Walter Erb, 887, passed away November 12, 2012 at Newton Medical Center. He was born May 4, 1925 in Cummings County, Nebraska, son of John K. and Lena Oswald Erb. He was a dairy farmer near Frazee Mn. for 27 years and then worked as groundskeeper at the Schowalter Villa for 27 years retiring in 2006.
In 1947 he married Stella Gingerich who passed away in 1972. In 1973 he married Mary Zook of Wichita and she passed away in 2010. Walter received his education at Dist 21 near Beemer, Nebraska and joined the Plum Creek Mennonite Church, later named Beemer Mennonite, at the age of 12.
The family moved to Mn. in '43 and there he joined the Lake Region Mennonite congregation and also married Stella, living and farming there until his marriage to Mary in '73. Shortly thereaafter, Walter and Mary served a two year VS assignment at the Glencroft Friendship community in Glendale, Arizona. They returned to Spruce St. in Hesston in '78 where they resided until moving into the Villa in 2006.
He is survived ay a son, Merlin (Loretta) of Dalton, Ohio; daughter, Verla Hochsteetler (Jon) of Frzee, MN, and son Dan (Kamme) of Hesston; 10 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, 7 siblings and their spouses.
Funeral services will be November 17 at Schowalter Villa Chapel, Hesston with Chaplain Wendy Miller officiating. Burial will be at Eastlawn Cemetery, Hesston.
