emily Beidler and her husband,
Lorin, of Lancaster, Pa.; two sons, John Smucker and his wife, Beth, of
Goshen and Stephen Smucker and his wife, Judy Clemens, of Bluffton,
Ohio; a sister, Emma Stutzman and her husband, Carl Berndt, of
Orrville, Ohio; three brothers, Stan Smucker and his wife, Marlene, of
North Newton, Kan., Ralph Smucker and his wife, Lila, and David Smucker
and his wife, Geneva, both of Smithville, Ohio; and 10 grandchildren.
Memorial services were held at North Goshen Mennonite Church. A
graveside service was held at Elkhart Prairie Cemetery in Goshen.
Mennonite Weekly Review - October 16, 2006
- 84th Year, No. 42 - p. 20
----------------
Glenn Everett Zimmerly, 72, of
Orrville, Ohio, died Aug. 25, 2006. He
was born July 24, 1934, to Velma Olive Steiner and Aldine J. Zimmerly.
He grew up in the faith community of Crown Hill Mennonite Church and
was baptized Oct. 28, 1945. He attended Goshen (Ind.) College for a
year and completed his bachelor’s degree in agricultural education at
Ohio State University, graduating in 1956.
He married Martha Lucille Miller on Aug. 18, 1956.
They both taught for several years in the Mount Gilead area and
attended Mount Gilead Mennonite Church. In 1959-62, they served in with
Mennonite Central Committee in Indonesia. Those years strengthened his
call to service and to cross-cultural relationships.
When they returned from Indonesia, he resumed teaching and studying. He
graduated from Ohio State University with a master’s degree in
agricultural education in 1964. When a vocational agriculture teaching
position opened at Orrville High School, he took over the family farm
and joined Orrville Mennonite Church. He taught vocational agriculture
and served as the Future Farmers of America adviser until 1990,
receiving an Ohio Teacher of the Year award in 1983. He actively farmed
until 1994. He maintained a full life with MCC board work, Young
Farmers groups, world travel and welcoming new Lao immigrants in the
Orrville area.
They continued their life of service in Albania from 1994-2001, serving
under Eastern Mennonite Missions with support from MCC. There he worked
with local farmers to found a marketing cooperative that flourishes
today. A Bible study group they helped begin has grown to a church.
Martha died in 2002. He married Dorothy Williams on June 5, 2004. They
traveled to Indonesia in the summer of 2005.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy; a daughter, Jeanne Jantzi and her
husband, Daniel, of Indonesia; a son, Miles Zimmerly and his wife,
Ruth, of Ontario; and five grandchildren.
Memorial services were held at Orrville Mennonite Church. Burial was in
Crown Hill Mennonite Church Cemetery in Rittman.
--------------------
Paul Schowalter Swope, 101, of
North Lima, Ohio, died Sept. 15, 2006.
He was born April 24, 1905, to Emanuel J. and Maggie F. Burkholder
Swope in Singers Glen, Va.
At age 10, he moved with his family from Virginia to Mahoning County,
Ohio. He graduated from Columbiana High School in 1923 and Goshen
(Ind.) College in 1931. he was Goshen College’s oldest living alumnus.
He taught school for six years and then worked in sales at General
Fireproofing Company for 33 years. During retirement he continued to
work part time at Sheely’s Furniture store until 1997.
He accepted Christ as his Savior during his youth and faithfully served
him for his entire life. He was a member of North Lima Mennonite
Church, where he served as elder, Sunday school superintendent, teacher
and church chorister. He was especially fond of music and participated
in many choral groups. He sang solos in church until he was nearly 99
years old. He was an inspiration to his family and to all who knew him.
He frequently shared his testimony, including the last Sunday he was
able to attend church in June.
On Aug. 21, 1936, he married Lois Lavinia McFerren. She preceded him in
death on Aug. 25, 2001.
Survivors include three children, Verna Kerns and her husband, Ellis,
of Edinburgh, Ind., Ruth Ann Jantzi of Darien Center, N.Y., and Donald
Swope and his wife, Joyce, of North Lima; a brother, Cleo Swope of
Kalamazoo, Mich.; a sister, Margaret Lehman of Goshen, Ind.; seven
grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lois; seven brothers, Ira, John,
Oliver, Herman, Joe, Emanuel and Roy Swope; two sisters, Mary Steiner
and Nannie Lehman; and a granddaughter, Monica Lee Jantzi.
Services were held at North Lima Mennonite Church. Burial was in the
church cemetery.
Mennonite
Weekly Review - October 23, 2006 - 84th Year, No. 43 - p. 8
--------------
Miriam Miller, 87, of Hydro,
Okla., died Oct. 1, 2006, at Maple Lawn
Manor. She was born May 26, 1919, to Ben and Lovina (Mullett) Thomas in
Dodge City, Kan.
