Mennonite World Review - March 2014
Obituaries are emailed to MennObits before MWR is printed. Wording may vary in printed version.
Fisher, Louise Rising Sun ; . . Friesen, Chad Jonathon ; . . Kauffman, V. Pauline Yoder Yoder ; . . Kaufman, Richard R. ; . . Snapp, Elizabeth Faire Stucky ; . . Sowell, Luessie B. Mitchell ; . . Swartzendruber, Harold L. ; . . Wiebe, Rubena Margaret Wiens ; . .
Mennonite World Review - March 3, 2014 - 92nd Year, No. 5 - p. 15
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Harold L. Swartzendruber, 90, of Goshen, Ind., died Feb. 11, 2014, at IU Health Goshen Hospital after suffering a stroke. He was born Jan. 1, 1924, to Edwin E. and Rose Ella (Driver) Swartzendruber in Manson, Iowa.
On May 3, 1947, he married Lucille Mae Graber at Goshen College.
After his 1941 graduation from Manson High School, he worked in his father's grain elevators. In 1943 he was inducted into Civilian Public Service and worked at the State Hospital, Ypsilanti, Mich., until he was transferred in 1945 to Mennonite Central Committee, Akron, Pa., where for two and a half years he was their first shipping agent for relief supplies worldwide. During that time he also established Menno Travel Service.
He graduated from Goshen College in 1950 and began working at Mennonite Mutual Aid, Goshen, where he was the chief executive officer for 27 years. During his tenure, several Mennonite financial entities were established. These laid the groundwork for the present Mennonite Financial Services. He was a key person in bringing together directors of more than 20 Mennonite Aid Property or aid societies, located in the U.S. and Canada, which formed the Association of Mennonite Aid Societies. He served as chair of their annual convention for several years. Out of these meetings, Mennonite Indemnity Inc. was formed as a reinsurance company to serve the societies. He served on the board of directors of MII for 41 years, the last nine years as chair.
He was a member of College Mennonite Church. He was a pianist and sang in numerous groups, including Menno Singers.
Survivors include his wife, Lucille; three children, Janet Reid of Charlottesville, Va., Jim Swartzendruber and his wife, Tina, of Goshen and Steve Swartzendruber of Auburn; two grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; four step-grandchildren and six step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, David, in 2008; a brother, Glenn; and two infant brothers, Warren and Norman.
Funeral services were held at College Mennonite Church. Burial was in Violett Cemetery, Goshen.
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Richard R. "Dick" Kaufman, 71, died Jan. 26, 2014, at Pine Village in Moundridge, Kan. He was born Sept. 29, 1942, to Dick and Lizzie Yutzy Kaufman in Hutchinson.
He graduated from Central Christian High School, Bethel College, the University of Wyoming and Wichita State University. He was a teacher and coach for Northridge High School in Middlebury, Ind., Nickerson High School and Haven High School. He was active at Faith Mennonite Church in South Hutchinson. Later after a move to Hesston, he worshiped at Hesston Mennonite Church.
On Aug. 10, 1968, he married Barbara Annette Claassen in Beatrice, Neb.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara; two daughters, Mara Kaufman of Durham, N.C., and Christine Schweitzer and her husband, Brad, of Gilbert, Ariz.; a granddaughter, Rianna Schweitzer; and five sisters, Mary Troyer and Fannie Mae Bontrager, both of South Hutchinson, Joyce Parcell of New Paris, Ind., Marilyn Carman of Johnstown, Colo., and Carolyn Hartman of Harrisonburg, Va.
He was preceded in death by a nephew, Kenneth Troyer.
Memorial services were held at Hesston Mennonite Church. Private family inurnment was in Eastlawn Cemetery, Hesston.
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Chad Jonathon Friesen, 46, of Elkhart, Ind., died Nov. 15, 2013, at the Center for Hospice Care in Elkhart from complications from a lifelong disability. He was born Jan. 4, 1967, to LeRoy G. and Carol F. (Nickel) Friesen in Fresno, Calif.
