Jewel Mummau ‘03 and Lavern Peachey, Reedsville, Pa., Ella, Dec. 17, 2012. Adam ‘03 and Emily Wilson, class of ‘03, Starks, Pittsburgh, Pa., Susannah Aeryn, Aug. 21, 2013. Stephen (Steve) '04, services support analyst in information systems, and Bethany Gibbs, Port Republic, Va., Eli Robert, Nov. 25, 2013. Gregory (Greg) '04 and Blake Grimm, Wayne, Pa., Charles Houston, May 16, 2013. Molly Hurst ‘04 and Matthew Coiner, Vesuvius, Va., Hannah Noel, Feb. 11, 2012. Braden (BJ) ‘04 and Sherah-Leigh Zehr ‘04, MDiv ‘09 Gerber, Apple Creek, Ohio, Titus Benjamin, June 5, 2013. Eric ‘04 and Elizabeth Kennel, Lancaster, Pa., Paxton Charles, Aug. 14, 2013. Joanna Souder ‘04 and Welby (Clay) Showalter ‘02, Harrisonburg, Va., Ari Phillip, Nov. 2, 2013. Benjamin (Ben) ‘04 and Meredith Blauch ‘05 Wideman, Souderton, Pa., Alethia Laurel, Oct. 29, 2013. Tracey King-Ortega, MA ‘05 (conflict transformation), Managua, Nicaragua, twins, Ruby Amanda and Benjamin Desmond. Phillip (Phil) ‘07 and Laura Sayre ‘08 Baker, Seattle, Wash., Claire Rose, May 11, 2013. Ryan, MA ‘11 (conflict transformation) and Jacqueline Beuthin, Flint, Mich., Starling Eliot, June 23, 2013. David ‘11 and Csilla Muscan, Harrisonburg, Va., Christopher James, Oct. 31, 2013. Claudia, Grad. Cert. ‘11 and Jimmy Winter, Curitiba Parana, Brazil, Jayden, Sept. 17, 2013. Benjamen ‘12 and Grace Engle ‘12 Delp, Harrisonburg, Va., Naisa Fern, Sept. 28, 2012.
DEATHS
Erma Landis ‘46 Whitmore, Susquehanna, Pa., died Feb. 26, 2013, at age 90. Upon graduation, Erma taught school for many years and was an avid gardener.
Paul M. Landis, class of ‘48, Richfield, Pa., died Oct. 9, 2013, at age 89. He was a member of Cocolamus Mennonite Church. He dedicated his life to God in his youth. In 1950, Paul was ordained a minister of the Gospel, and in 1970, he was ordained bishop. He left a legacy of zeal and faithfulness to God and the church. Cleora Ropp Yoder, class of ‘51, Wolford, N.D., died Nov. 7, 2013, at age 91. Cleora loved Jesus and wanted to help others to know Him. Before Cleora was married, she was involved in several mission opportunities in northern Minnesota and Michigan. Cleora was a homemaker who worked hard for her
family, assisting with some farming operations, especially early in marriage. She was a member of the Salem Mennonite Church, where she participated in church life which included ladies sewing circle and teaching Sunday school and Bible school. She loved people, fellowship, and relationships. She was an easy conversationalist; no one was a stranger to her. Elsie Cressman, class of ‘53, New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada, died Sept. 11, 2013, at age 90. In 1954, aboard the Queen Mary, Elsie traveled to Tanganyika (now Tanzania) to help set up a leprosy hospital complete with living accomodations for patients and staff. The hospital she established eventually served about 400 patients. In a 2010 MetaMedia television documentary about her return to Africa as an 86-year-old, Elsie reflected, “I didn’t know what I was getting into, but I really enjoyed it.” She stayed in East Africa for 23 years. After the local community took over the hospital, Elsie went to England for two years of midwife training. When she returned to Africa in the mid-1970s, she went to Rusinga Island in Lake Victoria in Kenya to set up a health center there. She delivered more than 1,000 babies during her time at the clinic. Helen Althouse Rutt, class of ‘54, Lititz, Pa., died Sept. 13, 2013, at age 82. As a registered nurse, she worked at both the Hahnemann Hospital in Philadelphia, Pa., and Lancaster General. She worked for eight years with Mennonite Central Committee in medical missions to Indonesia and helped with the medical work of her husband, Clarence, for a number of years after that. Helen was a member of the Landisville Mennonite Church since 1971 where she served as lay minister of evangelism, secretary to the pastor, summer Bible school teacher, and was active in their share group. She enjoyed hosting, serving as coordinator for LOVE, Inc., participating in neighborhood Bible study, gardening, preserving food, crossword puzzles, needlework, sending aid after the tsunami in Indonesia, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. June Marie Weaver, class of ‘55, Harrisonburg, Va., died on Aug. 2, 2013, at age 83. She was employed by Dr. John T. Glick in Broadway as his first nurse, the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, and Valley Children’s Clinic. She was a member of Harrisonburg Mennonite Church for over 60 years, where she was active in leadership in the women’s organizations, including a weekly Wednesday evening meal, manager of the Women’s Missionary Service Organization and also managed the hospitality committee. She spent decades writing to persons in ministry, college, and service work. She often did quiet behind-the-scenes work and was dedicated to her family. Lois Miller Hartman, class of ‘58, Goshen, Ind., died Sept. 28, 2013, at age
