Larry Mann Hesed
Obituary
Larry Mann Hesed, 66, died peacefully surrounded by his
loving family on Friday (Nov. 4, 2011) at his Newton residence.
He was born on Aug. 26, 1945, in Elkhart, Ind., to Clifford
and Helen (Ebersole) Mann. He was a graduate of Goshen College in Goshen, Ind.
On Aug. 9, 1975, he married Laurie Wilson in Sacramento, Calif.,and she
survives. When they were married, they chose the Hebrew word Hesed, which means
"God's mercy and loving kindness" and also "fidelity."
He was a longtime member of the Bergthal Mennonite Church in
rural Pawnee Rock and attended Shalom Mennonite Church in Newton. He retired
from Heartland Farm in rural Pawnee Rock as a farmer and maintenance worker.
Larry touched many lives as a peace activist and community worker in central
Kansas and Colorado Springs, Colo. After college, he taught at a school for
juvenile delinquent boys in Michigan. He also substitute taught, drove bus,
coached and reffed basketball games, and was the scholar's bowl coach for
Otis-Bison schools for many years.
He was the founder and director of the Victim Offender
Reconciliation Program in a five-county area of central Kansas. Larry enjoyed
sports, puzzles and bird watching. His family was very important to him, and he
enjoyed spending time with his loving wife, children and many friends.
Larry is survived by his wife Laurie Wilson Hesed of Newton;
mother Helen Mann of Goshen, Ind.; two sons and their wives: Joel and Julie
Hesed of Holton, and Kyle and Christy Miller Hesed of College Park, Md.; one
daughter, Kezia, and her husband Jason Ramey of Wichita; two sisters, Lois
Eberly of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Margaret Steiner of Goshen, Ind.
He was preceded in death by his father, Clifford Mann, and
two brothers, Robert and John Mann.
Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Bergthal
Mennonite Church in rural Pawnee Rock with Pastor Lynn Schlosser presiding.
Private family burial will be in the Bergthal Mennonite Church Cemetery.
The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be
given to the Mennonite Central Committee.
Petersen Funeral Home in Newton is in charge of
arrangements.
