Larry Dean Gross

Family/Spouse: Karen. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Mennonite
• USR1: Heart Attack

Notes:

Obit:
Gross, E. Allen, son of Isaac and Elizabeth Gross, was born at Roseland, Neb., Oct. 28, 1912; died of a heart attack at Fisher, Ill., July 24, 1971; aged 58 y. 8 m. 26 d. On June 15, 1946, he was married to Mildred Zehr, who survives. Also surviving are 2 sons (Roger and Larry), 3 brothers (Samuel, Charles, and Wayne), and 4 sisters (Mrs. Mary Stansbury, Mrs. Timna Kindsfater, Mrs. Rhoda Garrelts, and Mrs. Lois Zoss). He was preceded in death by his parents, 3 brothers, and 2 sisters. He was a member of the East Bend Mennonite Church, where funeral services were held July 27, in charge of Irvin Nussbaum; interment in East Bend Memorial Gardens

Buried:
East Bend Memorial Gardens

Ethan married Mildred Edna Zehr on 15 Jun 1946 in Chicago, Cook Co., IL. Mildred (daughter of Daniel Peter Zehr and Mollie Ann Birkey) was born on 9 Dec 1918 in Foosland, Champaign Co., IL; died on 21 Nov 1997 in Urbana, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Covenant Medical Center

Buried:
East Bend Memorial Gardens

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Religion: Amish/Mennonite
• Baptism: 16 Aug 1896, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

Obit: Herald of Truth
Zehr, Dan P., son of Peter and Barbara (Heiser) Zehr, was born May 6, 1880, at Goodfield, Ill.; died at his home in Fisher, Ill., Aug. 22, 1959; aged 79 y. 3m. 16 d. On Dec. 29, 1904, he was married to Molly Birkey, who survives. Also surviving are 2 daughters (Mrs. Dora Schertz, Flanagan, Ill.; and Mrs. Mildred Gross, Dewey, Ill.), and 4 sons (Lester, Clarence, and Milo, Foosland, Ill.; and Alton, Fisher). One daughter preceded him in death. He was a member of the East Bend Church, where memorial services were held on Aug. 25, conducted by J. Alton Horst and Harold Zehr.

Baptism:
East Bend Church by Peter Zehr

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Daniel married Mollie Ann Birkey on 29 Dec 1904 in Champaign Co., IL. Mollie (daughter of Valentine Birkey and Phoebe (Bena) Good) was born on 25 Nov 1882 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 22 Sep 1969 in Gibson City, Ford Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Homemaker
• Religion: Amish/Mennonite

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald
Zehr.- Mollie A., daughter of Valentine and Phoebe (Good) Birkey, was born at Hopedale, Ill. Nov. 25. 1882: died at Gibson City, Ill., Sept. 22, 1969; aged 86 y. 9 m. 28 d. On Dec. 29, 1904, she was married to Dan P. Zehr, who died Aug. 22, 1959. Surviving are 3 sons (Alton, Clarence, and Milo), 2 daughters (Dora-Mrs. Ray Schertz and Mildred-Mrs. Allen Gross), 24 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, 4 sisters (Bertha Heiser, Katie Zehr, Ada Foley, and Edna Schertz), and 4 brothers (Joe, Alvin, Silas, and Joel). She was preceded in death by one daughter and one son. She was a member of the East Bend Church, where funeral services were held Sept. 24, with Irvin Nussbaum officiating, assisted by J. A. Heiser.

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Notes:

Married:
By John Smith, at home of Valentine Birkey

Other Events and Attributes:

• CLER: Y
• Occupation: Minister, Bishop, Farmer
• Reference Number: 16
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Complications Of Bright’s Disease
• Residence: Abt 1856, Tazewell Co., IL
• Ordained: 10 Jun 1883, Goodfield, Woodford Co., IL
• Residence: 1889, East Bend Twp., Champaign Co., IL
• Ordained: 30 Apr 1893, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• Residence: 1900, East Bend Twp., Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald Mar 30 1922

