Wayne Herbert Swartzendruber
Wayne Herbert Swartzendruber of Hesston, also known
as Druber, passed on peacefully on Saturday (Dec. 20, 2008) at Schowalter Villa
in Hesston, eight days before his 80th birthday. He had struggled with
Parkinson's disease and leukemia, complicated by a stroke in November.
Wayne was born Dec. 28, 1928, in Newton to George
and Grace Snyder Swartzendruber.
He grew up as a farm boy in rural St. John, Mich.,
graduated from Hesston Academy and attended Hesston College. There, he met
Margie Lu Hostetler, whom he married on May 28, 1950.
The newlyweds served two years in Mennonite Church
voluntary service in La Plata, Puerto Rico. Wayne became 'Druber' as owner and
operator of Druber's Donut Shop on West Sixth Street in Newton from 1971 to
1988.
Upon retirement from making both donuts and friends
at Druber's, he continued his avocation as inventor and builder and volunteered
in the informal role of chief playground and facilities engineer for Hesston
Child Care. His creativity, mechanical competence and love of play gave him the
opportunity to do what he felt was his most important work: encouraging and
developing people, especially children.
He and Margie made many friends with
Spanish-speaking immigrants and other newcomers to the community, putting to
use their fluency in Spanish. Druber also traveled internationally, continuing
to expand his interest in developing countries.
Wayne was a longtime member of Whitestone Mennonite
Church in Hesston.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years; a son,
Elbert, and daughter, Jan, both of Hesston, and a son, Karl, of Sterling
Heights, Mich.; as well as four brothers, Gene, Robert, Richard and Larry; and
two sisters, Evelyn Troyer and Virginia Swartzendruber. Druber has two
grandchildren, seven step-grandchildren and eight step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two sisters-in-law,
Edith Reed and Leila Devoe; brother-in-law, Robert Phelps; and son-in-law,
David Ledgere.
Druber's earthly remains will be cremated with a
private internment at Eastlawn Cemetery.
There will be a memorial service at 11 a.m. Jan. 10
at Whitestone Mennonite Church in Hesston.
Announcement of a memorial fund is pending.
Miller Funeral Home in Hesston is in charge of
arrangements.
