Mennonite World Review - October 2012
Obituaries are emailed to MennObits before MWR is printed. Wording may vary in printed version.
Claassen, Ruby Maria SchonewiseCrouthamel, Jeanne Elizabeth Habegger Boehr; . . Fast, Peter Gerhard; . . Friesen, Willard H.; . . Graber, Daniel Jacob; . . Hershberger, Neva Lou Jantz; . . Janzen, Samuel Richard; . . Kindy, Orie Allen; . . Klassen, Donald A.; . . Miller, Marjorie Lucille Detweiler; . . Reiselt, Ruth Goertz; . . Richard, Margaret Mae Wenger; . . Shenk, Harold Leon; . . Snapp, Donald M.; . . Springer, Betty W. Burkholder; . . Weaver, David M.; . .
Mennonite World Review - October 3, 2012 - 90 th Year, No. 24 - p. 19
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Miller, Marjorie Lucille Detweiler
Marjorie Lucille (Detweiler) Miller, 78, died Aug. 20, 2012, at Twin Falls (Idaho) Care Center. She was born Oct. 8, 1933, to Clarence and Sarah (Slaubaugh) Detweiler in Parnell, Iowa.
She graduated from Iowa Mennonite High School near Kalona. As a young girl she accepted Christ as her personal Savior and joined West Union Mennonite Church near Wellman, Iowa. After a year at Hesston (Kan.) College, she graduated from the La Junta (Colo.) Mennonite School of Nursing as a registered nurse.
On July 5, 1958, she married Floyd Miller Jr. at West Union Mennonite Church.
She started her nursing career at Twin Falls County Hospital and was promoted to charge nurse of the pediatrics department. She retired from nursing when they purchased the Rock Creek Mobile Manor and helped operate that facility for the next 27 years.
She was active in Filer Mennonite Church. She was actively involved with her husband when he served two years as an international director of the Lions Clubs International Association. She enjoyed the six exchange students they hosted over the years.
Survivors include her husband of 54 years, Floyd Jr.; two brothers, Marion Detweiler of Williamsburg, Iowa, and Wallace Detweiler of Morson, Ont.; a goddaughter, Rhonda Gatliff of Fremont, Calif.; brothers-in-law William J. Miller of Clam Gulch, Alaska, Edward Miller of Medford, Ore., and R. Keith Miller of Nampa; sisters-in-law Nadine Miller of Hutchinson, Kan., Rita Miller of Caldwell, Connie Anderson of Bend, Ore., and Bonnie Gerig of Lebanon, Ore.; stepbrother-in-law Dale Snyder of Winnemuca, Nev.; two stepsisters-in-law, Joyce Yost of Westminister, Colo., and Carol John of Eugene, Ore.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Cecil Detweiler; a sister, Trula Zimmerly; and a brother-in-law, Clifford Miller.
Funeral services were held at Reynolds Funeral Chapel in Twin Falls. Burial was in Filer Cemetery.
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Margaret Mae (Wenger) Richard, 93, of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, died Sept. 15, 2012, at Sunnybrook of Ashford Park in Mount Pleasant. She was born Nov. 19, 1918, to Edward and Elizabeth Good Wenger near Wayland.
She married Glen Albert Richard on Aug. 31, 1938. They celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary in 2010. He preceded her in death on June 20, 2011.
She was active in the Mennonite church all her life, being baptized into Sugar Creek Mennonite Church near Wayland in 1931. From that time on, Scripture became her constant guide, and she committed much of it to memory. In 1958, she became a charter member of the newly formed Pleasant View Mennonite Church in Mount Pleasant along with her husband, Glen, who was installed as pastor. She served Christ faithfully at her husband's side until retirement. At home she was generous with hospitality, and in the church she used her God-given gifts in Christian education, music and relief projects, especially with sewing and quilting.
Survivors include her four children: Wesley Richard and his wife, Sue, of Goshen, Ind., Duane Richard and his wife, Judy, of Ocala, Fla., Gloria Graber and her husband, Gary, and Lynn Richard and his wife, Karen, all of Mount Pleasant; a brother, Clarence Wenger of Wayland; eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Glen; an infant brother, Elmer Joseph; and two sisters, Minnie Roth and Frances Wyse.
Funeral services were held at Pleasant View Mennonite Church in Mount Pleasant. Burial was in the Forest Home Cemetery in Mount Pleasant.
