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Mennonite
Weekly Review -
October 2007
Garber, Larry Gene; Hershberger, Dorothy Mae Steiner; Hess, David Leaman, III; Jantzi, Elmer Troyer; Janzen, Walter;
Kliewer, Elma
Wiebe;
Lichti, Elda R.;
Miller,
Mary Martha; Myers, Mildred Ellen; Nafziger,
Elfrieda Nettie
Toews; Newcomer, Elban K;. Plenert, Sally
Bartel;
Regier,
J. Stanley; Roth, Earl Chris;
Schlabaugh, Ralph Stanley; Schlabaugh, Martha Glick; Springer, Pauline S.;
Swartley, William Derstine;
Widmer,
E. Urbane;
Mennonite Weekly Review - October 1, 2007 - 85th Year, No. 40 - p. 9
------------------
J.
Stanley Regier, 86, of North Newton, Kan., died Sept. 18, 2007,
at Newton Medical Center. He was born Jan. 25, 1921, to John Milton and
Elizabeth Marie (Lohrenz) Regier in Bluffton, Ohio.
On Sept. 2, 1950, he married Lois Eichelberger at Wichita.
He served his country during World War II in Civilian Public Service.
He was a longtime member of Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church, where he
served on the board of trustees. He was a current member of Bethel
College Mennonite Church in North Newton.
He attended Bethel College and graduated from the University of Kansas
with a degree in architecture. He was a retired architect with the firm
of Regier and Kraybill in Wichita.
He was a member of the Newton, North Newton Historic Preservation
Commission and the Sand Creek Trail Committee. He was also a volunteer
with the Red Cross for nearly 20 years. He greatly looked forward to
spending time with his friends and family.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Lois; two daughters, Cathy
Irwin and her husband, John, of Carlisle, Pa., and Rebecca Osterman of
Union, N.J.; a sister, Winifred Granville of Salem, Ore.; and two
grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Robert B. Regier.
Services were held at Bethel College Mennonite Church. Burial was in
Greenwood Cemetery in Newton.
--------------
Elda R.
Lichti, 95, of Newton, Kan., died Sept. 23, 2007, at Newton
Medical Center. She was born Sept. 26, 1911, to Henry A. and Susie
(Krause) Ewert in Lehigh.
On Aug. 5, 1949, she married Rudolph A. Lichti in Newton.
She spent most of her adult life in Reedley, Calif., where she was a
member of First Mennonite Church. She served as a missionary in Vietnam
with her husband from 1961 to 1964. She greatly enjoyed missions and
mission work. In her younger years she was instrumental in starting and
was a charter member of a Mennonite church in Enid, Okla. She and her
husband moved to Newton in 1995 to be closer to her family. She was a
member of Grace Hill Mennonite Church of rural Whitewater.
She enjoyed quilting and painting. She also left a legacy to her family
with her many journals she kept though the years. She greatly looked
forward to spending time with her friends and loving family.
Survivors include a son, Marlin Lichti and his wife, Monica, of Newton;
two grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Rudolph, on Jan.
22, 2007; three sisters, Linda Klassen, Irma Ewert and Mildred Ewert;
and two brothers, Walter K. Ewert and Irvin H. Ewert.
Services were held at Grace Hill Mennonite Church of rural Whitewater.
Burial was in Grace Hill Cemetery.
------------------
David
Leaman Hess III, 63, of Mount Joy, Pa., died instantly Sept. 22,
2007, in a farming-related accident. He was the son of Kathryn Nissley
Hess of Mount Joy and the late David L. Hess, Jr.
A 1961 graduate of Donegal High School, he also attended Eastern
Mennonite University 1966-68 and graduated from Pennsylvania
State University in 1970. He worked for Caldwell National Bank as an
Agri-loan officer. He resided in Pennsylvania and enjoyed traveling
seasonally to work in the midwest. As a young adult he joined Mount
Joy Mennonite Church and in recent years attended a variety
of independent Christian churches.
He was a man of integrity, hard work, justice and peacemaking. He
enjoyed wrestling, football, fishing and farming and sharing
friendships with people from a variety of walks of life. He was a
loving father who faithfully did his best to connect with his son. Like
his Biblical namesake, he was a true friend.