Despite his lifelong disability that defied diagnosis, he was a talented and celebrated artist whose work had become known far past the Michiana area. He was devoutly spiritual and was best able to communicate with his world through his painting. By recording his innermost feelings and thoughts on canvas, his work became not only his diary but his prayer as well. He was deeply influenced by the time he spent in Jerusalem as a youth in the early 1970s when his parents served there with a Mennonite service organization. He was drawn to the "God's Eyes" that were traditionally painted above the doorways of many of the Muslim homes in Jerusalem, and he came to see these symbols as a reflection of God's all-knowing wisdom and never-ending grace. In 1991, with the help of Southside Fellowship Mennonite Church, of which he was a member, "God's Eye Art" was founded as a vehicle to promote and showcase his work. He liked to paint flowers (especially sunflowers) and nature in such a way that they imparted a sacred meaning to the eyes of the beholder. He loved riding the horses at Loveway, sailing on Lake Michigan, traveling and dogs. He will be best remembered for his infectious zeal for life and the way it affected everyone who met him, and his tenacious and inspiring courage.
Survivors include his mother, Carol F. Nickel of Elkhart; his father, LeRoy G. Friesen and his wife, Sharryl Lindberg, of South Bend; a sister, Tiffany Friesen and her husband, Atiba Mbiwan, of Atlanta, Ga.; and a brother, Todd Friesen and his wife, Dennette Alwine, of Lancaster, Pa.
Memorial services were held at the chapel of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart. Burial was in Prairie Street Cemetery in Elkhart.
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Elizabeth Faire Snapp, 88, of Denver, Colo., died Feb. 5, 2014. She was born Feb. 8, 1925, to Bernard and Emmy Stucky in Pretty Prairie, Kan.
She graduated from Bethel College in 1947. That summer she went with the Mennonite Central Committee student tour to war-ravaged Europe. From there it was on to Northwestern University in Chicago, where she became a physical therapist in 1948. She worked with polio patients in New Orleans and Chicago before taking an assignment at the Mennonite Hospital in La Junta. There she met and later married Donald Snapp on Aug. 28, 1953. In 1955 they moved to Denver, and she began working at Rose Medical Center.
She loved music, reading, prayer and laughter. She was engaged with the community and church as a tireless supporter of peace and human dignity. Her home was a place of hospitality and refuge for all who knew her. She touched everyone she met with her kindness and grace.
Survivors include a daughter, Laura, of Denver; and a son, Jeffry of Los Angeles.
Memorial services were held at Washington Park United Church of Christ.
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Luessie Barbara Mitchell Sowell, 80, died Feb. 18, 2014, at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. She was born Dec. 29, 1933, to Pastor Elliott Dupree Mitchell and Zenobia Odom in Wichita, Kan.
She served others in her occupation as a nurse. Her life was a testament of faith. She served with her husband, Leamon Riley Sowell Sr., who was pastor of Bethel Mennonite Community Church in Chicago for many years.
Survivors include five children, Leamon Sowell Jr. and his wife, LaVerne, Zenobia Sowell-Bianchi and her husband, Tony, Deborah Sowell-Cromartie, Rebekah Sowell-Ratliff and her husband, Cecil, and Stefany Sowell-McDuffie and her husband, Ronald; a brother, Elliott Mitchell; and four grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leamon Riley Sowell Sr.
Memorial services were held at Russell Funeral Home, WinstonSalem, N.C.
Mennonite World Review - March 17, 2014 - 92nd Year, No. 6 - p. 15
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Kauffman, V. Pauline Yoder Yoder
Vernis Pauline (Yoder) Kauffman, 91, of Goshen, Ind., died Feb. 25, 2014, at Greencroft Gables. She was born Nov. 27, 1922, to Rufus T. and Modella (Mishler) Yoder in LaGrange County.
She grew up on a farm, known as Yoder Popcorn farm, near Emma. She was baptized at Emma Mennonite Church. After graduating from high school she attended Goshen College for one year.
On Nov. 7, 1943, she married Ralph A. Yoder. He preceded her in death on April 18, 1959. On Aug. 16, 1997, she married Francis LeRoy Kauffman. He preceded her in death on June 22, 2004.
She was devoted to her family and her faith family at Forks Mennonite Church. She served others in many ways: on the deaf ministries advisory committee of Mennonite Board of Missions, 1977-96; Mennonite Voluntary Service for one year with disabled children in Arizona; a summer activities program for deaf children of Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference; Forks Mennonite Church historical committee; volunteering at Greencroft; teaching Sunday school and Bible school; and supporting overseas missionaries.
