Mennonite World Review - July 2013
Obituaries are emailed to MennObits before MWR is printed. Wording may vary in printed version.
Dick, Jacob A. ; . . Reeser, Clarence Allan ; . .
Mennonite World Review - July 8, 2013 - 91 st Year, No. 14 - p. 16
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Schmidt, A.B.P.
A.B.P. Schmidt, 79, of rural Corn, Okla., died May 1, 2013, in a farm accident. He was born Oct. 2, 1933, to A.R. and Freda (Krewall) Schmidt near Cordell.
He was raised in the Cordell area and attended a country school through the eighth grade, then attended Corn Bible Academy, graduating in 1951. He farmed with his father until he married Bernice Faye Reimer on Feb. 25, 1955, in Corn.
They made their first home in Topeka, Kan., then after a short time there moved back to Washita County. They lived, raised their family and farmed the same place for more than 55 years. They were active in raising wheat, cotton and cattle. He was also involved in custom farming and being a fertilizer dealer for more than 20 years.
He was a longtime faithful member of Bible Mennonite Brethren Church in Cordell, serving in many capacities. He was on the board of education for Corn Bible Academy for more than 33 years and was active with Mennonite Disaster Service.
Survivors include his wife, Bernice; a son, Buddy Schmidt and his wife, Chris, of Corn; three daughters, Christine Loewen and her husband, Neal, of Corn, Eileen Thompson and her husband, James, of Burdett, Kan., and Gretchen Reimer and her husband, Tom, of Hesston, Kan.; two sisters-in-law, Frances and Clara Schmidt, both of Cordell; 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by four brothers and two sisters-in-law, Alfred, Edwin, Karl and wis wife, Rubena, and Manfred and his wife, Frances.
Funeral services were held at Bible Mennonite Brethren Church in Cordell. Burial was in Bible Mennonite Brethren Cemetery east of Bessie.
Mennonite World Review - July 22, 2013 - 91st Year, No. 15 - p. B9
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Reeser, Clarence Allan
Clarence Allan Reeser, 85, died April 24, 2013, at Albany (Ore.) General Hospital. He was born in Hoquiam, Wash., on Aug. 25, 1927, but grew up in the Albany area.
He attended Beulah College and Goshen (Ind.) College before participating in alternate service at a Denver hospital from 1952 to 1954. On April 8, 1953, he married Ruth Frances Bixler in La Junta, Colo.
They soon moved back to Albany, where he worked as a grass seed farmer. In 1962 he went back to school and earned a master's degree in education at Western Oregon State University. After teaching fifth grade for seven years in the Albany area, they moved to Royal City, Wash., in 1972, where he resumed farming for another 23 years. After three years of volunteer work in the United States, he and Ruth moved to Mennonite Village in Albany in 1998. For most of their 15 years there, they enjoyed volunteering at the Alzheimer's unit, calling bingo or visiting the sick. He had a great interest in people and loved to tell jokes. His church was central to his life.
Survivors include five children, Regina Bumstead and her husband, Dan, of Livingstone, Zambia, Dale Reeser and his wife, Akua, of Spokane, Wash., Jerry Reeser of Mount Vernon, Wash., Emily Riesser and her husband, Tom Sunderland, of Seattle, Wash., and Gregory Reeser of Costa Rica; 13 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and two siblings.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth, in 2012.
Memorial services were held at Albany Mennonite Church.
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Alda Swartzendruber, 97, of Newton, Kan., formerly of Kalona, Iowa, died June 27, 2013, at Schowalter Villa in Hesston. She was born Feb. 8, 1916, to Arthur and Amanda Stutzman Burkey in Beaver Crossing, Neb.
She married Lloyd Swartzendruber in the family home in Seward County, Neb., on Aug. 12, 1938. The couple farmed in the Wellman, Iowa, community until retiring in Kalona.
She had many interests and belonged to West Union Mennonite Church, Prairie China Painters, Garden Club of Wellman and Women's Mennonite Society. She taught Sunday school and Bible school many years. She enjoyed doll collecting and designing and making clothing for the dolls.