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Ruth Goertz Reiselt, of North Port, Fla., died Sept. 18, 2012. She was born in 1950 to Earnest and Elma (Goertzen) Goertz in Goessel, Kan.
She was a graduate of Bethel College in North Newton, Kan., with a degree in music. Her working career was with REA and Associates in New Philadelphia, Ohio, where she had started as a secretary and retired as the senior tax partner of what had become one of the top 100 CPA firms in the nation. She was the first female in her area to become prominent in male-dominated businesses and organizations. She was the first female partner in her firm, the first female officer at the Union Country Club in Dover, Ohio, and a member and officer of numerous boards and organizations both in Ohio and several nationwide and beyond.
She and Les retired from Ohio in 2003 and moved to North Port. She was a member of the North Port Chorale, The Soundsations and the choir at Port Charlotte United Methodist Church in Port Charlotte, where she and Les were members.
Survivors include her husband, Les; two stepchildren, Erich Reiselt and his wife, Christa, and Kurt Reiselt and his wife, Marie, all of Ohio; her mother, Elma Goertz of Kansas; a grandson, Jacob Reiselt; four sisters, Emily Goertz of Washington, Dorothy Goertz of Connecticut, Esther Epp and her husband, Stan, of Kansas, and Naomi Goertz and her husband, Chris Ingraham, of Ohio; and a brother, Joel Goertz of Kansas.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Henry; and a sister, Mary.
Memorial services were held at Port Charlotte (Fla.) United Methodist Church and at Tabor Mennonite Church, rural Newton, Kan.
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David M. Weaver, 93, formerly of Leola and Atglen, Pa., died July 26, 2012, at Harrison Senior Living in Christiana. He was born Nov. 13, 1918, to Joseph M. and Maria (Martin) Weaver in Weaverland.
He was a farmer who was involved in the Lord's work. He was ordained a minister at Carpenter Mennonite Church in 1962 and served until 1990. From 1972 to 2008 he arranged programs for the Mountain Anthems, a choral group from Grantsville, Md., to the Lancaster area with programs in more than 300 churches. In 1984 he organized the We Care Prison Ministry Auction that continues as a successful fundraiser.
Survivors include his wife of 17 years, Martha Kauffman Coffman Weaver; four daughters, Anna Mary Wenger and her husband, Raymond, Elizabeth Bonnar and her husband, Ken, Ellen Weaver and Kathleen Burger and her husband, Scott; five stepchildren, Ella Huber and her husband, Dan, Milton Coffman and his wife, Peggy, Norman Coffman and his wife, Petrea, Julia Schlabach and her husband, Ivan, and Joseph Coffman and his wife, Kathleen; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; 11 step-grandchildren; 15 step-great-grandchildren; and a step-great-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his first wife of 53 years, Katie B. Weaver; four children, David Jr., Harold, Irene and Harlan Weaver; a stepson, Irvin Coffman; and 16 siblings.
Funeral services were held at Groffdale (Brick) Mennonite Church. Burial was in the Groffdale (Frame) Mennonite Church Cemetery.
Mennonite World Review - October 15, 2012 - 90 th Year, No. 25 - p. 21
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Donald A. Klassen, 84, of Hesston, Kan., died Sept 18, 2012, at Schowalter Villa. He was born Oct. 30, 1927, to Abram and Elizabeth Janzen Klassen in Mountain Lake, Minn..
He attended Northwestern Bible College in Minneapolis, Minn. In 1948 he married Lenora Friesen.
He farmed and sold insurance until 1966, when he became a health-care administrator, first at Bethesda Home in Goessel and later in Garden City, Hillsboro, Rocky Ford, Colo., and Greensburg. Upon retirement he was interim minister for a number of churches in Kansas, Montana and Canada. When he and Lenora returned to their home in Hillsboro, they managed the Et Cetera Shop in Hillsboro for several years.
Survivors include his wife, Lenora; six children, Marlene McKitrick and her husband, Royce, Sharon Boese and her husband, Alan, Marlo Klassen, Sandra Esch and her husband, Roger, Myron Klassen and his wife, Shelley, and Sheldon Klassen and his wife, Beth; two brothers, Harold and Loyal Klassen; 18 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held at First Mennonite Church, Hillsboro. Burial was in Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church Cemetery, rural Goessel.