The firstborn of David and Amelia Hess’s 56 grandchildren, he is
survived by his wife, Miriam Miller Hess of Union, Ore.; a son, Gale
David Hess and his wife, Jean Kilheffer, of East Petersburg; four
siblings, John Hess of Marietta, Joanne Siegrist of
Bird-In-Hand, Kate Kooker of Christiana and Dwight Hess of
Marietta.
Memorial services were held at Mount Joy Mennonite Church.
Mennonite Weekly Review - October 8, 2007 - 85th Year, No. 41 - p. 8
---------------------
Elban
K. Newcomer, 96, died Sept. 4, 2007, at the Wadsworth-Rittman
Hospital, Wadsworth, Ohio. He was born April 15, 1911, to William “Ira”
and Laura Newcomer.
He started out farming in Guilford Township in 1935. He later owned and
operated the Wadsworth Farmers Exchange. Still later, he became a
banker and was cashier at Sharon Center Banking Co. and retired after
it was purchased by The Old Phoenix Bank and eventually The First Merit
Bank.
He was a lifetime member in Bethel Mennonite Church of Rittman, and he
served in many positions within the congregation. He served as
treasurer for Ohio Conference for many years. He was a dedicated and
active member of The Gideons International.
Survivors include his wife, Eleanor, of Wadsworth; five children, Jerry
Newcomer and his wife, Barbara, of Seville, Carl Newcomer and his wife,
Elaine, of West Liberty, Faye Litwiller and her husband, Fred, of
Goshen, Ind., Kathleen Springer and her husband, Keith, of Saybrook,
Ill., and Jean Newcomer Miller and her husband, Phillip, of Chicago,
Ill.; stepchildren Linda Rush of Wadsworth and Jim Barron and his wife,
Mary Ann, of Medina; a sister, Doris Hostetler of Orrville; 15
grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; four step-grandchildren and four
step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Hilda, in 1996; a sister,
Gladys Fisher; and a brother, Floyd Newcomer.
Services were held at First Mennonite Church of Wadsworth. Burial was
in Maple Hill Cemetery in Rittman.
-------------------
Larry
Gene Garber, 70, of Greensburg, Kan., died Aug. 17, 2007, in a
vehicle accident. He was born Oct. 9, 1936, to Ray and Beulah Hartzler
Garber in Garden City, Mo.
As an infant, he was so small his mother placed him in a shoe box in
the chest of drawers. In 1945 his family moved to Alpha, Minn. He quit
school at age 16 to begin farming with his father.
Because of his size, growing up years were difficult for him. In the
late 1950s, he attended the Little People of America Convention.
Through meeting others whose physical challenges exceeded his, he came
home with a renewed spirit and zest for life.
In October 1966, he was baptized at Alpha Mennonite Church.
On Dec. 2, 1961, he married Millie Anne Bolton in Jackson, Minn. After
being divorced from her, he married D. Marie Fleming Hiskett in 1990.
For a number of years he worked as an auto mechanic in Jackson, Minn.,
later moving to rural Alpha, where he farmed with his father. In the
early 1960s he began working with Univac Inc. in Jackson, making
computer cards and other accessories. He retired in the 1980s, taking
early disability retirement because of health issues.
He lived in Milford, Neb., for a number of years in the early 1990s.
After his separation he moved into Hickory Homes Retirement Center in
Hesston to be closer to his mother. After her death in 1999, he moved
to Komatara in Greensburg.
His hobbies included fishing and doing embroidery work. He enjoyed the
family fishing trips to Redstone, Colo., and later fishing at lakes in
Kansas. He was able to ride out the May 4, 2007, tornado in Greensburg
in his living room easy chair.
Survivors include his daughter, Joy Ann Garber of Jackson, Minn.; a
sister, JoAnn Jantz of Haviland; and a brother, Ron Garber of Hesston.
Funeral services were held at Haviland (Kan.) United Methodist Church.
Burial was in Soldier Creek Cemetery of Belvidere, Kan.
