Robert Kreider
Obituary
Robert Stanford Kreider died on Dec.
27, 2015 at his home in North Newton, Kansas.
Robert was born January 2, 1919, in
Sterling, Illinois, son of Amos and Stella (Shoemaker) Kreider. In
1921, the family moved to Goshen, Indiana, and in 1926 to Bluffton,
Ohio. In 1929, Robert was baptized in the First Mennonite Church,
Bluffton.
In 1935, the family relocated to Newton
and Robert entered Bethel College where he earned a B.A. in History.
In 1941, Robert earned an M.A. in Social Ethics from the University
of Chicago Divinity School.
As a conscientious objector to war,
Robert was drafted into Civilian Public Service (CPS) from 1941 to
1945. His years of service included Assistant Director of the
Colorado Springs CPS Camp, Secretary of Education for Mennonite
Central Committee (MCC) CPS Camps, and Director of MCC's mental
hospital program.
On Dec. 30, 1945, Robert married Lois
Sommer in her home church at Pekin, Illinois. Six weeks later, Robert
left to direct MCC's relief program in Germany, and one year later,
Lois joined him as a relief worker. Returning to the US in 1949,
Robert entered a doctoral program at the University of Chicago where
he earned a PhD in European History. In 1950, their first child, Ruth
Marie, was born and died two days later.
In 1952, Esther was born, and they
moved to Bluffton, Ohio where Robert began teaching history at
Bluffton College. Over the next ten years Joan, Karen, David and Ruth
joined the family. In 1954, Robert became Academic Dean and in 1965,
President. He took leave for one year, 1961-62, to establish MCC's
Teachers Abroad Program in Africa and Latin America. As President,
Robert was particularly interested in innovative programs and in the
development of a campus plan that included tree planting and building
growth.
After resigning as Bluffton's president
in 1972, Robert directed an MCC Self Study, and Robert and Lois spent
four months visiting MCC programs in Africa and Asia. In 1975, Robert
joined Bethel College (North Newton) as Professor of Peace Studies
and Director of the Mennonite Library and Archives, then as Interim
Academic Dean. Robert retired in 1985, continuing part time for two
years as Administrative Vice President and Director of the Kansas
Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution.
Robert was involved in the work of the
church. He served as deacon and Sunday School teacher in his home
congregation and as member of the executive committees of the General
Conference Mennonite Church Board of Christian Service, MCC,
Mennonite World Conference, Kidron Bethel Village, Kauffman Museum,
and Mennonite World Review. Other absorbing activities included
curation of the Mirror of the Martyrs exhibit and collaborative
historical projects such as publication of the Mennonite Experience
in America series.
Together with his brother Gerald,
Robert established the Marpeck Fund to foster creative collaboration
among Mennonite institutions of higher learning in Canada and the US,
including Bethel, Bluffton, Goshen, Hesston, Eastern Mennonite,
Conrad Grebel, Canadian Mennonite, and Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical
Seminary.
Robert was preceded in death by his
parents, brother, and infant daughter. Survivors include Lois, his
wife of 70 years, his five children Esther (William) Eash of Newton,
Joan of St. Paul, Minnesota, Karen (Stephen) Kreider Yoder of San
Francisco, California, David (Heidi) of North Newton, and Ruth of
Munich, Germany, 13 grandchildren, and 2 great grandsons.
Robert's body was donated to Kansas
University School of Medicine. Cremation and inurnment will take
place at a later date.
A memorial service is planned for 11
a.m. Jan. 2, 2016 at Faith Mennonite Church in Newton. Visitation
with family will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 1, 2016 at Faith Mennonite
Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests
memorial gifts be designated to Mennonite Central Committee or the
Marpeck Fund in care of Faith Mennonite Church, 2100 North Anderson
Ave., Newton, KS 67114.