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Peter Gerhard Fast, 87, died Aug. 9, 2012, in Bluffton, Ohio, from a rare neurological disorder, Multiple System Atrophy or Shy-Dragers. He was born April 28, 1925, north of Chinook, Mont., but his family soon moved to Mountain Lake, Minn., where he grew up on the family farm.
On Aug. 22, 1948, he married Genevieve Elaine Buhler. They shared nearly 64 years together.
He excelled in his studies and earned several degrees: a bachelor of arts at Goshen (Ind.) College on June 6, 1949, a master of arts in education from Ball State Teachers College on Aug. 14, 1953, and a doctorate of education from Indiana University on Sept. 9, 1957. After receiving his doctorate, he took a position at California State University, Fresno, where he taught in the School of Education for 30 years. He earned the title of professor emeritus when he retired.
Soon after, he moved to Neuwied, Germany, with Genevieve, and they spent several years assisting Mennonite Central Committee in its work of resettling refugees after the Berlin Wall fell. After returning home to Fresno, he pursued his hobbies: woodworking, researching family genealogy, reading, volunteering at St. Agnes Hospital and also with his local church, participating in Mennonite Disaster Service relief activities and watching sporting events, especially Fresno State University football games. He loved music and reading historical books.
Survivors include his wife, Genevieve; four children, Cheryl Berz, Dohn Fast and his wife, Jeanette, Gary Fast and his wife, Taci, and Janita Rawls and her husband, Richard; 10 grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Memorial services were held at First Mennonite Church in Bluffton, Ohio.
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Crouthamel, Jeanne Elizabeth Habegger Boehr
Jeanne Elizabeth Habegger Boehr Crouthamel, 91, of Glendora, Calif., died Sept. 16, 2012. She was born Oct. 19, 1920, to Alfred and Barbara (Hirschy) Habegger in Berne, Ind.
She was raised on the Cheyenne reservation in Busby, Mont., where her parents were missionaries. She was baptized May 12, 1936. She married John William Boehr on Aug. 29, 1943, at First Mennonite Church in Newton, Kan.
She graduated from Bethel Deaconess Hospital. She also earned a bachelor's degree from Bluffton (Ohio) College. She and John were accepted to go as missionaries to China, but the door to China closed. Instead, in 1946 God led them to Grace Bible Institute in Omaha, Neb., where John taught until his death in 1977. They also served as missionaries in Busby for a year. She worked as an R.N. most of her married life with John. He died in a car collision on Aug. 5, 1977. She continued to support missions, serving in Taiwan for two years and in Ecuador and Mexico.
After living as a widow for 15 years in Omaha, Neb., and North Newton, Kan., she married Carl Eugene Crouthamel at First Mennonite Church, Newton, on Nov. 29, 1992. They moved to Green Valley, Ariz., and in 1998 moved to Sierra View Homes in Reedley, where they lived for 13 years. They attended Reedley Mennonite Brethren Church and enjoyed volunteering at The Nearly New Shop. In May 2011 they moved to Glendora to live with her daughter Rachel.
Survivors include her husband, Carl; six children, Elaine Beals and her husband, Ron, Rachel Gray and her husband, Paul, Philip Boehr and his wife, Ann, David Boehr, Christine Harms and her husband, Joseph, and Gareth Boehr and his wife, Lydia; a daughter-in-law, Sandi Boehr; two sisters, Helen Fretz and Esther Sauder; a brother, David Habegger; three stepsons; 24 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, John; a son, Cedric; and a brother, Marden Habegger.
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Neva Lou Hershberger, 85, of Wellman, Iowa, died Aug. 28, 2012, at Parkview Manor. She was born Jan. 9, 1927, to Ezra and Ruth (Hawkey) Jantz in Moundridge, Kan.
She graduated from Hesston (Kan.) Academy in 1944. On Sept. 15, 1946, she married Bernard M. Hershberger in Newton, Kan.
They made their home in Wellman, where she worked as a bookkeeper at Herman's Feed and Grain. She was a member of Wellman Mennonite Church. She served as the historian for the Iowa Nebraska Conference from 1977 to 1986. She was a member of the Archives of Iowa, Mennonite Museum Archives, Mennonite Historical Society and the Wellman Heritage Society.
Survivors include three children, Bernard J. Hershberger and his wife, Janet, of Marengo, Gloria Hershberger of Aurora, Colo., and Rita Trimpe and her husband, Bob, of Williamsburg; a sister, Nona Snyder of Hesston, Kan.; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard; four brothers, Earl Jantz, Melvin Jantz, Wayne Jantz and Paul Jantz; and two sisters, Nina Jantz and Ruth Orpin.