Survivors include two children, Rosie Roberson and her husband, Bob, of Newton, Kan., and Arthur Swartzendruber and his wife, Ethel, of Kokomo, Ind.; a brother, Marlin Burkey and his wife, Marge, of Seward, Neb.; two sisters, Lorreta Wolfer and her husband, Roy, of Milford, Neb., and Leann Miller of York, Neb.; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd, in 2007; two brothers, Lawrence and Perry; and one sister, Verda White.
Services were held at West Union Mennonite Church, rural Parnell, Iowa. Burial was in the West Union Cemetery.
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Darlene S. (Huebert) Steingard, 83, of Henderson, Neb., died July 5, 2013, at the Henderson Care Center. She was born Feb. 20, 1930, to Henry H. and Anna (Friesen) Huebert in York County.
She grew up on the family farm outside of Henderson. She graduated from Henderson High School and attended Bethel College in North Newton, Kan. The next year she taught at the District 31 country school. She was baptized at and was a lifelong member of Bethesda Mennonite Church in Henderson. She taught Sunday school and sang in the chancel choir for many years. On June 9, 1950, she married John K. (Bud) Steingard.
They made their home north of Stockham and then moved several times around the Henderson area. In 1995, they built a home in town. They were blessed with four children. She loved cooking, baking and trying new recipes. She enjoyed traveling, bowling, reading, playing the piano, playing cards and dominoes with friends. She enjoyed watching and talking about sports, especially baseball and football.
Survivors include a daughter, Connie Holland of Wichita, Kan.; three sons, Dale Steingard and his wife, Laura, Johnnie Steingard and his wife, Lori, and Gary Steingard and his wife, Deanna, all of Henderson; four sisters, Jennie Friesen and her husband, Robert W., Twila Penner and her husband, Lauren, Pat Saltzman and her husband, Don, and Em Pankratz and her husband, Joe; a brother, John Huebert and his wife, Adeline; two sisters-in-law, Edith Buller and Elvera Huebert; six grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John K. (Bud) Steingard; four brothers, Harvey, Lester, Leo and Milton; a sister, Adeline; a sister-in-law, DeLorris Huebert; and a brother-in-law, Tom Dick.
Memorial services were held at Bethesda Mennonite Church. Burial was in the Bethesda Cemetery.
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Jacob "Jake" A. Dick, 95, of Mountain Lake, Minn., died July 6, 2013, at Good Samaritan Society, Sogge Memorial Home in Windom. He was born Dec. 20, 1917, to Jacob J.P. and Agatha (Heide) Dick on the family farm near Mountain Lake.
He served four years in Civilian Public Service during World War II. On Dec. 7, 1943, he married Arlene Mildred Peters at Bethel Mennonite Church.
He managed several grain elevators. In the 1950s, he and Arlene moved into Mountain Lake when he began selling seed corn. After age 40 he began a new career selling health and life insurance and thoroughly enjoyed this work. He was active in Bethel Mennonite Church, where he served as trustee, deacon and financial secretary for many years. He served on several community boards, including The Mountain Lake Foundation, Savings and Loan board and the city council. Upon retirement, he took up woodworking and liked making dining tables, many of which he donated to Mennonite Central Committee auctions, for which he was a loyal supporter.
He married Bessie M. Harder on June 12, 2009, at First Mennonite Church after an extended prayer partnership during the declining health and deaths of their spouses.
Survivors include three children, Mary Harder and her husband, Martin, of Minneapolis, Norman Dick and his wife, Rosalie, of Mountain Lake, and Marlin Erin and his wife, Mary, of Beaver Falls, Pa.; five stepchildren, Rebecca Aum, Rachel Diener, David Harder, Maryann Harder and Wilma Harder, eight grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and a step-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Arlene, in 2005; his second wife, Bessie, in 2012; a sister, Elizabeth Perry; and a brother, Peter Dick.
Services were held at Bethel Mennonite Church, Mountain Lake. Burial was in Mountain Lake City Cemetery.