James F. Schrag, 78, passed away on January 7, 2023. Jim was born on November 24, 1944, in Newton, KS, the third child of Menno and Gertrude Schrag. He grew up in a home where the wider Mennonite
church was a common topic as his father was the editor of Mennonite Weekly Review. James, as he was known to his parents and siblings, entered school early, a few months before his fifth birthday, simply because he had asked
to go. Jim attended high school at Hesston Academy and graduated from Bethel College in 1966. He earned a Master of Divinity degree from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, IN in 1973. While at Bethel, Jim noticed
Judy Nickel during a chapel service. They married at Bruderthal Mennonite Church, rural Hillsboro, on June 11, 1966, thus beginning a 56 year journey together. 1967 brought Jim and Judy to Kenya to start a three-year term
with Mennonite Central Committee?s Teachers Abroad Program (TAP) at Emusire Secondary School. Upon returning to the US, Jim entered seminary. His first pastorate at Tabor Mennonite Church, rural Newton, began in June
1973. Three daughters joined the family: Valerie, Melissa, and Rachel. Being the father of daughters gave Jim great joy. He often joked that he lived in a girls? dorm and his daughters gave him the opportunity to hone
his listening and mediation skills. In 1985, the family moved to northeast Ohio, where Jim became the pastor of Oak Grove Mennonite Church, Smithville. He served Oak Grove from 1985 to 1996. In 1996, Jim accepted a call to
become the general secretary of the General Conference Mennonite Church, headquartered in Newton. He led the efforts to merge the General Conference and the Mennonite Church, resulting in the creation of Mennonite Church USA
in 2002. Jim served as the first executive director of MC USA until his retirement in 2009. Despite a diagnosis of Parkinson?s disease, Jim kept active in his retirement years with writing, serving as church board chair,
and teaching adult Sunday School. Jim and Judy always made family a priority, through visits and in later years, a weekly family video call. Jim is survived by his wife, Judy; three daughters and their families: Valerie Schrag
of Lawrence, KS; Melissa (Doug) Claassen of Moses Lake, WA; and Rachel (Brad) Schrag Sommerfeld of Wichita, KS. He loved and adored his grandchildren: Owen and Lauryn Sommerfeld and Andrew and Benjamin Claassen. He was preceded
in death by his parents and his brother Robert. His sister, Betty (Dewayne) Pauls and a sister-in-law, Frances Schrag, also survive. Visitation will be held on Jan. 12 from 5-8 p.m. followed by a celebration of life Jan. 13
at 11 a.m., both at First Mennonite Church, Newton. A private family burial will be held at Haven of Rest Cemetery in Hillsboro. Memorial gifts can be made to Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) or Mennonite Church USA, sent
in care of Jost Funeral Home, www.jostfuneralhome.com.
Published in The Newton Kansan January 12, 2023