---------------
Walter
Janzen, 80, of Henderson, Neb., died Sept. 11, 2007. He was born
Feb. 18, 1927, to Jacob D. and Helena (Peters) Janzen in rural
Henderson.
He was a lifelong farmer in the Henderson area. He enjoyed visiting
with his many friends and being with his family. He was a longtime
member of Bethesda Mennonite Church in Henderson.
On Oct. 9, 1947, he married Elva Siebert at Henderson.
Survivors include his wife of almost 60 years, Elva; a son, Royce
Janzen and his wife, Carol, of Henderson; a daughter, Rebecca Dolezal
and her husband, David, of Lincoln; a daughter-in-law, Pam Janzen of
Henderson; a brother, Henry Janzen of Henderson; four sisters, Anna
Goertzen, Olga Friesen and Clara Ratzlaff, all of Henderson, and Doris
Graber of Pretty Prairie, Kan.; seven grandchildren and two
great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Gary; a brother and three sisters.
Funeral services were held at Bethesda Mennonite Church. Burial was in
the Friesen Cemetery west of Henderson.
---------------
Earl
Chris Roth, 79, of Milford, Neb., died July 4, 2007, at The
Monarch End of Life Care Center in Lincoln. He was born July 7, 1927,
to Christian and Mary Roth on a farm south of Milford.
He attended Milford public schools and as a young man accepted Christ
as his Savior. He was baptized and became a member of East Fairview
Mennonite Church of rural Milford, where he was church treasurer for
many years.
On Feb. 3, 1952, he married Anna Mae Roth at Sugar Creek Mennonite
Church in Wayland, Iowa.
He was employed at Swansons Egg Processing Plant and later at Geesons
Masters Cleaners, both of Seward. In 1958, he began his longtime
employment with Schlegel’s Grocery Store, retiring at age 78. He
enjoyed the everyday contact with the community here. He was a caring
and faithful servant and a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He
enjoyed observing the workings of agriculture, though farming was not
his vocation. He loved gardening, taking walks with his wife and
spending time with his grandchildren and great-granddaughter.
Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Anna Mae; four sons, Lynn Roth
and his wife, Nancy, of Lancaster, Pa., Doyle Roth and his wife, Ann,
of Milford, Jay Roth and his wife, Anne, of Lancaster, and Deon Roth
and his wife, Valerie, of Lititz, Pa.; a daughter, Carole Giagnocavo
and her husband, Alan, of Manheim, Pa.; five sisters, Berniece Beckler
and Shirley Miller, both of Milford, Grace Grieser of West Point,
Eunice Oswald of Allen and Vada Roth of Dorchester; two
brothers-in-law, Donald Roth and Urban Roth, and two sisters-in-law,
Eldora Boshart and Alice Wyse, all of Wayland, Iowa; 10 grandchildren
and a great-granddaughter.
Services were held at East Fairview Mennonite Church. Burial was in
East Fairview Mennonite Cemetery.
Mennonite
Weekly Review - October 15, 2007 - 85th Year, No. 42 - p. 21
------------------
E.
Urbane Widmer, 94, of Canby, Ore., died Sept. 11, 2007. He was
born
Dec. 3, 1912, in Albany.
He grew up in Sheridan on the family farm. He married Beulah Roth on
June 5, 1938. They made their home in Woodburn in 1944.
He farmed with his brother and then worked as a truck driver for United
Buckingham before retiring and working as a maintenance man at Woodburn
Care Center. A member of Zion Mennonite Church in Hubbard, he enjoyed
hunting, fishing, traveling and his family.
His wife died Sept. 7, 1991, and he moved to Hope Village in Canby in
2004.
Survivors include a son, Arlen “Woody” Widmer of Foxfield, Colo.; three
daughters, Darlene Kauffman of Canby, Charlotte Everts of Keizer and
LaVonne Widmer of Wichita, Kan.; four sisters, Bernice Yoder of
Woodburn, Pauline Wyatt of Albany, Pearl King of Woodburn and Nadine
Brooks of Mechanicsburg, Pa.; nine grandchildren; 16
great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Daniel; and three sisters,
Alene, Luella and Priscilla.
