ALMA EWERT
1927 - 2017
Obituary
Alma L. Ewert, 89, died at Kidron
Bethel Village, North Newton, on Tuesday (July 25, 2017). She was
born on Oct. 6, 1927, to Joseph Allen and Anna (Umholtz) Hershberger.
During her childhood, the Hershberger family lived on a small farm
just south of Zimmerdale. Alma attended a two-room elementary school
north of Zimmerdale. The Family attended the Pennsylvania (now
Whitestone in Hesston) Mennonite Church north of Zimmerdale. Alma
attended Newton High School and graduated from Sedgwick High School
in 1945 when the family moved to the Sedgwick area.
Alma married Vernon Baker on March 17,
1946. They moved to Newton, where Alma took a job as a teller at
Kansas State Bank. After working there for 14 years, she resigned to
devote full time to being a mother and homemaker when she and Vernon
adopted a baby boy. Later, they adopted another boy and two girls.
Soon, Alma also became the
administrator of a small print shop in their garage, doing printing
for the mobile home manufacturing industry, while Vernon worked at
the U.S. Post Office. The venture was successful, but very demanding
of time and effort. The print shop was closed and the printing
equipment sold.
The Bakers then decided to start a
service preparing income tax reports. Again, the converted garage
space was used for the work area. Along with being a mother and a
homemaker, Alma became the administrator and organizer for the
service while Vernon continued to work full time. This venture, too,
was successful until Vernon became terminally ill and died of cancer.
After Vernon's death, Alma became a
volunteer for the Harvey County Hospice as a companion and caregiver
for hospice patients in their homes or hospital. She also volunteered
for the American Cancer Society, soliciting funds door-to-door and
organizing fundraising activities.
On April 7, 1984, Alma married Marvin
Ewert and became a stepmother to his two grown sons and their wives
and a grandmother to their children.
Alma enjoyed being a homemaker,
gardening, quilting and community service. She made 18 baby quilts,
one for each grandchild, and five full-sized bed quilts.
In 1986, Alma became a member of the
First Mennonite Church of Newton, where she served on the Dinner and
Social committees.
Alma was preceded in death by her late
husbands, Vernon and Marvin; her daughter, Jana; her parents; three
brothers, Richard, Kenneth and Carl; and two sisters, Doris Jones and
Bonnie Jantz.
She is survived by her two sons and
their wives, Gregory and Teresa Baker of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Anthony
and Ronda Baker of Newton; a daughter, Connie and her husband Dr.
Brian Roadhouse of Tulsa, Oklahoma; brother, Joe Hershberger and wife
Mary of Hesston; a sister, Virginia Davidson and her husband Jerry of
Sedgwick; a sister-in-law, Joan Hershberger of Sedgwick; a
brother-in-law, David Jones of Little Rock, Arkansas; numerous
grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews; stepsons,
Warren Ewert and wife Joleen of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and Dr. Brian
Ewert and wife Kathleen of Marshfield, Wisconsin; and a
step-grandchild.
Funeral services are scheduled for 11
a.m. Tuesday (Aug. 1, 2017) at the First Mennonite Church of Newton.
A graveside committal service will be held prior to the funeral at 10
a.m. Tuesday at Greenwood Cemetery in Newton. A visitation is
scheduled from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday (July 31, 2017) at Petersen Funeral
Home in Newton. The family will be present from 6 to 8 p.m. to greet
friends and family.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests
memorial contributions to the following organizations: First
Mennonite Church, 429 E. First, Newton, Kansas 67114 and the American
Cancer Society, 330 S. Main St., Wichita, KS. 67207, or other
charitable organization of choice. Petersenfamilyfuneralhome.com.
1927 - 2017 (89 years)