She moved to Custer County in 1928, settling north of Thomas and later
southeast of Thomas, where she attended rural schools. She helped her
mother on the family farm.
On Dec. 21, 1939, she married Willis E. “W.E.” Miller.
They made their home north of Weatherford. She worked alongside her
husband on their dairy farm and helped him in the fields until they
retired from farming in 1974.
She enjoyed quilting and crocheting. During their retirement years,
they worked at their hobby and love of caring for animals on the farm,
building pony carts, driving their ponies and carts at parades, Bible
school and other venues. They especially enjoyed giving rides to
children.
Willis preceded her in death in January 1994. She lived on the farm
until fall 1999, when she moved to Maple Lawn Manor in Hydro.
Survivors include a brother, Ira Thomas of Goshen, Ind.; and three
sisters, Katie Bontrager of Topeka, Ind., Amanda Stutzman of Hydro and
Lovina Stutzman of Goshen, Ind.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Willis; four brothers, Pete,
Martin, Ben and one in infancy; and a set of twins.
------------------
Albert C. Slabach, 78, of
Walnut Creek, Ohio, and formerly of Baltic,
died Sept. 25, 2006, at Walnut Hills Nursing Home. He was born Feb. 4,
1928, to Crist and Mary D. (Miller) Slabach near Baltic.
He lived most of his life near Baltic. He was owner/operator of Slabach
Lime and Fertilizer in Baltic. He served as pastor of Longenecker
Mennonite Church near Winesburg from 1958-90. He served as an overseer
for several Holmes County Mennonite churches and was a member of Walnut
Creek Mennonite Church.
On June 19, 1949, he married Mary Zuercher. She preceded him in death
on Aug. 24, 1967. He married Bertha Hartman on June 8, 1968. She
preceded him in death on April 11, 1994. He then married Rebecca Byler
on Oct. 22, 1994.
Survivors include his wife, Rebecca; a daughter, Gloria Mullet and her
husband, Vernon, of Sugarcreek; a daughter-in-law, Eva Keim and her
husband, Bill, of Sugarcreek; a brother, Monroe Slabach of Orrville;
five sisters, Ann Hostetler of Evensville, Tenn., Edna Ressler of
Kidron, Alta Miller of Sugarcreek, Sue Mullet of Berlin, and Mary
Shrock of Phoenix, Ariz.; eight grandchildren and two
great-granddaughters.
He was preceded in death by his first two wives, Mary and Bertha; a
son, Myron Slabach; an infant son, Edwin Slabach; and a brother, Melvin
Slabach.
Memorial services were held at Walnut Creek Mennonite Church. Burial
was in the church cemetery.
---------------
Edwin J. “Jack” Stalter, 84, of
Flanagan, Ill., died Oct. 5, 2006, at
BroMenn Hospital. He was born June 4, 1922, to Edward and Lena Roszhart
Stalter.
He married his lifelong friend, Marcella Rocke, on March 10, 1944.
His life philosophy was drawn from the Old Testament verse, “Whatsoever
your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Eccl. 9:10). During
World War II, he served for three-and-a-half years with Civilian Public
Service, expressing his Christian discipleship through pacifist
witness. Ordained as a minister of Illinois Mennonite Conference in
1948, he pastored Waldo Mennonite Church for 15 years and Science Ridge
Mennonite Church for 10 years. He served as Illinois Mennonite
Conference minister from 1975-85. After his retirement, he served as
interim minister for several Mennonite congregations, including
Congerville, Carlock, Metamora, Bethel and Pleasant Hill.
He was energetically committed to the growth of the Mennonite Heritage
Center. He was president of the Illinois Mennonite Historical and
Genealogical Society for 13 years, and in 2003 he was honored by the
organization with the first Stalter Heritage Service Award. An avid
reader and frequent reviewer of books, he also enjoyed physical and
manual labor, including carpentry and gardening, as well as historical
and genealogical activities. He was a shepherd to many people
throughout his life.
Survivors include his wife, Marcella; four children, Anita Stalter of
Goshen, Ind., Deanna Moshier and her husband, Loren, of Normal, Philip
Stalter and his wife, Sharon, of Bloomington, and Timothy Stalter and
his wife, Kristine, of Iowa City, Iowa; two brothers, Raymond and Paul
Stalter; two sisters, Mildred Lugbill and Faye Nussbaum; 10
grandchildren and and two great grandchildren.
A memorial service was held at Prairieview Mennonite Church of Flanagan.
THERE WERE NO OBITUARIES IN THE OCT.
30, 2006 ISSUE
Copyright 2003 - All rights reserved -
Mennonite Publishing House, Scottdale, PA
Used with permission by the Archives of the Mennonite Church, Goshen,
INDIANA
Permission granted to private family researchers to use selected
portions of these files to tell their family stories.
May not be mass-produced in any form for commercial purposes.