Lazarus
Project
An expanded obituary project of
MennObits. Includes additional information of obituaries
appearing in
The Mennonite and other
newspapers. Source of
individual obituaries given with each record. Project managed by
Thelma Martin.
Examples of Obituaries and/or Tributes
Send obituaries and tributes for any Anabaptist people to: MC USA
Historical Committee, 1700 S. Main St., Goshen, IN 46526 or email to:
Archives@MennoniteUSA.org
OBITUARY
AND TRIBUTE
George E. Hoover
July 26, 1906 --- March 16, 1987
George E. Hoover, a son given by the Lord to William and Emma (Shaum)
Hoover, was born at Goshen, Indiana on July 26, 1906, and died in his
home at Greencroft, Dogwood Court, Goshen, IN early Monday morning,
March 16, 1987 following a period of declining strength and
health. The span of his earthly pilgrimage was 80 years, 7 months
and 18 days. In the days prior to his passing he had expressed to
his family members and friends his desire to have his suffering be over
and to depart and be with the Lord.
Today we rejoice in the knowledge that he has passed the barrier of
time as we know it and is forever at home with the Savior he faithfully
served for nearly 65 years.
On New Year's Day of 1935 he was married to Kathryn Schmucker who
survives. Together, for more than 52 years, they
experienced the changing scenes of life in the joyous and fruitful
companionship, which the Lord had entrusted to them.
Surviving along with his wife Kathryn are seven daughters: Gladys -
Mrs. Arthur Hoover of Sheldon, Wisconsin, Thelma - Mrs. Rufus Martin of
Osceola, Ruth - Mrs. Frank Richards, and Eva - Mrs. Basil Borntrager,
and Shirley Reicheit, all of Goshen, Marie - Mrs. Ron Troyer, and Lois
- Mrs. Marty Martin, both of Elkhart, and four sons, Melvin of Goshen,
Floyd of Elkhart, John of Salt Lake City, Utah, and William of
Nappanee, and a number of foster children. He is also remembered
and loved by 35 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren, a sister,
Martha Good of Orrville, Ohio, and a brother, Paul of Goshen.
Preceding him in death were three brothers, Warren, Lewis and Maynard.
At the age of sixteen George made the decision upon which all other of
his decisions came to hinge. He acknowledged his need for Jesus Christ
and confessed the Lord as his Savior through water baptism in the
Wisfer Mennonite Church. Since 1957 he with Kathryn have been
members of this Yellow Creek Mennonite congregation. It was my
privilege and the joy of this congregation to know George as a man of
deep faith and conviction. The Church was the focus of his life and in
the bosom of the Church he served faithfully and displayed the
Christian graces which today so richly bless our memories. George
was our brother in Christ and I speak for this congregation in giving
thanks for the encouragement and fellowship we came to know in walking
"The Way" with him. His family takes this occasion to thank their
many friends for the kindnesses which have been given during this time
of sorrow and during the course of the years. Christian friends,
brothers and sisters, are indeed the most meaningful gifts of life.
"And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the
dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that
they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them"
(Revelation 14:13).
BD - 3/17/87
(Bob Detweiler)
A Tribute from The Family
In Memory of George Edward Hoover
In this past week our family has been drawn together in a new way. The
Pop and Grandpa who had cared for us so many years now needed our
special care. As we worked and prayed and waited together through
the long hours we remembered and discovered anew how he affected our
lives.
We would like to give this tribute in recognition of what he means to
us. He didn't like long eulogies of praise and would be the first to
admit to human weakness. We, too, know he wasn't perfect but he was
special to us and we wanted to let you know a little of the man you may
not have known.
To his children he was called "Pop" for many years. As the
grandchildren came along this changed to “Grandpa”. He enjoyed being
Grandpa and was excited about each new arrival though he did say he
thought they made Grandpas younger than they used to.
There is no doubt about it. Grandpa was frugal. We all joked about how
he always knew where to find the best bargains. During his last days he
was telling us where we could find broccoli and cheese at the best
prices. (Not at the same place, of course!)What many people may not
have known was his generosity, as he frequently gave monetary gifts to
family members. What we didn't know and only found out in roundabout
'ways, was how often he helped others in need. He wanted to share the
bounty he felt God had given to him.
To us Grandpa was special because he made us feel special. In the 52
years that he and Grandma were together their family grew to over a
hundred people. Each one was known by name, even to the youngest
baby up to the last day of his life.