Memorial services were held at Zion Mennonite Church. Burial was in
Zion Mennonite Cemetery.
----------------
Elmer
Troyer Jantzi, 82, of
Bluffton, Ohio, and formerly of Rosedale, died Sept. 2, 2007, at
Richland Manor Nursing Home in Bluffton. He was born July 20, 1925, to
John and Fannie Troyer Jantzi in Arenac County, Mich.
On Aug. 18, 1950, he married Miriam Bender of Greenwood, Del.
He was a pastor, lifelong farmer and had taught at Rosedale Bible
Institute in Irvin for 37 years. He and his wife were known for their
strawberry farm, Jantzi Strawberries. He was a member of Shiloh
Mennonite Church of Resaca. He will be remembered for his love of the
land, his love of family and his love of God.
Survivors include five children, John Jantzi and his wife, Bonita, of
Harrisonburg, Va., Joyce Zehler and her husband, Gene, of West Chester,
Janet Yoder and her husband, Steven, of Bluffton, Karen Jantzi and her
husband, Phil Hugo, of Lima, and Philip Kauffman-Jantzi and his wife,
Julia, of Strasburg, Pa.; a sister, Matilda Kipfer; a brother, John
Jantzi; and 12 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Twila Joy; five sisters, Anna
Bontrager, Katie Swartz, Edna Mast, Minnie Jantzi and Fannie Swartz;
and six brothers, Andrew, William, Albert, Alvin, Jerry and David
Jantzi.
Services were held at Shiloh Mennonite Church. Burial was in Shiloh
Mennonite Cemetery.
-----------------
Ralph
Stanley Schlabaugh, 90,
of Kalona, Iowa, died July 29, 2007. He was born Aug. 24, 1916 to
Mahlon and Katie (Miller) Schlabaugh near Sharon Center.
On Jan. 7, 1940, he married Martha Glick at Kalona.
They farmed in the Sharon Center community until moving to Kalona in
1981. In 2001 he suffered a stroke and became a resident of
Pleasantview Home in Kalona. He was as member of Lower Deer Creek
Mennonite Church of Kalona.
Survivors included his wife of 67 years, Martha; two children, Ila Jane
Yoder and her husband, Donald G., of Kalona, and Merle Schlabaugh and
his wife, Karen Bauman Schlabaugh, of Newton, Kan.; two brothers, Omar
and Emil of Kalona; three sisters, Idella Brenneman, Gladys Schlabaugh
and Barbara Schlabach, all of Kalona; a sister-in-law, Geraldine
Schlabaugh of Kalona; three grandchildren and nine
great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Delmar.
Funeral services were held at Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church. Burial
was in South Gingerich Cemetery of rural Kalona.
-----------------
Martha
Glick Schlabaugh, 94, a
life-long resident of Kalona, Iowa, died Sept. 19, 2007. She was born
Dec. 31, 1912, to John A. and Magdalena Miller Glick.
On Jan. 7, 1940, she married Ralph Schlabaugh at Fairview Mennonite
Church. They farmed in the Sharon Center community until moving to
Kalona in 1981. In 2001 she became a resident of Pleasantview Home in
Kalona. She was a member of Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church.
Survivors include two children, Ila Jane Yoder and her husband, Donald
G., of Kalona, and Merle Schlabaugh and his wife, Karen Bauman
Schlabaugh, of Newton, Kan.; sisters-in-law Idella Brenneman, Gladys
Schlabaugh, Barbara Schlabach and Geraldine Schlabaugh, all of Kalona;
brothers-in-law Omar and Emil of Kalona; three grandchildren and nine
great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Ralph; three
brothers, Daniel, Chris and Jacob Glick; and four sisters, Anna Glick,
Katie Bontrager, Lydia Bontrager and Ada Miller.
Funeral services were held at Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church. Burial
was in South Gingerich Cemetery of rural Kalona.
----------------
Sally
Plenert, 94, of
Hillsboro, Kan., died Sept. 30, 2007, at Parkside Homes. She was born
Oct. 17, 1912, to John H. and Maria Janz Bartel in rural Hillsboro.