Zehr. - Bishop Peter Zehr was born in Tazewell Co., Ill., Aug. 24, 1851; died at his home near Fisher, Ill., Mar. 14, 1922; aged 70 y. 6 m. 18 d. He suffered from a complication of diseases. He bore it very patiently. He was married to Barbara Heiser of Morton, Ill., June 8, 1876. To this union were born five children (Mrs. Catharine Cender, Dan P. Zehr, Mrs. Lizzie Cender, Mrs. Amelia Birky, and Joseph A., who preceded his father in his infancy). He leaves 15 grandchildren, three brothers, and three sisters. Five brothers and 1 sister preceded him to eternity. He united with the Mennonite Church in his youth. June 10, 1883, he was ordained to the ministry in Deer Creek, Ill. In 1893 he was ordained bishop in charge of the East Bend congregation near Fisher. He was known for his heart concern for the flock. His last prayers were for her welfare. The funeral was held Mar. 17, 1922, conducted by Bros. Samuel Gerber, C. F. Derstine, and Bros. Ezra B. Yordy. Text, I Thes. 4:14; II Cor. 5:1.
——————————————
PETER ZEHR DEAD
Peter Zehr, an aging resident of East Bend township residing northeast of town, died at his home on Tuesday night of last week.

Bishop Peter Zehr, son of Peter and Elizabeth Zehr was born near Deer Creek Ill., August 24th, 1851 and died at his late home March 14th 1922, aged 70 years 6 months and 18 days he suffered a complication of diseases. He was married to Barbra Heiser of Morton, Ill. June 8th, 1876, to this union were born five children as follows: Mrs. Catherine Cender; Dan P. Zehr; Mrs. Lizzie Cender; Mrs. Amelia Birkey; and Joseph A. Zehr who preceded his father to eternity in his infancy 33 yers ago.

He leaves 15 grandchildren one grandchild preceded him in death a number of years ago. He also leaves three brothers and three sisters as follows: Daniel Zehr of Danvers, Ill., Mrs. C. W. Heiser of Goodfield, Ill., Mrs. Joseph Baecher of Foosland, Ill., David D. Zehr of Manson, Iowa; Mrs. C. S. Zehr of Manson, Iowa, and Samuel Zehr of Foosland, Ill; five brothers and one sister preceded him in death in their infancy.

He united with the Mennonite Church in his youth, later in June 10th, 1883 he was ordained to the ministry in Deer Creek Ill. Ten years later he was ordained bishop in charge of the East Bend congregation near Fisher, Ill. He was known for his heart concern for the Church. His last prayers were for her welfare and for her souls.

The funeral services were held at the Mennonite Church March 17 conducted by Bishop Samuel Gerber Tremont Ill. Bishop Clayton Derstine of Eureka Ill. and by Pre Ezra Yordy of Eureka at the home. Texts.I Thess. 4:4, II Cor. 5:1.

Father thou art sweetly resting; Gone from all thy toil and pain.
For from earth and all its wrestling, Thou didst now thy crown obtain.
Thou didst love the good old bible, Turned its pages o’er and o’er.
Till the Savior bade thee leave it, And its promised realms explore.
—By his Children
————————————————————
Harold S. Bender said: “The proper name of the followers of Jakob Ammann is ‘Amish Mennonite’ although frequently they are referred to simply as Amish.” The Amish Mennonites came to Illinois a few years earlier than the Mennonites and came in larger numbers. Amish Mennonites from Dillon Creek and Goodfield and Hopedale [IL] began moving to the East Bend area of Champaign Co. [IL] in about 1880. (Source 1098)
——————————————————
Peter was the first minister of the East Bend Mennonite Church, Fisher, IL. He had served the Goodfield Mennonite Church (formed from the Mackinaw Meeting) from 1883-1889. In 1914, Bishop Peter Zehr started the practice of an all day meeting on the Fourth of July, including morning session, noon basket lunch, afternoon and evening sessions. Just the year before, in 1913, Peter writes in his church record book that “an evening service was held at East Bend Church, Champaign Co., IL, on Jun 19 by the four brothers-Daniel Zehr, Peter Zehr, David Zehr, Samuel Zehr. A sermon was held again by the four brothers at Goodfield, IL, Apr 30, 1918.”
————————————————————
Willard Smith in Mennonites of Illinois tells of the tense time following World War I. “At the East Bend church at Fisher, vandals splashed yellow paint only on the front door. They also put up a flagpole and flag. Some members wanted to remove it, but Bishop Peter Zehr instructed that it remain flying. It was left there until it became tattered.” (p.356)

