The Mennonite - October, 2010
"for the record" - Deaths:
The Mennonite, October 2010,
pages 53-55, Vol. 13, No. 10.
Amstutz.- Myron Jay, 82,
Kidron, Ohio, died Aug. 24 of pulmonary fibrosis. Spouse: Gladys Lehman
Amstutz. Parents: Albert and Della Gerber Amstutz. Children: Jane
Miller, Merle, Louise Hernley, Deb Miller, Julie Amstutz; 13
grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 27 at Living Water
Community Church, Dalton, Ohio.
Boehr.- Laura Friesen, 88,
Henderson, Neb., died Aug. 19. Spouse: Donald Boehr (deceased).
Parents: Peter D. and Katharina Friesen. Children: Stanley, Vivian
Pereboom, Stuart, Laura Jane Steingard, Doris Miller, Dr. Brenda Srof;
15 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 23 at
Bethesda Mennonite Church, Henderson.
Brooks, Allen D., 72, Elkhart,
Ind., died July 27 of a pulmonary embolism. Spouse: Sharon K. Nunemaker
Brooks. Parents: Harold and Mae Heistand Brooks. Children: David,
Cheryl Wise, Michael; four grandchildren. Funeral: July 31 at Holdeman
Mennonite Church, Wakarusa, Ind.
Burkhalter.- Ramoth Lowe. The
family celebrates the life of Ramoth Lowe Burkhalter who passed away,
surrounded by her family, on Aug. 14th at the age of 86. Ramoth Isabel
Lowe Burkhalter was born on Nov. 7, 1923 in Asheville, N.C., the
daughter of Oscar and Mary Knox Lowe. With her brothers Reid, James and
Oscar Jr., she completed her schooling in Asheville. Following her
graduation from Lee Edwards High School, she completed two years of
business administration at a junior college in Asheville, followed by
two years at Wheaton College, in Wheaton, Illinois. Where she met
Edward Burkhalter of Berne, Indiana. They were married on Aug. 29, 1945
in Asheville. Together they continued their studies for an additional
year at Wheaton, where she completed a master's degree in Christian
education. They then moved to New York City where Edward received his
master's of divinity from New York Biblical Seminary and Ramoth
developed her deep love of education while teaching kindergarten. In
Nov. 1947, the couple and four month old daughter, Mary Kay, left the
United States for India where they spent forty-two years. Five more
children were born in India. All six completed their education at
Woodstock School in the Himalayan foothills, where Ramoth was active in
the hillside community. They served in central India as Mennonite
missionaries with Indian churches and communities in Korba, Saraipali,
and Jagdeeshpur. During her years of service, Ramoth sought to create
opportunities for young leaders through informal and formal education,
as well as offering dignity and life skills to young women through
ASHA, ('hope') a sewing project she helped to found. In 1989, the
couple retired to Berne, where they found avenues for ministry and
supportive bonds. Following Edward's death in 1993, she continued to
live in Berne until she moved to Minneapolis, Minn. in 2007 to be near
her family, where she found a home at Bethany Covenant Village. As a
wise counselor, she crossed boundaries, befriending and drawing others
into community. She is survived by her six children and their families:
Mary Kay (Jonathan) Larson of Atlanta, Ga.; Beth Ann (George) Taylor of
Bridgewater, Va.; John (Barbara) Burkhalter of Indianapolis; Joyce
(Mike) Flueckiger of Atlanta, Ga.; Amy (Chris Bauer) Burkhalter of
Minneapolis, Minn.; and Sheryl (Vivek Gupta) Burkhalter of Chicago,
Ill. She is also survived by her brother, Oscar Lowe Jr. of Strawberry,
Ariz. She will be greatly missed by her children, her brother, her
nieces, her 10 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Memorial
gifts may be made to a scholarship fund for the training of women
leaders in the Indian church or to a fund in support of South Asian
immigrant women in America. The respective organizations are: the
Mennonite Mission Network, c/o First Mennonite Church of Berne; or,
Raksha (meaning "protection" in Hindi), at raksha.org.
Deputy.- Norma Virginia Shank,
89, Harrisonburg, Va., died Sept. 2. Spouse: John Jacob Deputy
(deceased). Parents: Dan G. and Irene Heatwole Shank. Children: Betty
Holder, Lois Huffman; two grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Funeral:
Sept. 4 at Crestwood of Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community,
Harrisonburg.
Freyenberger.- Irene Good, 83,
Kouts, Ind., died Aug. 22. Spouse: Edward Freyenberger (deceased).