Many times at Christmas he gave each one a gift and although the gifts
might be similar he would spend hours picking out a Bible verse or
other quote especially suitable for that individual person.
Grandpa enjoyed working with wood. He took delight in taking something
that looked useless to everybody else and making something beautiful
out of it, such as a lamp from an overgrown woody cauliflower stalk.
Then he would ask, "Do you know what this is made of?"
We all have things made with his careful craftsmanship. Lamps &
candleholders were given as birthday and graduation gifts.
Many of the great-grandchildren have doll cradles with little blankets
made by Grandma.
To all of us he was Mr. Fix-it.
Your clock doesn't work? Take it to Grandpa.
You need some frames or a wooden board? Ask Grandpa.
Your pots and pans have lost their handles? Let Grandpa put on a wooden
one. 0, yes, it's true. You would probably get a long
explanation of how your item got fixed but it was a small price to pay.
When he did something it was done right and he taught us to do the
same. (At least he sure tried!) Grandpa wanted us to get satisfaction
from and take pride in a job well done.
His patience in looking for lost items is a legend among us, and he
usually found them after the rest of us had long given up.
Grandpa's humor was contagious. His hearty laugh was often heard and
still echoes in the family, especially through his sons.
Grandpa enjoyed traveling and visited many people. He knew no
strangers. Guests were always welcome at his house. He had a good
memory and could tell stories of things that happened yesterday or 75
years ago. (Be sure you had some time to listen! These stories could
get a little long and involved!)
Grandpa took great pride in his family. To everyone around he would
make sure they knew that this was HIS child or that was HIS
grandchild. To those who lived far away he sent personal letters
to let them know what was going on in the family.
There was a certain chemistry between Grandma and Grandpa which
sometimes made the sparks fly. But more often it was like a
magnet with the two united as one working toward a common goal.
Grandpa was always there for us. We find it hard to realize that he is
gone because we felt that Grandpa and Grandma would always be there.
Grandpa could go to sleep very easily, even in the dentist's chair.
Monday morning he went to sleep the same way.
Grandpa's greatest concern was the spiritual welfare of his family,
which he voiced again on his last day.
Yes, we grieve, but with a joyous hope. We ask that you, too, rejoice
with us as we celebrate the culmination and crowning achievement of his
life - Grandpa's Homegoing.
Thelma Hoover Martin
March 18, 1987
KATHRYN S. HOOVER
October 29, 1911 – January 8, 2000
Kathryn S. Hoover, 88 of 1225 Greencroft Dr.,
died at The Gables, Greencroft Health Care, Saturday at 8:45 PM,
January 8, 2000, where she had lived since suffering a stroke in
February 1998.
The daughter of Noah C. & Ida (Miller) Schmucker
she was born in LaGrange County, IN on October 29, 1911 and married
George E. Hoover at Goshen, IN on January 1, 1935. He died on
March 16, 1987.
She is survived by four sons, Melvin (Georgia),
Floyd (Esther), both of Elkhart, William (Nancy) of Mauldin, SC,
John (Donna) of Circleville, UT and by five daughters, Thelma (Rufus)
Martin of Nappanee, Ruth (Frank) Richards, Eva (Basil) Borntreger, both
of Goshen, Marie (Ron) Troyer, and Lois (Marty) Martin, both of
Elkhart; two foster children, Vernon Dudley and Grace Dudley; 33
grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren, 72 great-grandchildren, 2
step-great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild; two sisters,
Rosa Cross and Edna Mast, both of Goshen.
Two daughters, Shirley Reichelt and Gladys Hoover,
one grandchild, Jerry Hoover, two brothers, William and Willard, and
one sister, Esther Schmucker, preceded her in death.
Visitation will be Tuesday, January 11, at the Yellow Creek Mennonite
church cabin, CR 11 & 38, from 2:00 to 8:00 PM. Burial will
be Wednesday morning in the Yellow Creek Cemetery at 9:00 A.M.
Memorial services, in charge of Ben Shirk and Wes Bontrager will be at
the Mt. Joy Mennonite Church, 200 N. 23rd St. Goshen, at 10:30 A.M
where she was a member.
A TRIBUTE FROM THE FAMILY
In Memory of Kathryn Schmucker Hoover
Today we buried the earthly shell of what was our mom and our
grandma. But, we don’t want to remember just a shell. We
want to remember the life and vitality that was hers. We want to
remember how she enjoyed life, accepted change, and looked forward to
new experiences with enthusiasm and courage.