She married Arlo Plenert on Oct. 17, 1941, in Hillsboro. She worked in
a hospital dietary department. She was a member of Trinity Mennonite
Church of Hillsboro.
Survivors include a son, Dennis Plenert and his wife, Paula, of rural
Moundridge; a daughter, Sharolyn Funk and her husband, Marlin, of rural
Lehigh; a sister, Marie Guhr of Newton; four grandchildren and two
great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Arlo, in 1961.
Services were held at Trinity Mennonite Church. Burial was in
Johannestal Cemetery of rural Hillsboro.
-------------------
Elma
Wiebe Kliewer, 95, of
Perryton, Texas, died Sept. 14, 2007. She was born July 12, 1912, in
Adams, Okla.
She grew up in Adams. She graduated from Panhandle State University
with a degree in elementary education and music and taught school in
Balko, Adams and Waka in Oklahoma.
She married Herman Wiebe in 1940. He preceded her in death in 1975. She
married Jonah Kliewer in 1982 in Fairview, Okla. After his death in
1988, she moved to Perryton. She was a member of Fairview (Okla.)
Mennonite Brethren Church.
Survivors include a son, Roy Wiebe and his wife, Shirlee, of Amarillo;
four daughters, Alene Hofer and her husband, Rod, of Carpenter, S.D.,
Nadine Busenitz and her husband, Willis, of Busby, Mont., Glenda
Schroeder and her husband, Wes, and Twila Collinsworth and her husband,
Jim, all of Perryton; three stepsons, Vernon Kliewer and his wife, Mary
Ann, of Newton, Kan., Jonah Kliewer and his wife, Elinor, of Hillsboro,
Kan., and Steve Kliewer and his wife, Susan, of Isabella, Okla.; a
stepdaughter, Mary Elinor Gaide and her husband, Jim, of Reedley,
Calif.; 17 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; 14 step-grandchildren
and 25 step-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at Perryton Mennonite Church. Burial was in
Ochiltree Cemetery.
Mennonite Weekly Review - October 22, 2007 - 85th Year, No. 43 - p. 8
---------------------
Mary
Martha Miller, 88, of
Partridge, Kan., died Aug. 19, 2007. She was born April 10, 1919, to
Abraham F. and Sarah (Miller) Nisly in Hutchinson.
She married Ervin J. Miller on Dec. 18, 1941. They were blessed with 65
years of marriage.
She shared a similarity with both Mary and Martha of the Bible. She was
a “Mary” in that she was devoted to the Lord, a woman of prayer. She
was a “Martha” in that she spent much time serving others.
She was a committed member of Center Amish Mennonite Church. She leaves
a legacy of devotion to God, her children and her husband. A love for
singing was passed on to her children and grandchildren. Her zest for
life and love for people was expressed in warm hospitality to many
guests, for whom she provided delicious meals and overnight
accommodations. Another outstanding characteristic was her grateful
spirit. Despite arthritic pain and disabling strokes in recent years,
she continued to express gratitude to her family and friends.
Survivors include her husband, Ervin; seven children, Alma Miller and
her husband, Edward, of Partridge, Glenn Miller and his wife, Anna, of
Hutchinson, Harold Dean Miller and his wife, Ruth Anne, of Honey Grove,
Pa., LaVerne Miller and his wife, Rebecca, of Partridge, Marvin Miller
and his wife, Ruth, of Suceava, Romania, Loren Miller and his wife,
Dolores, of Cañon City, Colo., and Lillian Nisly and her
husband, Arthur, of San Salvador, El Salvador; three sisters, Dorothy
Beachy of Hutchinson, Viola Miller of Flint, Mich., and Esther Nisly of
Abbyville; a brother, Paul Nisly of Grantham, Pa.; 46 grandchildren and
33 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by infant twin children, Paul Jay and Pauline
May; two sisters, Matilda Nisly and Alma Wagler; a brother, Ora Nisly;
and three grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at Center Amish Mennonite Church. Burial was
in West Center Cemetery.
