Obituary

Elam J. Peachey, 70, of Hesston passed away on Thursday (Jan. 6, 2011) at Newton Medical Center.

He was born on April 4, 1940, in Belleville, Pa., the son of Elam C. and Barbara Yoder Peachey. On June 9, 1962, he married Sharon French who preceded him in death on June 3, 1965. The couple had one daughter, Shana. On Sept. 30, 1967, he married Nancy Hartzler. Together they had two daughters, Cheryl and Leigh Ann.

Elam earned a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Mennonite College in 1962, a master’s degree from Penn State University in 1969 and a doctor of education degree from Temple University in 1986. Elam directed agricultural missions in Costa Rica for Rosedale Mennonite Missions from 1962-1964. He was a teacher and administrator at Christopher Dock Mennonite High School in Lansdale, Pa., from 1967 until 1990. Faculty and students remember him as a servant leader and role model. He worked as a development officer, director of development and executive vice president for advancement at Hesston College. He chaired the board of the college’s Dyck Arboretum of the Plains. In 2010, he took on the role of planned giving advisor for the college. He traveled widely for the college and considered each constituent a friend. He was dedicated to the church and Christian education. As a member of Whitestone Mennonite Church, he held a number of leadership roles, including elder. He also was a member of Mennonite Economic Development Associates and past member of Mennonite Secondary Education Council. Elam loved gardening, birding, singing in the shower and being with his family. He was known for his ringing laugh, his generous spirit and his sincere desire to live as Jesus taught.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy; daughters, Shana Peachey Boshart and husband, David of Parnell, Iowa, Cheryl Peachey Stoner and husband, Robert of Hesston and Leigh Ann O’Halloran and husband, Keith of Hesston; three brothers, Chester of Trout Run, Pa., Willard of Belleville, Pa., and Allen of Goshen, Ind.; two sisters, Anna Mary Borntrager of Mattoon, Ill., and Marlene Wenger of Fort Defiance, Va.; nine grandsons; and one great-granddaughter.

Visitation with family present will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday (Jan. 9) at Hesston Mennonite Church. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Monday (Jan. 10) at Whitestone Mennonite Church. Pastor Kurt Horst will officiate. Private burial will take place at Eastlawn Cemetery in Hesston. Memorials can be made to Hesston College, or the Mennonite Racial/Ethnic Leadership Fund in care of Miller-Ott Funeral Home, 107 S. Lancaster, P.O. Box 32, Hesston, KS 67062.