The final marriage (No. 59 in Peter’s church record book) performed by Peter seems to be on October 2, 1919, joining Samuel Heiser and Mrs. Alma Kohli. The last death recorded in his book is John Zehr, 30 June 1919.}

Read at East Bend Mennonite Church Centennial, 1989

“I moved to East Bend Township in 1889 for the purpose of starting a new church...I was born in Woodford County on August 24, 1851 and my parents were Peter and Elizabeth Oyer Zehr. When I was five years old, Pa bought a farm in Tazewell County by the Mackinaw River, so we moved there. Our house stood on the high hill overlooking the Mackinaw Valley. I had a happy childhood growing up with my three brothers Daniel, David and Samuel. I also had three sisters Elizabeth, Mary and Phoebe. We had Christian parents who must have been our inspiration , because all four of US boys grew up to be preachers. Our parents took US to church whenever possible and at first we had our church services in different homes. The preachers were my Uncle Jake Zehr, Christian Ropp and Christian Reesor.

I felt the call of God and wondered what he had in store for me. When the church at Goodfield called me to be a minister in 1883, I thought maybe that was the answer. The next year we built our new church building.

I had married Barbara Heiser in 1876 and by now Katie, Dan, and Lizzie were born. Things were going well but still it seemed God was calling me to something different. When it was brought to my attention that there were several families in Champaign County without a minister, it seemed that this was the answer to the call I had been feeling. When I said something to Barb, she was willing to go. Her brother Jake was already living there, and her brother Joe and family decided to move with us.

When I told the church, people objected to us moving. One day my son Dan came home and told me he had heard some people talking. they were saying, “Peter will come back with his pack on his back.” But Barb and I felt we must follow God’s call no matter what the home folks were saying.

In November of 1888, another son, Joseph, was added to our family. While we were preparing to move to Champaign County in the spring of 1889, baby Joseph took sick with the red measles. When we thought he was over the measles, we got our belongings together and boarded the train for Gibson City. The train ride was long, but it was so good to see Barb’s brother Jacob Heiser at the train depot to meet us. The spring air was so cold, and it was a rainy day when we arrived.

It seemed such a long ride in the cold rain until we got to our new home. But riding in a spring wagon was so much better than walking the eight miles like Jacob and Elizabeth had to do. We were so glad to get there, but that night Joseph became ill again with a setback from the measles. In spite of the best we could do, the baby died on March 23rd. We buried him in Blackford Cemetery. We couldn’t help but wonder why this happened to us.

To add to our wondering, four days after little Joseph died, Barb’s brother Joseph Heiser injured himself while moving some hay and died suddenly. Two deaths in four days! I knew what some home folks would be saying now!

But in spite of these setbacks, I felt God’s call to go ahead and organize a church. After we had our first church service, I felt a peace within me that I had not experienced before. I felt sure this was where God wanted me to be.

In 1891 our last child, Amelia, was born.

With more people moving to the area, Dixon School soon became too small, so in 1892 we rented the Houstonville Methodist Church for our meeting place. My brother David Zehr helped organize our first Sunday school and became the first Sunday school superintendent. With more and more people coming, we felt it was time to have our own church building. So in the summer of 1895 we built our first church building. Now we had a permanent place for our church home.

My concern was always for the welfare of the church and even unto my dying day I was praying for the church. I had a favorite motto that influenced my life and I passed it on to others. It went like this, “I shall pass through this world but once, if therefore there be any kindness I can show or any good thing I can do, let me do it now, let me not deter it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”







It was then used for at least some of the subsequent children, but ventually ended up with Bishop Peter and his wife Barbara. Most likely, all of their children used it, then it was given to Amelia (who married Alvin Birkey). It stayed with that family for many years until thier son, Delmar Gene, was born, and was the last person to sleep in the vintage bed. In July of 2023, the bed was gifted to Del and Donna’s family to keep, protect, and hand down at the appropriate time.}

Ordained:
Served the Mennonite Church at Goodfield, IL from 1883-1889

Ordained:
To bishop status-East Bend Mennonite

Residence:
Head of house, Peter, wife Barbara, children Katie, Daniel, Lizzie, Amelia.