78. She was a teacher at Central Christian High School in Kidron, Ohio and copastored with her husband, Wilmer, at Central Mennonite Church in Archbold, Ohio and Sycamore Grove Mennonite Church in Garden City, Mont., before retiring to Goshen. Lois also led tours of Switzerland and the Holy Land and was considered a pioneer for women’s leadership in the church. Lois loved her children and grandchildren, singing, laughing, cooking, and crossword puzzles. Herman Reitz, SEM ‘58, Harrisonburg, Va., died Oct. 6, 2013, at age 81. An Eastern Mennonite Seminary and Bible & religion department faculty member for over 40 years, Herman was a committed Christian. He pastored Mennonite congregations in Richmond, Mt. Jackson, and Dayton, Va., taught adult Sunday school, was a chaplain’s associate at Rockingham Memorial Hospital, a “Meals on Wheels” volunteer, and a Mennonite World Review correspondent. Willis Horst, class of ‘64, Goshen, Ind., died on Sept. 1, 2013, at age 74. Willis worked for the Mennonite Mission Network in accompaniment with the indigenous United Evangelical Church in northern Argentina from 1971 to 2010. He developed the Bible Circle, a conversational format that encourages indigenous people to explore their spirituality and the values of Jesus within their own culture. Allan Eugene (Gene) Reynolds ‘67, Tulsa, Okla., died unexpectedly after a brief illness on Aug. 4, 2013, at age 70. Gene was an affectionate, generous, and inspiring husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He had a career as a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist in private practice in Tulsa, while residing on his ranch in Jennings. He was a gifted therapist and formidable expert witness. Gene was a force of nature with infectious optimism and enthusiasm. He encouraged others to walk tall, hold their head high, explore their world both inside and out, and above all, to be kind. Marcella Tams ‘74, Harrisonburg, Va., died Aug. 18, 2013, at age 68. She was employed by Harrisonburg Parks and Recreation, where she touched the lives of many neighborhood youth. Marcella was later employed by Merck, before recently retiring. Sharon Sacra ‘81 Lehman, Harrisonburg, Va., died May 20, 2013, at age 54. She was a stay-at-home mother, home schooled her children for part of their school years, and drove a school bus for Rockingham County. Mrs. Lehman loved to travel with her family. She was a member of the Harrisonburg Mennonite Church where she was employed as a church secretary. James (Jim) Roynon, MDiv ‘86, Archbold, Ohio, died Aug. 2, 2013, at age 62. After graduating from Findlay College with a BA in both vocal and instrumental music, Jim taught vocal music for almost
10 years before answering his call to ministry. He would go on to faithfully serve West Clinton Mennonite Church for 19 years and the greater Mennonite church until his retirement in 2012. Jim will be remembered for his faithfulness to Christ, pastoral care, love of music and passive-resistance. He was active in leadership for the Northwest Ohio Emmaus community. His past devotion of time and service to the Peace Justice Support Network of Mennonite Church USA and his commitment to Christian Peacemaker Teams will not be forgotten. Wendy Weick ‘00, Louisville, Ky., died Feb. 19, 2013, at age 52. She was a member of Ascension Lutheran Church and active in community service. Geoffrey (Geoff) Sakuda ‘04, died July 23, 2013, at age 34. Annette Lenker ‘06, Williamsport, Md., died Oct. 14, 2013, at age 33. Annette enjoyed participating and leading church camp from her youth. She found great joy and fulfillment in working and teaching children. Her ambition was to eventually serve as a missionary to Guatemala. Annette’s essence could be summarized as being thoughtful and giving. She loved her family and especially her nieces and nephew. The greatest joy of her life was knowing Jesus Christ as her Savior. She was employed as the director of Heifer Global Village at Shepherd’s Spring located in Sharpsburg, Md. Degree Key CLASS OF - attended as part of the class of a given graduation year. HS - high school degree from era when high school and college were one MA - master of arts MDiv - master of divinity SEM - attended the seminary
Mileposts is compiled by Braydon Hoover '11, who may be reached at braydon.hoover@emu.edu or at 540-432-4294. send news directly to braydon or to alumni@emu.edu. Editorial Policy Milepost entries regarding alumni employment, degrees obtained from other universities, marriages, 50-year and 60-year anniversaries, births, adoptions, and deaths are printed on the basis of submissions from alumni or on the basis of publicly available information. We do not do further research to verify the accuracy of the information that alumni provide us, nor do we make judgment calls on the information that they wish to be published, beyond editing for clarity, conciseness and consistency of style. The information provided to us does not necessarily reflect the official policies of EMU or of its parent church, Mennonite Church USA.
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