Gene Swartzendruber
1927 - 2020
Gene Swartzendruber, 93, of Hesston,
Kansas passed away of natural causes on October 3, 2020 at Schowalter
Villa.
Gene was born in Newton, KS on July 3,
1927 to George A. and Grace F.(Snyder) Swartzendruber. The family
moved to St Johns, Michigan when Gene was 2 years old. At the age of
19, Gene traveled to Hesston, Kansas to attend Hesston Academy, in
keeping with the family's strong value of Christian education. At the
Academy he met Velma Ewy, of the Hesston area, whom he later referred
to as "the most beautiful girl in the world". Velma was the
daughter of Reuben and Helen (Vogt) Ewy. Gene and Velma were married
in the Hesston College chapel on October 26, 1950. The couple resided
in the Hesston area all of their married life.
Gene farmed with Velma's father in
their early married years. Given his ability in metal working and
machinery he opened Hesston Machine and Welding in 1961 in a
partnership with Jonathan Mast. He continued farming along with
business ownership for many years. He had a reputation in the
community as a capable, trust-worthy machinist. His gift for
repairing or even inventing exactly what a customer needed was one of
his greatest strengths.
Gene and Velma had a family of three
children. Sharon Joy was born to them in 1951, Stanley Gene in 1953
and Mafra Jane in 1961. The family attended Pennsylvania Mennonite
church, in Zimmerdale, Kansas. It was during this time that members
of this particular church began the relief organization known today
as Mennonite Disaster Service, and Gene quickly became involved .
Pennsylvania Mennonite Church later became Whitestone Mennonite,
Hesston, KS and Gene maintained a strong connection and involvement
in that congregation all his life. In his humble way he was a
soft-spoken leader, a gentle mentor and a wise teacher to many.
Surviving are his wife, Velma and their
three children, Sharon (Carl) Weaver of Hesston, Stanley (Sharon)
Swartzendruber also of Hesston, and Mafra (Rene) Maust of Goshen,
Indiana. Also surviving are four siblings, Evelyn Troyer of Hesston,
Richard Swartzendruber of Valley Center, Ks, Larry Swartzendruber of
Henderson, NE and Virginia Swartzendruber of Hesston. The couple also
has seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren surviving.
Preceding him in death are two siblings, Wayne 'Druber'
Swartzendruber and Robert 'Bob' Swartzendruber.
A private inurnment service is being
planned at Eastlawn Cemetery, the former site of Pennsylvania
Mennonite Church. Also a Memorial service for the public will be
planned at a later date.
Memorial gifts will be directed to
Mennonite Disaster Service and may be sent to Miller-Ott Funeral
Home, PO Box 32, Hesston, KS 67062.