Died:
Death Certificate on Microfilm at Urbana Free Library, DC #11574

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery. Funeral service by Derstine and Sam Gerber.

Peter married Barbara Heiser on 8 Jun 1876 in Tazewell Co., IL. Barbara (daughter of Jacob Heiser and Katharina Wagler) was born on 1 Nov 1857 in Tazewell Co., IL; died on 16 Nov 1934 in Foosland, Champaign Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Minister's Wife And Mother
• Reference Number: 17
• Religion: Amish Mennonite

Notes:

Obit:
Zehr. - Barbara, daughter of Jacob and Katherine Heiser, and wife of Bishop Peter Zehr, was born in Tazewell Co., Ill., Nov. 1, 1857; died Nov. 16, 1934, at the home of her daughter (Mrs. Alvin R. Birkey of Foosland, Ill.); aged 77 y. 15 d. She united with the Mennonite Church in her youth and remained a faithful member until death. She was united in marriage with Peter Zehr, June 8, 1876. To this union were born 5 children, 3 of whom are now living -- Mrs. Katie Cender, Daniel P. Zehr, and Mrs. Amelia Birkey, all of Foosland, Ill. Two children preceded her in death -- Mrs. Elizabeth Cender, who died April 4, 1928, and Joseph who died in infancy. Her husband also preceded her in death, having died March 14, 1922. She leaves 19 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren. Two grandchildren have gone on before her. She also leaves 1 sister (Mrs. Fanny King of Fisher, Ill.) and 5 brothers (Christian of Goodfield, Ill.; Peter of Foosland, Ill.; Isaac of Fisher, Ill.; Samuel and Daniel of Morton, Ill.). Four sisters and two brothers preceded her in death. She leaves a large host of relatives and friends. Funeral services were held at the East Bend Mennonite Church with Bro. Harold Zehr of Fisher, Ill., and Bro. Ezra Yordy of Eureka, Ill., in charge. Text, Job 5:26. Interment in East Bend Cemetery.

"The great Jehovah, full of love,
An angel bright did send,
And took our darling Mother home,
To joys that never end."

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• Education: Little formal education, but a degree in life’s experiences
• Occupation: Farmer
• Reference Number: 14
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Cancer (See Obit)
• Residence: 1887, Decatur Co., KS
• Residence: 1895, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• PURC: 9 Feb 1910, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• PURC: 26 Feb 1910, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL
• PURC: 27 Dec 1920, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

Obit: Oct. 4, 1928 Gospel Herald
Birkey. - Valentine Birkey, son of Joseph and Mary Birkey, was born near Morton, Ill., Feb. 2, 1858; died Sept. 18, 1928; aged 70 y. 7 m. 16 d. He was united in marriage to Phoebe Good about 47 years ago. Surviving him are his wife, 4 sons, 5 daughters, 2 sisters, 1 brother, 31 grandchildren, and a large number of old relatives and friends. His parents, 2 sisters, 2 brothers, and 2 grandchildren preceded him to the spirit world. For several years his health seemed to be failing and later cancer developed, which caused his death. He was confined to his bed from June 15 until death. At times, his suffering and pain was very great, but he was very patient through it all. His condition did not seem to alarm him, and he was fully given up to Him who does all things well. He united with the Mennonite Church in his youth and proved faithful until the end. Funeral services were conducted at the home by Bro. S. S. Zehr and at the church by the Bros. Jake Zehr and Ezra Yordy. Text, 1 Cor. 13:12. Interment was made in the cemetery nearby.


Read at the Centennial Celebration of the East Bend Mennonite Church in 1989, in Fisher, IL
“My name is Valentine Birkey. My father was Joseph of the “Big Black” Birkeys, and my mother was Mary of the “Little Red” Birkeys. They both came from Germany to Tazewell County where they met and married. I was born in 1858 near Morton, Illinois, but my parents later moved to near Hopedale. It was at Hopedale that Phoebe Good and I were married in 1882. Here our two daughters Mollie and Bertha were born.