Funeral services were held at Powell Funeral Home in Wellman. Burial was in Wellman Mennonite Cemetery.
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Orie Allen Kindy, 90, of Plumsteadville, Pa., died June 20, 2012. He was born Nov. 7, 1921, to Leonard E. and Mabel R. (Kauffman) Kindy in Midland, Mich. He was the husband of Florence (Landes) Kindy for 68 years.
He graduated from Eastern Mennonite School in 1941. After serving two years in Civilian Public Service, he began a lifelong career in sales. He enjoyed beekeeping, deer hunting, gardening, playing Scrabble and softball.
He was a member of Doylestown Mennonite Church, where he served as an elder and a Sunday school teacher. He was involved in church planting at Easton Mennonite Church for 25 years. He was a founding board member of Plumstead Christian School, served on the Conference Aid Committee of Franconia Mennonite Conference and volunteered for Mennonite Disaster Service.
Survivors include his wife, Florence; five daughters, Carol Schrock and her husband, Lynn, of Cazenovia, Ill., Karen Fennell and her husband, William, of Easton, Diane Qaqish and her husband, Basil, of Winston-Salem, N.C., Rosemary Landis and her husband, Steven, of Harleysville, and Joanne Mercer and her husband, Patrick, of Ephrata; a son, David Kindy and his wife, Anita, of Winston-Salem, N.C.; a son-in-law, Kenneth Reinford of Ephrata; two brothers, Erie Kindy and David Kindy, both of Midland, Mich.; three sisters, Ruth Leidig of Harrisonburg, Va., Esther Rupright of Nashville, Mich., and Irene Gage of Engadine, Mich.; 18 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Rachel Reinford; a daughter-in-law, Merna Kindy; a grandson, Jon Kindy; two brothers, Virgil Kindy and Oscar Kindy; and a sister, Olive Leidig.
Services were held at Doylestown Mennonite Church.
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Donald M. Snapp, 86, of Denver, Colo., died July 24, 2012, of Parkinson's disease. He was born Dec. 7, 1925, to Kenneth M. and Mary Louise Sanger Snapp of Bristol, Ind.
He was a 1944 graduate of Bristol High School and a 1952 graduate of Goshen (Ind.) College. He married Elizabeth Faire Stucky on Aug. 28, 1953, in Pretty Prairie, Kan.
Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth Faire Stucky Snapp; and two children, Laura Snapp of Denver and Jeffry Snapp of Los Angeles.
Memorial services were held at Washington Park United Church of Christ in Denver. Burial was in St. John's Episcopal Cathedral in Denver.
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Daniel Jacob Graber, 83, retired pastor, school social worker and camp director, died Sept. 30, 2012, in Goshen, Ind. He was born March 28, 1929, to Peter Paul Graber and Magdalena Wenger Graber near Crawfordsville, Iowa.
He attended Bluffton (Ohio) College, graduating in 1951 in sociology and Bible. He married Mary M. (Marge) Soldner of Pandora, Ohio, on Nov. 29, 1951.
After college he attended Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Chicago and was ordained as a minister in the General Conference Mennonite Church. His years as a pastor included voluntary service with Mennonite Central Committee, a pastorate at Silver Street Mennonite Church, Goshen, interim pastor roles with the United Methodist Church in Michigan and Columbus (Ohio) Mennonite Church, and 10 years as director at Camp Friedenswald, Cassopolis, Mich. While at Camp Friedenswald, he taught elementary school and completed a master's degree in school social work from Michigan State University. From 1970 until his retirement he worked as a school social worker at Benton Harbor (Mich.) Schools.
He had a landscaping business in Benton Harbor, established and cared for numerous flower and shrubbery beds at Camp Friedenswald, served on the garden committee at their retirement village in Dade City, Fla., and had multiple garden plots at Greencroft Community in Goshen.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Mary M. Graber of Goshen; four children, Stephen D. Graber and his wife, Karen Kuzmicz, of Baldwin, Mich., Peter N. Graber and his wife, Mary, of Elkhart, Jeanne E. Mielke and her husband, Ross, of Atlanta, Ga., and Julia A Graber and her husband, Rafe Lafrance, of Gainesville, Fla.; four siblings, Erwen W. Graber of Moundridge, Kan., Lucille M. Shewmake of Dade City, Fla., Peter P. Graber of Crawfordsville, Iowa, and Calvin C. Graber of Goshen; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a grandchild, Paul A Mielke; a great-grandchild, Aron Lilly; and three siblings, Verena M. Moore, LaVerne L. Graber and Anna M. Martin.
