Larry Zehr

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Owner, Rost-Zehr Body Shop and later Manager, Glass Specialty
• Religion: Mennonite
• Residence: Morton Twp., Tazewell Co., IL
• USR1: Cancer

Notes:

Obituary, Peoria Journal Star :
MORTON--Wayne E. Zehr, 68, of 22897 Broadway Road died at 6:35 A.M. Sunday, Sept 4 1994, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria. born April 30, 1926, in Ludlow to Daniel and Katie Birkey Zehr, he married Geraldine Springer on Aug. 28, 1945, in Ludlow. she survives. Also surviving are one son, Larry W. of Washington; two daughters, Mrs. Robert (Janice) Skaggs of Dunlap and Mrs. Richard (Karen) Brummett of Morton; three sisters, Lela Kellar of Fisher, Fern Helmuth of Arthur and Viola Birky of Foosland; two brothers Melvin of Ludlow and Wilmer of champaign; six grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.

He formerly owned Rost-Zehr Body Shop in Gibson City until 1959. He then was manager of Glass Specialty in Peoria, retiring in 1983. He was a member of Heart of Illinois Region of Vintage Chevrolet Club of America and Illinois Valley Antique Automobile Club in Peoria. He also was a member of Trinity Mennonite Church and was an associate member of Bahia Vista Mennonite Church in Sarasota, Fla.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Trinity Mennonite Church. The Rev. David Troyer will officiate...Burial will be in Pleasant Grove Cemetery.

Died:
St. Francis Medical Center

Buried:
Pleasant Grove Mennonite Cemetery

Wayne married Geraldine Amanda Springer on 28 Aug 1945. Geraldine (daughter of Elmer Joseph Springer and Amanda Sutter) was born on 18 Mar 1927 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 7 Mar 2004 in East Peoria, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Tremont, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obit: Pantagraph Monday, March 8, 2004
MORTON -- Geraldine A. Zehr, 76, of 900 Centennial Drive, East Peoria, formerly of 101 Aspen, Morton, died at 12:30 a.m. Sunday (March 7, 2004) at Rosewood Care Center, East Peoria.

She was born March 18, 1927, in Hopedale, a daughter of Elmer and Amanda Sutter Springer. She married Wayne Zehr on Aug. 28, 1945, in Ludlow. He preceded her in death Sept. 4, 1994.

Surviving are two daughters, Janice (Robert) Skaggs, Varna; and Karen Brummett, Morton; one son, Larry Zehr, Washington; two sisters, Mary Ann (Harold) Heiser and Evelyn Ingold, both of Fisher; three brothers, Lester Springer, Elkhart, Ind.; Arlis (Linda) Springer, Delavan; and Melvin (Patty) Springer, Hopedale; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents.
She worked as a secretary at Glass Specialty in Peoria for 24 years, retiring in 1983.
She was a member of Trinity Mennonite Church in Morton.
She was an associate member of Bahia Vista Mennonite Church in Sarasota, Fla.

Buried:
Pleasant Grove Mennonite Cemetery

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Religion: Amish Mennonite
• USR1: Pneumonia and heart ailment
• Residence: 1918, Goodfield, Woodford Co., IL
• Residence: 1923, Fisher, Champaign Co., IL

Notes:

Obit:
Zehr, Dan A., son of Daniel and Kathryn (Heiser) Zehr, was born in Danvers, Ill., Sept 25, 1890; died of pneumonia and heart ailment at Sarasota, Fla., Jan. 16, 1973; aged 82 y., 3 m. 22 d. On Dec. 17, 1913, he was married to Katie Birkey, who survives. Also surviving are 3 daughters (Lela - Mrs. Raymond Birky, Fern - Mrs. Orva Helmuth, and Viola - Mrs. Wilbert Birky), 3 sons (Melvin, Wayne, and Wilmer), 27 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and one sister (Matilda Zehr). He was a member of the East Bend Mennonite Church where funeral services were held on Jan. 20 in charge of Irvin Nussbaum and Howard Zehr; interment in East Bend Memorial Gardens.

