Paul Erb Oswald
1919 - 2016
Obituary
Paul Erb Oswald of North Newton died on
Thursday (Dec. 29, 2016). He was 97.
Paul was born on April 9, 1919, in
O'Neill, Nebraska, to Jacob and Elizabeth Oswald. On Oct. 5, 1941, he
married Dorothy Mae Egli from Manson, Iowa, where he resided until
June 2009, when he moved to North Newton, Kansas, and became an
independent living resident of Kidron Bethel Village.
He began 42 years of association with
the former Manson Implement Company in 1943 and eventually became
sole owner until his retirement in 1985. At that time, he sold the
business, which is now known as Calhoun County Implement. His son,
Neil Oswald, of Manson, managed this operation until fall 2016.
Paul was elected to the Manson School
Board from 1959 to 1965 and served as president for three years. He
was a member of the Manson Kiwanis Club and the Meridian Singers.
Paul was named to the Board of Iowa Equipment Dealers' Association
for six years.
Paul was a 50-plus-year member of
Manson Mennonite Church. He and his late wife, Dorothy, and their
children were one of three families who helped start a Mennonite
church in the Eastlawn Acres area of Fort Dodge, Iowa. He was named a
"Friend" of Hesston College, and a "Partner" of
Goshen College in Indiana. He was elected a member of the
International Mennonite Economic Development Association as the Iowa
representative and was also active in Mennonite Disaster Service.
After retirement, he and Dorothy volunteered for three years in
Tuscon, Arizona, where they served as hosts for the Mennonite
Voluntary Service unit. At the time of his death, he was a member of
Shalom Mennonite Church in Newton.
Preceding him in death were his wife,
Dorothy, in 1995; his parents; three brothers and three sisters. His
survivors include five children, Jane Lambert (Vaughn) of Salina,
Paula McClave (Mac) of Billings, Montana, Neil Oswald (Kathy) of
Manson, Brian Oswald (Patti) of Chicago and Laurie Oswald Robinson
(Alfonso) of Newton.
He is also survived by one brother; 10
grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; four step-great-
grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.
His local memorial service will be held
at 2 p.m. Monday (Jan. 2, 2016) at Kidron Bethel with Pastor Rachel
Ringenberg and Chaplain Eric Massanari presiding.
Another memorial service will follow at
10:30 a.m. Wednesday (Jan. 4, 2016) at Manson Mennonite Church. A
fellowship lunch and sharing time will be hosted in the Manson church
hall following the service.
Any memorials are suggested to Kidron
Bethel, Shalom Mennonite Church or Manson Mennonite Church in care of
Petersen Funeral Home.
