John Harold Moyer, 85, passed away Sunday (October 28, 2012) at Kidron Bethel Village in North Newton.
Harold was born May 6, 1927, in Newton to John F. and Helen Isaac Moyer. He married Rosemary Linscheid on August 30, 1955, in Freeman, South Dakota. She survives of North Newton. He grew up near the Bethel College campus as the youngest of three boys and attended Newton public schools and Bethel College. He served in Civilian Public Service during World War II at Camp Camino in California and at Mennonite Central Committee headquarters in Akron, Pennsylvania. After graduation from Bethel College in 1949, he pursued graduate studies in music composition, receiving a master’s degree (1951) from George Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee, and a PhD (1958) from University of Iowa in Iowa City. Harold taught at Freeman Junior College in Freeman, South Dakota, (1951-1955). During this time, he was drafted for the Korean War and served in 1-W service, teaching music at Boys’ Industrial School in Topeka, Kansas. He taught at Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana (1957-1959), Conrad Grebel College in Waterloo, Ontario (1973-1974), and Bethel College (1959-1992), where he received professor emeritus status. During his tenure at Bethel, he taught music courses and served on many committees, as acting registrar, director of alumni relations, director of experiential learning, and chair of the music department. He wrote numerous choral and instrumental compositions and arrangements, many of which have been performed locally by college, church and community groups. Harold was an active member of Bethel College Mennonite Church, where he sang in the choir, taught junior high Sunday School, and served on the Visitation Team. He was a member of Kansas Mennonite Men’s Chorus, for which he composed and arranged many songs and served on the steering committee. He belonged to several professional and community organizations, including American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers; Kansas Music Educators Association; and Kiwanis Club. He provided leadership for Life Enrichment programs at Bethel College and enjoyed delivering Meals on Wheels in Newton for many years.
Other survivors are daughter, Janet and Dwight Regier of Newton; daughter, Rachel and Clayton Harrison of Kirtland, New Mexico; grandchildren, Daniel and Sara Rickard Regier of Tucson, Arizona, Miriam Regier of Newton, Peter Regier of Lawrence, and Rebecca, Melissa and David Harrison of Kirtland, New Mexico; and sister-in-law, Anna Moyer of Newton. Harold was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Herman and Mildred Moyer; and brother, Melvin Moyer.
A graveside committal service will be 9:30 a.m. Friday, November 2, 2012, followed by a memorial celebration of Harold’s life at Bethel College Mennonite Church in North Newton at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at Petersen Funeral Home, with the family receiving friends from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Menno Hall at Kidron Bethel Village, 3001 Ivy Drive in North Newton. Memorials are suggested to Bethel College or Bethel College Mennonite Church, in care of Petersen Funeral Home.
1927 - 2012 (85 years)