Marlow Ediger
1927 - 2018
Obituary
Dr. Marlow Ediger was born to Jacob and
Marie Regier Ediger on Oct. 10, 1927, on a farm near Inman. He
attended and graduated from Turkey Creek Elementary School and Inman
High School in McPherson County. He completed his first two years of
college study in education at Bethel College before transferring to
Emporia State University. Marlow taught at Sand Creek and Country
Side Elementary Schools in Marion County and served as Elementary
School Principal in Lincolnville.
He married Mary Duerksen of Goessel on
June 2, 1957, at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, celebrating more
than 60 years of marriage. They were blessed with three children:
Bruce, Kent and wife Diana, and Diane Threlkeld and husband Joseph
(who faithfully and frequently visited); and six grandchildren: Van,
Sam, Henry, Harper, Jansen and Everett.
He was preceded in death by his
parents; his sister, Mildred, who encouraged him and financially
contributed to his education; and his brother and friend, Eldo.
Surviving are his wife, Mary; their
three children; grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
In his own words, Marlow shares
memories of his early life: "I was blessed to have been raised
in the Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church and community. My early duties
and interests while growing up on a farm were to help with farm
chores and tend to my 4-H projects of registered Milking Shorthorn
Cattle, which were exhibited at the County Fair and at the State Fair
in Hutchinson. While in high school, I received Highly Superior
ratings on my baritone horn solos at the regional and district music
contests. The state music contests were canceled due to national
conservation efforts of World War II. I also played baritone horn
solos later at church, civic events and college pep band, quitting
due to handicaps in handling and playing my very favorite instrument,
which I still own. While in high school, I was a member of 4-H and
honored to serve as President for one year, served as Vice President
and President of the local Future Farmers of America chapter and
received the State Farmer Degree from FFA, which was open to two
percent of the FFA membership in Kansas. I was also fortunate to be
awarded the Union Pacific Railroad scholarship in Agriculture in
1946. When I was 11, my mother had a devastating stroke, leaving her
paralyzed and unable to walk or communicate. My father, sister,
brother and myself took care of her in our home until she died 22
years later in 1961."
Graduating from Emporia State
University with both a Baccalaurate in 1958 and a Master's Degree in
1960, and then completing Doctoral Degree requirements in 1963 at the
University of Denver, he became a full professor at Truman State
University in 1962, serving there for 30 years as professor. During
his time at TSU, he served as Vice President and President of the
local chapter of Phi Delta Kappa. He also served two years as Vice
President and President of the local chapter of the American
Association of University Professors.
A highlight of his career was to serve
two years as a teacher and relief worker in the Holy Land. He saw the
Mount of Olives and the Walled City of Jerusalem almost every day.
"What a rich experience!" Marlow used to say to family and
friends about his time in the Middle East.
Marlow was a life member of the
National Education Association (NEA), State Teachers Association,
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD),
International Literacy Association (ILA), National Council Social
Studies (NCSS), National Council Teachers of English (NCTE), and
National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). He had upwards of 1,000
written manuscripts published in education in six continents. He also
had 31 co-authored textbooks published for university use, having
previously served as a classroom teacher and school administrator.
Marlow would like to thank the
following faithful visitors, in particular, in that "I was sick
and ye visited me": nephew, Wesley Ediger (son of his late
brother Eldo), Abe Schmidt, John and Joan Stretcher, Reverend Scott
McGinnis and, above all, "my wonderful wife, Mary. Thank you and
may God bless you and keep you! May He lift his countenance upon you
and grant you peace. May we meet again with the Lord being our
shepherd. I shall not want."
Memorial service will be 11 a.m.
Saturday (May 5, 2018) at First Presbyterian Church, 900 Columbus,
Newton, with The Reverend Scott McGinnis presiding. Private family
interment will be in the Alexanderwohl Cemetery, rural Goessel.
Memorials, in lieu of flowers, are
asked to be directed to MCC or First Presbyterian Church in care of
Petersen Funeral Home, 215 N. Main St., Newton, KS 67114.