Parents: Joseph and Anna Martin Good. Children: Cheryl Nix, Beverly
Moyer, Keith, Douglas, Todd, David; 17 grandchildren; nine
great-grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 27 at Hopewell Mennonite Church,
Kouts.
Freyenberger, Janice Carolyn Roth,
77, Wayland, Iowa, died Aug. 12. Spouse: Joe Freyenberger. Parents:
Joseph Nicholas and Sarah Short Roth. Children: Barbara Freyenberger,
Michelle Frederick, Carmen Martinez, Maria Roth; eight grandchildren;
one great-granddaughter. Funeral: Aug. 15 at Sugar Creek Mennonite
Church, Wayland.
Gahman, M. Earl, 77, Telford,
Pa., died Sept. 6. Spouse: Doris N. Moyer Gahman. Parents: Melvin H.
and Hannah L. Detweiler Gahman. Children: Deborah L. Johnston, Sharon
K. Moyer; two grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 11 at Rockhill Mennonite
Church, Telford.
Geiser, Elmer S., 88, Dalton,
Ohio, died Aug. 10 of cancer. Spouse: Agnes Irene Amstutz Geiser
(deceased). Parents: John and Helena Gerber Geiser. Children: Karen
Mishler, Arlene Frazier, Marceil, Olin; five grandchildren. Funeral:
Aug. 14 at Sonnenberg Mennonite Church, Kidron, Ohio.
Harnish, A. Thomas, 79,
Quarryville, Pa., died Aug. 8. Spouse: Joanne Haverstick Harnish.
Parents: Clayton C. and Elizabeth Thomas Harnish. Children: June L.
Minnich, John L., Joy L. Schoenhals; nine grandchildren; two
great-grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 13 at Willow Street Mennonite
Church, Willow Street, Pa.
Helmuth.- Menno, 88, Kalona,
Iowa, died Aug. 19. Spouse: Dorothy E. Kreider Helmuth. Parents: Chris
I. and Mary Miller Helmuth. Funeral: Aug. 22 at East Union Mennonite
Church, Kalona.
Hickey.- Claire E. Tammany, 75,
Lancaster, Pa., died May 26. Spouse: John Hickey (deceased). Parents:
Harry and Martha Tammany. Children: Claire "Sue" McMichael, Dinah Wise,
John, Jr., Roseanne Keller, Christopher, Michael; 11 grandchildren; 13
great-grandchildren. Funeral: June 2 at Sunnyside Mennonite Church,
Lancaster.
Hooley.- LaVern, 87,
Shipsehwana, Ind., died Aug. 31. Spouse: Lois Lambright Hooley.
Parents: Noah J. and Sovilla Blough Holley. Children: Beverly Hooley,
Phil, Byron; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren. Funeral:
Sept. 7 at Shore Mennonite Church, Shipshewana.
Hoover.- Lester Martin, 89,
Lititz, Pa., died Aug. 22 of renal failure. Spouse: Anna Esbenshade
Siegrist Hoover. Spouse: Lena M. Weaver Hoover (deceased). Children:
Ruth Hoover Seitz, Esther H. Bucher, Sharon W. Hoover Bucher, Jay W.;
seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 19 at
Landis Valley Christian Fellowship, Lancaster, Pa.
Kehler, Jacob K., 87, Altona,
Manitoba, died Aug.29. Spouse: Margaret Kehler. Parents: Jacob J. and
Helena Klippenstein Kehler. Children: Betty, Verna, Linda, Rosella and
Gloria Kroeker; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Funeral:
Sept. 2 at Bergthaler Mennonite Church, Altona.
Knudson, Jacqueline J. Lane,
72, South Bend, Ind., died July 31. Spouse: Theodore Knudson. Parents:
Lawrence C. and Dorothy F. Lee Lane. Children: Todd, Kari Kippen, Janet
Ritchie, Lori Alderfer; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.
Funeral: Aug. 7 at Kern Road Mennonite Church, South Bend.
Kulp, Dorothy Stear, 93,
Sellersville, Pa., died Aug. 10. Spouse: Walter Kulp (deceased).
Parents: Elmer K. and Clara Myers Stear. Children: Scott, Carol Kulp
Gosart; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 14
at Rockhill Mennonite Community Chapel, Sellersville.
Linder, Elsie M. Rohrer, 90,
Louisville, Ohio, died Aug. 12. Spouse: Leonard Linder (deceased).
Parents: Harvey and Maggie Kurtz Rohrer. Children: Barbara Engelhard,
Brenda Smith; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren. Funeral:
Aug. 16 at Beech Mennonite Church, Louisville.