-------------------
Mildred
Ellen Myers, 100, of
Sweet Home, Ore., died Sept. 20, 2007. She was born Jan. 1, 1907, to
Joseph and Martha (Heatwole) Hartzler in Halstead, Kan.
She married Ralph Myers Sr. on Sept. 23, 1928. They enjoyed 71 years
together.
In 1945 they moved their family from Kansas to Sweet Home. She was very
active in the Sweet Home and Brownsville churches. She was a faithful
member of Brownsville Mennonite Church. She enjoyed singing with her
girls, teaching Sunday school and Bible school, and Women’s Sewing
Circle. She remembered going to sewing circle with her mother by horse
and buggy to West Liberty Church in Kansas, where her father served as
bishop.
She enjoyed animals and made pets of her cows, sheep and pigs. She had
many talents, which were passed on to her children. She enjoyed making
wood alongside of her husband, Ralph, with her personal chain saw. This
wood was shared with their friends.
Survivors include five children, Gladys Paulus and her husband, Melvin,
of Oden, Ind., Hazel Steckly and her husband, David, of Carstairs,
Alta., Roberta Slagell and her husband, Carl Dean, of Hydro, Okla.,
Ralph Myers Jr. and his wife, Clarene, of Sweet Home, and Velma Ropp
and her husband, Jesse, of Albany; two sisters, Ida Slagell and Leona
Watson; 25 grandchildren; 75 great-grandchildren and 20
great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph, brothers Willard and
Clifford Hartzler; sister Ethel Lind; and great-grandson Titus Miller.
Memorial services were held at Brownsville Mennonite Church. Burial was
in Gilliland Cemetery in Sweet Home.
-------------------
William
Derstine Swartley, 89,
of Souderton, Pa., died Sept. 29, 2007. He was born Nov. 6, 1917, to
William K and Susan D. Swartley.
He married Valeria S. Landes at Creamery on Jan. 14, 1940.
He was employed as a hosiery worker at Ridge Hosiery in Quakertown and
later operated a market route in Philadelphia for 40 years.
He was a committed Christian and a lifelong member of Franconia
Mennonite Church. He served as a Sunday school teacher for 50 years and
as a member of the congregational leadership team for 10 years.
He inherited a love for music from his father, which he passed on to
his children and grandchildren. He organized and directed men’s and
mixed choruses and provided leadership for the Franconia congregation.
He served as secretary of church music for Franconia Mennonite
Conference, leading singing schools, organizing music conferences and
song leader clinics in various congregations. He also volunteered with
Choice Books and at MCC stores. He enjoyed woodworking, building quilt
racks and wooden toys for children and his grandchildren. In their
retirement years, he and Valeria traveled in the United States and
Canada.
Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Valeria; four children, Carol
Longacre of Franconia, Janet Goshow of Perkasie, William L. Swartley of
Hesston, Kan., and Elizabeth Heavener of Telford; 11 grandchildren and
21 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Ella Mae Landes and Susan
Irene Landes; a brother, Roy D. Swartley; and two infant
siblings.
Services were held at Souderton Mennonite Home. Burial was in the
Franconia Mennonite Church cemetery.
Mennonite Weekly Review - October 29, 2007 - 85th Year, No. 44 - p. 12
-----------------
Pauline
S. Springer, 82, of Hopedale, Ill., died Oct. 6, 2007, at Maple
Lawn Health Center in Eureka. She was born April 1, 1925, to Eldon R.
and Sadie M. Sutter Nafziger in rural Hopedale.
She married Carrol C. Springer on Nov. 12, 1947, in Hopedale. He
preceded her in death on Sept. 18, 1983.
She graduated from Mennonite School of Nursing and worked as a nurse at
Elkhart General Hospital for one year. She was active in the Nursing
Alumni of Mennonite School of Nursing. She was a member of Hopedale
Mennonite Church, where she served as a Sunday school and Bible school
teacher for many years and also as the children’s Sunday school
superintendent. She was a member of WMSC. She was a Mennonite Mission
Prayer Partner for many years and wrote many letters to missionaries in
the field. Her gifts of encouragement, hospital and prayer were
recognized by many. Her ready smile will be missed by all those who
knew her.