Since her stroke in February 1998 her life was a real challenge.
For the most part she accepted her limitations – paralyzed left arm,
inability to walk by herself, and a speech impediment with good
humor. Her body was giving out but her mind remained
active. She enjoyed visitors and wanted to keep up with family
and friends.
What do we remember about Mom and Grandma?
She liked chickens. As a young girl she helped her father hatch
and raise laying hens. They sold dressed chickens at market. Later, as
a hired girl, she helped dress chickens, sold chickens, and canned
chickens. Then she married a chicken farmer. All this working
with chickens did not lessen her enjoyment of eating chicken. We,
her family and friends, remember a lot of good fried chicken, baked
chicken, and barbecued chicken. We remember with less enjoyment
feeding chickens, catching chickens, killing chickens, and dressing
chickens.
She was a hard worker. She expected us to be the same – sometimes it
worked, often not. She wanted us to have a plan for what we were
to do. One of her often repeated phrases was, “Be efficient, have
a system!”
She liked to work outside. She was the oldest in her family so she
became her father’s helper.
She spent many hours in the field plowing. When she was 14 – 16 years
old the family lived in Arkansas and raised rice. She walked the levees
and helped flood the rice fields. At one time they had a garage. She
learned to take apart the Model T Ford and put it together again. At
the time she learned to drive a car they did not have to have driver’s
licenses.
Mom and Pop liked children. Due to physical problems they were
able to have only four children born to them. This did not end
their dream of a large family. When new opportunities came to
them they were able to enlarge their family by adopting five
children. This was not enough either, so there were four foster
children. This is not counting other people who were given a home
at their house when it was needed.
She needed lots of food for this big family. This meant a large
garden. It also meant that this large family was put to work –
planting, hoeing, weeding, and harvesting!. With all these vegetables
there was also a large flower garden. We wondered if this was really
necessary but Mom got much enjoyment from her flowers.
Mom raised her family and then she helped raise her
grandchildren. She enjoyed babysitting – Did we take too much
advantage of that? But what fond memories the grandchildren and
great-grandchildren have of birthday cakes, making cookies, and clothes
made by Grandma.
She and Pop lived together for 52 years. When he went home in
1987 she was very lonely but she faced her new life with courage and
determination. Immediately after the funeral she told the rest of
the family that no one needed to stay with her, she knew she would have
to be alone, and she might as well start getting used to it. As long as
she was able to she did volunteer work, took trips, and helped her
family.
Mom and Grandma was a growing person. At the time she moved to
Arkansas with her parents and siblings she was in the 7th grade. Since
she was needed on the rice farm she never returned to school. This did
not in any way stop her learning. She read much. She often told
us she learned from her children as they learned new things at school.
After she was in her 80’s she had a computer and learned to send and
receive E-mail from her widely scattered family.
She knew what she believed and was fearless in expressing it. In
her first diary at age 22 she wrote, “I’m 5 ft. 2 in. tall, weigh 117
lbs, have light brown hair and blue eyes. People say I don’t know
when to quit talking. I suppose they’re right, but sometimes I
don’t know what to say. I’m very changeable. I try to be real
cheerful all the time, but sometimes it’s real hard. But I’ll try
from now on to live a truer Christian life than I have so far.
‘Trusting Him we believe that the blessings we’re needing, We’ll surely
receive.’ My motto: Trust & be true.” Her faith did not,
however, allow her to reject people, even if she disagreed with a
person’s actions. She prayed faithfully for all in her large
family.
Several years ago she left her family some notes about what she would
like at her funeral, such as the order of service, songs, and
scripture. One of her favorite songs was Amazing Grace. She
always said, “If you use it be sure to sing all four verses! The last
verse meant a great deal to her:
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’ve first begun.
Then she said, “But I don’t care what you do, I won’t be here!”
Don’t just remember Mom and Grandma as she was this last while, with
her handicaps. Remember her as vigorous and strong, happy and
enthusiastic, always with some goal in mind. (Remember how
you had to run to keep up with her in town?)
Remember her now as healed and reunited with Grandpa and the other
loved ones who have gone on before.
At the bottom of the scrap of paper on which she had written her
funeral suggestions she also left a message for us who have been left
behind:
“Meet you in the morning
Love you
all.
Mom”
Thelma Hoover Martin
January 9, 2000
Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved
- Mennonite Church USA Historical Committee & Archives
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.