“About this time many families were moving west. In northwest Kansas land could still be homesteaded. We kept hearing there had been lots of rain the last few years and things were looking good. Some of my relatives were moving there, so my parents decided they would move too. It sounded like a good chance to own land, and Mother insisted that all her married children move too.

“So in April 1887, Phoebe and I packed for the long train ride. After arriving we stayed with my parents until September when Joe was born. We had taken out a timber claim which meant we had to plant 500 trees, live on the land and then the 160 acres would become ours. So that summer the men cut sod and built our sod house on the claim. the walls were two feet thick, which kept it really warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It was the roof that gave US trouble--the sod and tree branches always seemed to let the rain through. And I really didn’t like having the rattlesnakes living in the walls. My family had all taken claims very close by. The stagecoach form Oberlin to Colby, Kansas crossed over part of our farm.

“We had a large church congregation in Decatur County. Our services were held in the Swedish Covenant sod church on Sunday afternoons until we finished building our own sod church. The cemetery was 1/2 mile north of the church and that’s where we buried by brother Dan.

“After we got settled in Kansas it forgot to rain. Year after year we had crop failures. the corn would look beautiful in the spring and then the hot, dry winds came and in just a few days the field of corn would be ruined. One year the wheat headed out, but since it was only six inches tall it was too short to cut with the binder. Our only choice was to turn the pigs into the field to do the harvesting. We seemed to get poorer every year. Joe, Alvin and Kate were born in our sod house. We had to divide our potatoes and it was hard to have to feed the children “thick and thin” for supper. What was that? It was thick sour milk to which Phoebe added some fresh sweet milk. We gathered buffalo chips to burn in our stove. Those were hard years on the prairie.

“Families started moving away. Some of my cousins moved by covered wagon to Beemer, Nebraska to help start the church there. some moved back to Hopedale. Two of my sisters moved to Shickley, Nebraska, and eventually my brother Joe moved to Oregon, my brother Jake to Montana. One summer my cousin Christian J. Birkey came to visit. He was married to Phoebe’s sister, so he was my brother-in-law as well. Then he saw how bad things were, he urged US to sell out and come back to Illinois. I told him if I sold everything I owned it wouldn’t be enough to pay our way back.

“On our way to church every Sunday we would stop at the home of the Lund family to collect our mail. One Sunday morning there was a letter from Chris. Phoebe couldn’t wait till after church to read it. Chris said he had bought a farm in Champaign County were a new church had been started. He offered to send US money for the train fare. Chris was like that--he helped many people. It was very difficult for Phoebe and I to get much out of the church service that day.

“Well, we soon made plans to move to Illinois and it was a glad day when we got there. It was almost dark, and as we got near the house I said, “Oh, look at all the sheep out there in the pasture.” Well, when I looked out the next morning, I got a surprise! I saw it was tree stumps instead, and that meant I had a lot of work to do. But we had 20 good years there. East Bend church was building its first building, so I got to help with that. There was no bridge across the Sangamon River north of the church so we had to ford the river. About ten years later, John Naffziger and Chris Good put together a petition and we got a new bridge built across the river.

“After returning to Illinois, Silas, Joel, Ada and Edna joined our family. I was finally able to buy the farm 1/2 mile north of the church. I built a house and barn which are both still standing in 1989.

“I didn’t have much education, but I had a degree in life’s experiences. Looking back on the good and bad times I think we need the bitter lessons to better appreciate the good ones.”

Residence:
Went to Kansas for a homestead claim.

Residence:
After difficult years in Kansas moved back to Illinois.

PURC:
From C.C. and Lena Gut for $4,785. W1/2 of NE1/4, and East 25 acres of NW 1/4 of SW1/4, and W1/2 of W1/2 of NW1/4 of SW1/4 of Section 17 Twp 22N R8E

PURC:
From John Cender. Five acres-W 1/2 of E 1/2 of W 1/ of NW 1/4 of SW 1/4 of Section 17, Township 22N, Range 8E of 3rdPM

PURC:
From Cora A. and H. W. Baker for $8,100. SW1/4 of SW1/4 of Section 17 Twp22 N, R8E--”except a portion leased to the Ommish Mennonite Church Society.”