Survivors include two sons, Randy Springer and his wife, Rita, of
Hopedale, and Jim Springer and his wife, Brenda, of Casselton, N.D.; a
brother, Eldon Dean Nafziger of Goshen, Ind.; a sister, LuEtta Neumann
of Goshen; and three granddaughters, Kara Springer of Casselton, N.D.,
Melissa Granger of Fargo, N.D., and Renee Hochstetler of Goshen, Ind.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Carrol; a daughter, Jean
Carol; and a grandson, Craig Springer.
Funeral services were held at Hopedale Mennonite Church.
------------------
Elfrieda Nettie Toews
Nafziger, 69, of Manhattan, Kan., died Sept. 2, 2007, at St.
Francis Hospital in Topeka. She was born July 22, 1938, in Hillsboro to
John Toews and Nettie Willms Toews, emigres from Ukraine who lived most
of their lives in Canada.
As a child, she moved from one Canadian province to another as her
father moved from one Mennonite Brethren position to another as
teacher, administrator and pastor.
She graduated from Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute in 1956. She
received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Manitoba in 1961
and a master’s from Kansas State University in 1968.
She taught high school in Selkirk, Man., 1961-62; in Gindiri, India, as
a volunteer under Mennonite Teachers Abroad, 1962-65, where she met E.
Wayne Nafziger, who she married Aug. 20, 1966.
After marriage they moved to Manhattan, where she taught high school
from 1973 to 1996. She also taught English as a second language to
graduate students at the University of Helsinki, Finland, 1996-98.
Since 1998 she worked as a study abroad and service learning adviser
and coordinator of the Friends of the International Programs at KSU.
She was a member of Manhattan Mennonite Church.
In 1992 she wrote a biography of her father, A Man of His Word: A
Biography of John A. Toews. She co-founded World Friendship for
international students and spouses in Manhattan, was president of the
Manhattan Alliance for Peace and Justice and was adviser to Manhattan
High School’s chapter of Amnesty International. Since 2002, her work to
help establish service learning and international alumni programs took
her to Paraguay, Mexico, Japan, China and South Africa. In May and June
2007, she taught English to university professors and graduate students
at Selcuk University in Turkey.
Survivors include her husband of 41 years, Wayne; two sons, Brian
Nafziger of Washington, D.C., and Kevin Nafziger of New York City; and
four siblings, Wilma Kennedy of Vancouver, B.C., John Toews of Seattle,
Wash., David Waltner-Toews of Guelf, Ont., and Irene Meier of Kelowna,
B.C.
Memorial services were held at K-State’s All Faiths’ Chapel.
--------------------
Dorothy Mae Steiner
Hershberger, 82, of State College, Pa., died Sept. 21, 2007, at
the Fairways at Brookline Village, where she resided following
complications from strokes in 2001. She was born June 24, 1925, to
Frank and Edith Caroline Gregory Steiner in Dalton, Ohio.
On Aug. 28, 1949, she married Truman V. Hershberger.
She graduated from Dalton High School in 1943 and from Goshen (Ind.)
College in 1949, earning a bachelor’s degree in home economics. She
taught high school English and home economics in Alexandria, Ohio, and
worked for 21 years in the cataloging department at Pattee Library.
She was a charter member of University Mennonite Church of State
College. She actively participated in the life of the church, and some
of her favorite activities included hospitality, making baby
comforters, teaching Sunday school and singing. She also was a
volunteer driver for the Park Forest Day Nursery. She enjoyed
gardening, sewing, cooking and being involved with her grandchildren.
After retirement, she found fulfillment in creating pottery.
Survivors include her husband, Truman; three children, Tim Hershberger
and his wife, Gwen, and Louise Metzler, all of Goshen, Ind., and Susan
Miller and her husband, Doug, of State College; four siblings, Franklin
Steiner of Colorado, Marilyn Kauffman, Donald Steiner and Janet Oswald,
all of Ohio; and nine grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Richard Steiner; a sister,
Marjorie Hackett; and a grandson, Luke Metzler.
Funeral services were held at Koch Funeral Home in State College.
Burial was in Centre County Memorial Park.
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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.