Memorial services were held at Eighth Street Mennonite Church, Goshen.
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Claassen, Ruby Maria Schonewise
Ruby Maria (Schonewise) Claassen, 91, of Beatrice, Neb., died Sept. 26, 2012, at Beatrice Community Hospital. She was born March 27, 1921, to John and Magna (Christensen) Schonewise at Adams.
She was a 1938 graduate of Adams High School and attended Peru State Teachers College. She then taught at a rural, one-room school near Adams for three years. She married Paul G. Claassen on May 30, 1941, in Beatrice.
They lived on a farm west of Beatrice until they moved into Beatrice in 1976. She was a member of Beatrice Mennonite Church, where she taught Sunday school and was a member of the Women's Missionary Society. She volunteered at the Beatrice Community Hospital Auxiliary, with a major role in the beginning of the hospital gift shop. She volunteered at Ten Thousand Villages in Lincoln, through Mennonite Central Committee in Akron, Pa., and at a children's home in Reynosa, Mexico.
She enjoyed entertaining, traveling, sewing and quilting, reading, playing games and doing jigsaw and crossword puzzles.
Survivors include five children, John D. Claassen and his wife, Carol, and Alan P. Claassen and his wife, Janet, all of Beatrice, Rob D. Claassen and his wife, Rosie, of Lawrence, Kan., Rhoda M. Frasier and her husband, Robert, of Abilene, Kan., and Nathan W. Claassen and his wife, Nancy, of Hickman; two sisters, Inez Steinkamp and June Loseman; 13 grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul; two brothers, Charlie and John Schonewise; and three sisters, Louise Kerns, Edith Lidolph and Gladys Howe.
Funeral services were held at Beatrice Mennonite Church. Burial was in the Mennonite Cemetery.
Mennonite World Review - October 31, 2012 - 90th Year, No. 26 p. 19
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Shenk, Harold Leon
Harold Leon Shenk, "Saba," 83, died Sept 16, 2012, after a brief illness. He lived in York, Pa., with his son Clayton's family at the time of his death. He was born Dec. 14, 1928, to Ray and Clara Wenger Shenk in Cottage City, Md.
He worked as a drywaller, a psychiatric orderly at St. Joseph's Hospital and a custodian at Franklin and Marshall College. For 35 years he conducted bus tours of Lancaster's Amish Country for Willow Valley, retiring there in 2007.
He was active in church work, serving as Sunday school superintendent, teacher and deacon at Laurel Street Mennonite Church. He was a member of Lyndon Mennonite Church and served as pastor of Bridgeport Mennonite Church for 20 years. At the time of his death he attended Tidings of Peace Mennonite Church in York.
He was loved by many people, with whom he shared the love of Jesus through his wit, wisdom, poetry and cheery smile.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Barbara Keener Shenk; their children: Kathleen, married to Walter Haddad, of Scottdale, Dan, married to Lori Stetter, of Brickerville, David of Goshen, Ind., Carolyn Schrock-Shenk of Goshen, Ind., Ann, married to Hans Wenger, of Lancaster, John, married to Rosy Sommers, of Plain City, Ohio, Clayton, married to Mary Lois Stahl, of York, Harry, married to Edith Yoder, of Partridge, Kan., and Sue, married to Mike Weaver, of Baltimore, Md.; 42 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and five siblings.
Services were held at Weavertown Amish-Mennonite Church in Bird-in-Hand and at Lindale Mennonite Church, Linville, Va. Burial was in the Lindale Mennonite Church Cemetery.
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Betty W. Springer, 95, of Goshen, Ind., died Oct. 11, 2012, at Emily's House in Waterford Crossing. She was born Feb. 7, 1917, to Henry S. and Mary Ann (Burkholder) Weber in Richmond, Va.
She grew up near Lititz, Pa., and had lived in Goshen since 1951. She married Nelson P. Springer on Aug. 18, 1951. He preceded her in death on June 16, 2004.