Survivors include three children, Janis Erb and her husband, Jim, of Roanoke, Va., Phyllis Gehman and her husband, Nelson, of Leola, Pa. and Myron Yoder and his wife, Sheila, of Middlebury; two stepchildren, Larry Kauffman and his wife, Pat, of Goshen, and Merlin Kauffman of Arizona; a brother, Larry R. Yoder, and a stepbrother, Frank Kauffman, both of Goshen; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; 10 step-great-grandchildren and two step-great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at Forks Mennonite Church, Middlebury. Burial was in Forest Grove Cemetery, Middlebury.
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Rubena Margaret (Wiens) Wiebe, 90, of Hillsboro, Kan., died Feb. 13, 2014. She was born Nov. 3, 1923, to Bernhard and Margaret (Jantzen) Wiens (Pauls) near Hooker, Okla.
After graduating from high school in Oklahoma, she attended and graduated in 1946 from Tabor College in Hillsboro. For one year during World War II, between her college sophomore and junior years, she taught school in Adams, Okla.
She married Vernon R. Wiebe on May 30, 1947, at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church.
They lived in Hillsboro most of their married life except for two years in Freeman, S.D., two years in Iowa City, Iowa, and three years in Edmond, Okla. She worked a total of 23 years as administrative assistant to several Tabor College presidents. Beginning in 1964, she and Vernon were the owners of Prudent Tours in Hillsboro, where she worked after retiring from Tabor.
She accepted Jesus as her Savior as a young girl and was baptized in a lake in 1940 by Pastor H.B. Pauls, who later became her stepfather. She joined Hooker Mennonite Brethren Church at that time and transferred her membership to the Hillsboro MB church after college graduation. Church and church causes were always a big part of her life.
Survivors include her children, Rose Haury and her husband, David, of Harrisburg, Pa., Margaret Wiebe of Hesston, Hank Wiebe and his wife, Lynn, of Hillsboro, Rachel Easter and her husband, Mike, of Hesston, Kathy Loewen and her husband, Duane, of Newton, and Kakim and Karla Kunantaev of Hillsboro; 15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon, in 1997; a grandson, Ben Haury; two sisters, Esther Ollenburger and Martha Balzer; and four brothers, Dan, Dave, Frank and Abe Wiens.
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Louise Rising Sun Fisher, Mo'kee'e, (Little Woman), 79, of Busby, Mont., died Feb. 2, 2014. She was born Feb. 28, 1934, to Elizabeth Flying and Oliver Rising Sun.
She grew up in Busby. During her teens she spent three years in sanitoriums in Rapid City, S.D., and Tacoma, Wash., recovering from tuberculosis, which interrupted her high school education. In spite of that she finished high school in two years and graduated in 1957.
She met Floyd Fisher at the Christmas Pow Wow in Birney in 1957. They were married in Billings on June 10, 1958.
She was a matron at the Busby Boarding School for many years, and she took many kids under her wing. Upon closing the dorms, she began her 20-year career as the head cook for the Little Eagle Headstart Center in Busby, where she was known as "Gramma Cook."
She was active at White River Cheyenne Mennonite Church, where she was baptized on Dec. 28, 1947. She enjoyed camping at Crazyhead Springs for the annual Mennonite Family Camp. Being a member of the Mennonite Commission on Home Ministries gave her opportunities to travel for meetings. She enjoyed traveling in the United States and Canada to attend gatherings of Native Mennonite Ministries and Central Plains Mennonite Conference. In 2003 she traveled to Hawaii for the World Christian Gathering of Indigenous People.
She worked for many years with Cheyenne translation. She had a wealth of knowledge about Cheyenne family relationships and genealogy. She was a great-granddaughter and direct descendant of Chief Dull Knife (Morning Star), who led his people from Oklahoma back to Montana.
Survivors include her husband of 55 years, Floyd; two daughters, Elizabeth Marie and her husband, Allen Little Coyote, and Danetta Faith and her husband, Caleb Carter; a sister, Maretha Risingsun Charette; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; an adopted brother, TR Hughes; adopted son, Christopher Myron; and adopted daughter, Gladys Tallbull Limberhand.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, Ted, Collins and Orlup; and three grandchildren.