Obituary

Allen Edward Zook (1924 - 2015)

Obituary

Allen Edward Zook, age 91, passed away on Thursday, August 27, 2015, at Fairlawn Haven in Archbold, OH. He was born August 6, 1924, near Garden City, MO, to Edward K. and Nancy Edith (Hershberger) Zook. On March 15, 1952, Allen married Esther Neff of LaGrange, IN, and she preceded him in death on December 4, 2004.

Allen was a minister in the Mennonite Church for many years and served congregations in Kirksville, MO, Versailles, MO and Gulfport, MS before retiring in Hesston, KS. He moved to Archbold in 2011. He was a member of the Hesston Mennonite Church at the time of his death. In addition to ministry, he had a number of part-time jobs: school bus driver, truck driver, meat cutter, bank courier and custodial worker. He served in Civilian Public Service from 1944 -1946 in Hill City, SD, and Lincoln, NE. He also operated the Mennonite Central Committee Relief canner for two years in the 1940's.

Allen and Esther were the parents of four children who survive: Elaine (Nathan) Barge of Harrisonburg, VA, David (Lynn) Zook of Sarasota, FL, Lois Arndt of Colorado Springs, CO and Donna (Allen) Rutter of Stryker, OH. Allen was deeply devoted to his family and enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren.

In addition to his children, he is survived by nine grandchildren: Amy Berry, Amanda Zook, Jonathan Zook, Teneesa Stuckey, Nichole Aeschliman, Rebeca Barge, Elizabeth Ropp, Cassidy and Molly Arndt. He is also survived by six great-grandchildren: Dylan Berry, Amelia and Owen Stuckey, Creighton, Lincoln and Ty Aeschliman.

Allen is also survived by one brother, John Zook, of Goshen IN. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters: Mary Erb, Erma Zimmerman and Luella Bitikofer, his twin brother Alvin, his brother Marvin, two infant siblings, Mabel and Clarence, and son-in-law, John Arndt.

Visitation will be on Friday, September 4, 2015, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Miller Ott Funeral Home in Hesston, KS. A memorial service will be held at Hesston Mennonite Church on Saturday, September 5, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be in the Eastlawn Cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Mennonite Central Committee or Shalom Counseling and Mediation Center.