Marner, Jason Jay, 22,
Brighton, Iowa, died July 1 in a motorcycle accident. Parents: Stan and
Joan Roth Marner. Siblings: David, Christopher. Funeral: July 7 at Iowa
Mennonite School, Kalona, Iowa.
Mix.- Mike, 64, Wauseon, Ohio,
died July 24. Parents: Ralph and Irma Mix. Funeral: July 20 at West
Clinton Mennonite Church, Wauseon.
Moyer.- Kathryn D. Leatherman,
90, Souderton, Pa., died July 30. Spouse: Harold L. Moyer (deceased).
Parents: Jacob and Bessie Detweiler Leatherman. Children: Dale, Carl,
Glen, Lynette Martin, Lois Hackman, Nancy Delp; 17 grandchildren; 15
great-grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 7 at Souderton Mennonite Home.
Ritter.- James Allen, 50,
Harrisonburg, Va., died Aug. 21. Spouse: Deborah L. Ritter. Parents:
Clayton and Elsie Ritter Witmer. Funeral: Aug. 26 at Harrisonburg
Mennonite Church.
Schmidt.- Dorothy M. Unruh, 94,
Newton, Kan., died Sept. 3. Spouse: Reinhold F. Schmidt (deceased).
Parents: Harrison and Anna Schroeder Unruh. Children: Betta Kym, Deanna
Entz, Randall, Ralph; 12 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren.
Funeral: Sept. 11 at Grace Hill Mennonite Church, Whitewater, Kan.
Senner.- Alvina Hieb, 98,
Freeman, S.D., died Aug. 28. Spouse: Eldon P. Senner. Parents: Stephan
and Magdalena Senner. Children: Doris Tieszen, Joan Preheim, Patricia
Huffaker, Eldon; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; three
great-great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 2 at Salem-Zion Mennonite
Church, Freeman.
Shenk.- Marie Leaman, 72,
Harrisonburg, Va., died Sept. 7 of cancer. Spouse:
Calvin Shenk. Parents: Daniel and Elizabeth Leaman. Children: Douglas,
Duane, Donna Shenk; nine grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 12 at Park View
Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg.
Shenk, Stanley C., 91, Goshen,
Ind., died Sept. 2. Spouse: Doris Sell Shenk (deceased). Parents:
Coffman and Icie Pearl Shank Shenk. Stepmother: Retta Boyer Shenk.
Children: Dave, Dan, Rhoda Keener, Phil; 13 grandchildren; 11
great-grandchildren. Funeral: Sept. 6 at Clinton Frame Mennonite
Church, Goshen.
Shoemaker.- Ila June Litwiller,
83, Dakota, Ill., and Goshen, Ind., died Aug. 23 from the effects of
pulmonary fibrosis. Spouse: Donald Shoemaker. Parents: Albert and Verna
Conrad Litwiller. Children: Larry, Joyce Yoder, Sandra Friesen, Nelda
Wittig; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 27 at
College Mennonite Church, Goshen.
Steiner.- Levi A., 99, Apple
Creek, Ohio, died July 18. Spouse: Orpha K. Geiser Steiner (deceased).
Parents: Aaron J. and Sarah J. Amstutz Steiner. Children: Lois
Holdsclaw, Margaret Himes, Palmer, Ethel Hoffman, Kathleen Ramer; 18
grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral: July 21 at Sonnenberg Mennonite Church, Kidron, Ohio.
Summer.- Marjorie Stalter, 91,
Goshen, Ind., died Aug. 21. Spouse: Milton G. Summer (deceased).
Parents: Daniel D. and Alice Miller Stalter. Children: Shelby Morrisey,
Adris King, Sharon Axline; seven grandchildren; three
step-grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; nine
great-step-grandchildren. Funeral: Aug. 27 at North Goshen Mennonite
Church, Goshen.
Wyse.- Richard, 80, Archbold,
Ohio, died Aug. 24. Spouse: Grace Prough Wyse. Parents: Leland and Ilva
King Wyse. Children: Patrick, Rhonda McGraw, Beth Wall, Becky Rupp;
nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Funeral: Aug. 28 at Lockport
Mennonite Church, Stryker, Ohio.
Yoder.- Perry E., 71, Goshen,
Ind., died Sept. 1. Spouse: Gail Peak Yoder. Parents: Ervin J. and
Barbara Ann Eash Yoder. Children: Allen W., Holly Yoder. Funeral: Sept.
13 at North Goshen Mennonite Church, Goshen.
Transcribed by: John Ingold
Copyright 2004 - 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.