A member of College Mennonite Church, she worked as a secretary at Eastern Mennonite College and Mennonite Central Committee and served as editor of the children's paper Beams of Light at Mennonite Publishing House from 1946 to 1954. She later worked at Goshen General Hospital in the admitting department and the laboratory. She was a volunteer leader for Campfire Girls and enjoyed welcoming international guests into her home. After moving to Greencroft in 1989, she served in numerous volunteer capacities, including the promotion of recycling.
Surviving include four children, Ken of Kansas City, Mo.; Beth Farrand and her husband, James, of Salem, Ore., Joe Springer and his wife, Jo-Ann Brant, of Goshen, and Tina Kenagy and her husband, Peter, of Albany, Ore.; a brother, Henry S. Weber of Lititz, Pa.; seven grandchildren and a great-grandson.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Nelson; three sisters, Eva Carper, Helen and Esther Weber; and two brothers, B. Franklin Weber and Levi B. Weber.
A memorial service will be held Nov. 3 at College Mennonite Church.
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Samuel Janzen, 91, a resident of Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, Harrisonburg, died Oct. 17, 2012. He was born Oct. 14, 1921, to J.M. and Margaret (Schroeder) Janzen in Newton, Kan.
He attended Hesston (Kan.) Academy for high school. After graduation in 1940, he worked for the Soil Conservation Office of Harvey County. He then went to Hesston College, graduating in 1942.
He was baptized Sept. 8, 1933, at Garden Mennonite Church, rural Hesston. He was ordained at age 20 for the ministry on Sept. 8, 1942. At Greensburg (Kan.) Mennonite Church he served as youth pastor and assistant to the pastor, who was an evangelist and often away.
He married Lila Mae King at her home near Yoder, Kan., on Sept. 19, 1943.
In 1950, Mennonite Board of Missions asked him to attend Northwestern University in Chicago for study in hospital administration so that he could administer the new Kiowa County Memorial Hospital in Greensburg. This led to an assignment in Glenwood Springs, Colo., to run Valley View Hospital and to plant a Mennonite church in Glenwood Springs in 1955. In 1967 he became pastor of Chicago Avenue Mennonite Church, which eventually became Harrisonburg Mennonite Church. He served that congregation until 1984, when he went to pastor Souderton (Pa.) Mennonite Church for four years. He then served as a district overseer for Virginia Mennonite Conference from 1988 to 1996.
Survivors include his wife, Lila Mae; eight children, Lois Preheim and her husband, Lyle, of Freeman, S.D., Ruthanne Heatwole and her husband, Leo, of Harrisonburg, J. Melvin Janzen of Waynesboro, J. Milton Janzen and his wife, Anna, of Newport News, Carla Jacobs and her husband, Sherwin, of Linville, Rebecca Fullmer and her husband, Jack, of Nampa, Idaho, Deanna Kauffman and her husband, Marlo, of Goshen, Ind., and Margaret Abderrahmane and her husband, Mustapha of Oakland, Calif.; a sister, Amy Hershberger of Hesston, Kan.; eight grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Waldo and Archie; and three sisters, Edna Harder, Marie Entz and Helen Hershberger.
Memorial services were held at Harrisonburg Mennonite Church.
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Willard H. Friesen, 94, of Henderson, Neb., died Oct. 12, 2012, at the Henderson Care Center. He was born July 18, 1918, to Henry K. and Katharina (Friesen) Friesen in Henderson.
He was baptized on May 12, 1940, and received into membership at Bethesda Mennonite Church. He served as an usher for many years and remained a faithful member until his death. Because of his father's untimely death, he had to interrupt his education to help his mother manage the family farm.
He married Bertha Wall on Oct. 29, 1941.
They farmed near Henderson and moved into town in 1976. He continued to assist his son, Orie, with farming for many years. He was a successful Dekalb seed corn dealer and a frequent volunteer for Mennonite Disaster Service and other church-related service projects. He was an ardent supporter of Mennonite Central Committee and greatly enjoyed donating to and participating in the Nebraska MCC Relief Sale. His hobbies included collecting toy tractors, cast iron seats and wrenches. He and Bertha enjoyed donating various items of their personal possessions to the Henderson Heritage Park.
He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. In his later years he found joy and strength in the time he spent with his family.
Survivors include his wife of 70 years, Bertha; two daughters, Charlene Goertzen and her husband, John, and Twila Preheim and her husband, Laurel; a son, Orie Friesen and his wife, Linda; nine grandchildren and 17 greatgrandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Albert H. Friesen; and three sisters, Bertha Bergen, Erna Peters and Clara Epp.