Died:
At his farm home.

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery. Funeral by J. A. Heiser.

Valentine married Phoebe (Bena) Good on 15 Jan 1882 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL. Phoebe (daughter of Josef (Joseph ) Guth (Good) and Katharina Stalter) was born on 5 Sep 1863 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 16 Dec 1962 in Eureka, Woodford Co., IL; was buried on 18 Dec 1962 in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer’s wife and mother of ten (nine living).
• Reference Number: 15
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Old Age
• Residence: 15 Jan 1882, Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald
Birkey, Phoebe, daughter of Joseph and Kathryn Good, was born at Hopedale, Ill., Sept. 5, 1863; died at Eureka, Ill., Dec. 16, 1962; aged 99 y. 3 m. 11 d. On Jan.15, 1882, she was married to Valentine Birkey, who died in Sept., 1928. Surviving are all their 9 children (Mrs. Mollie Zehr, Mrs. Bertha Heiser, Joe, Alvin, Mrs. Katie Zehr, Silas, Joel, Mrs. Ada Foley, and Mrs. Edna Schertz), 3 sisters (Mrs. Sara Beller, aged 93; Mrs. Kate Horsch, aged 91; and Mrs. Mary Birkey, aged 88), 40 grandchildren, 120 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death were also 2 sisters, 2 brothers, 4 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. She was a member of the East Bend Church, where funeral services were held Dec. 19, in charge of Ivan Birkey and J. Alton Horst.

Obit: Fisher Reporter
Funeral services were held at East Bend Mennonite Church with Rev. Ivan Birkey and Rev. J. Alton Horst officiating. Phoebe died at Maple Lawn Home in Eureka where she had been a resident for eleven years.


Obit: Mennonite Weekly Review
10 Jan 1963 p. 8
Mrs. Phoebe Birkey

Mrs. Phoebe (Good) Birkey was born near Hopedale, Ill. on Sept. 5, 1863, the daughter of Joseph and Kathryn Good. On Jan. 15, 1882 she was married to Valentine Birkey. They lived near Hopedale for five years. In 1877 [sic; 1887?] they homesteaded on the prairie in Decatur County, Kan. There they built and lived in a sod house where three of their children were born. They lived in Kansas for eight years.

In 1895, with the help of a sister's husband, they moved to a farm near Fisher, Ill. In 1917 they built the house north of the East Bend Mennonite Church and lived there until Mr. Birkey died in September 1928. She then lived with her children until 1951 when she moved to the Maple Lawn Homes in Eureka, Ill., spending the rest of her days there. Here she made many friends. She moved on to her eternal home on Dec. 16, 1962.

Surviving are her nine children, Mrs. Mollie Zehr, Mrs. Bertha Heiser, Joe Birkey, and Alvin Birkey, all of Fisher, Mrs. Katie Zehr of Ludlow, Ill., Silas Birkey of Flanagan, Ill., Joel Birkey of Ludlow, Mrs. Ada Foley of Norwalk, Calif., and Mrs. Edna Schertz of Saybrook, Ill.; three sisters, Mrs. Sarah Beller, 93, of Maple Lawn Homes, Mrs. Kate Horsch, 91, of Washburn, Ill., and Mrs. Mary Birkey, 88, of Sunset Rest Home, Geneva, Neb.; 40 grandchildren, 120 great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren. Her husband, two sisters, two brothers, four grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren preceded her in death.

In her youth she gave her heart to the Lord, remaining a member of the Mennonite church. She lived a long life, and her mind remained clear to the last. Her life was a quiet one marked by great concern for all members of her family. She will be missed by many.

The funeral service was held at the East Bend Mennonite Church near Fisher, Ill. on Dec. 19, 1962, with Rev. Ivan Birkey, a grandson, and Rev. J. Alton Horst officiating. Burial was made in the church cemetery. Six grandsons carried the casket.

Died:
Maple Lawn Home

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Notes:

Valentine and Phoebe were married in the Hopedale Mennonite Church by Christian Nafziger. Joseph Good was a witness.
Valentine was 23, a farmer, and living in Hopedale, IL at the time of marriage. Phoebe was 18.