Birth:
25 Aug 1890 according to grave stone

Residence:
Across the road from the Mackinaw River

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Daniel married Kate Elizabeth Birkey on 17 Dec 1913 in East Bend Twp., Champaign Co., IL. Kate (daughter of Valentine Birkey and Phoebe (Bena) Good) was born on 25 Apr 1894 in Decatur Co., KS; died on 1 Nov 1987 in Meadows, McLean Co., IL; was buried in Fisher, Champaign Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Homemaker
• Religion: Amish Mennonite

Notes:

Obit:
Zehr.- Katie Birkey, daughter of Valentine and Phoebe (Good) Birkey, was born in Decatur Co., Kans., Apr. 25, 1894; died at Mennonite Nursing Home, Meadows, Ill., Nov. 1, 1987; aged 93 y. On Dec. 17, 1913, she was married to Dan A. Zehr, who died in January 1973. Surviving are 3 sons (Melvin, Wayne, and Wilmer), 3 daughters (Lela Keller, Fern Helmuth, and Viola Birky), 27 grandchildren, 59 great-grandchildren, and 2 brothers (Joe and Joel Birkey). She was a member of East Bend Mennonite Church, where funeral services were held on Nov. 4, in charge of Millard Osborne and Mervin Birky; interment in East Bend Memorial Gardens.

Resided Ludlow, IL.

Died:
Mennonite Nursing Home

Buried:
East Bend Mennonite Cemetery

Notes:

Married:
By Peter Zehr, at home of Valentine Birkey

Notes:

Obit :
Springer, Elmer J., son of Joseph W. and Mary (Litwiller) Springer, was born at Hopedale, Ill., Jan. 10, 1903; died at his home of a heart attack on Mar. 16, 1974; aged 71 y. 2 m. 6 d. On Sept. 25, 1924, he was married to Amanda Sutter, who preceded him in death in 1938. On Mar. 2, 1940, he was married to Anna B. Stalter, who survives. Also surviving are 3 sons (Les, Arlis, and Melvin), 3 daughters (Mrs. Geraldine Zehr, Mrs. Mary Ann Heiser, and Mrs. Evelyn Ingold), 14 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, 3 sisters (Mrs. Laura Nafziger, Martha Springer, and Mrs. Ada Schertz), and 2 brothers (Allan and Simon). Funeral services were held at the Hopedale Mennonite Church on Mar. 19, in charge of Lee J. Miller and Bob Detweiler; interment in the Hopedale Cemetery.

Buried:
Hopedale Mennonite Church

Elmer married Amanda Sutter on 25 Sep 1924. Amanda (daughter of Amos Sutter and Mattie Mast) was born on 2 Apr 1904 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 14 Sep 1938 in Bloomington, McLean Co., IL; was buried in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
Hopedale Mennonite Church

Other Events and Attributes:

• CLER: Y
• Occupation: Minister And Farmer
• Religion: Amish/Mennonite
• Ordained: 1895

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald
Zehr. - Daniel, son of Peter and Elizabeth (Oyer) Zehr, was born March 9, 1849, at East Peoria, Ill.; died June 5, 1942, at the home of his son (Peter Zehr, near Morton, Ill.); aged 93 y. 2 m. 26 d. His illness was of short duration, caused by a paralytic stroke, which occurred about 12 hours before his death. His passing was just as he lived. Calmly and quietly he passed into his eternal rest. He was united in marriage to Katherine Heiser Jan. 13, 1874. She preceded him in death May 15, 1911. His oldest son (Jacob) also preceded him in death. He is survived by the following children: Mrs. Elizabeth Oyer, Peter, Amos, and Matilda, all of near Morton; Mrs. Ida Birkey and Daniel, both of Fisher. He is also survived by 43 grandchildren and 33 great-grand-children, 1 brother, Samuel of Fisher, Ill., 1 sister, Mrs. Phebe Zehr of Manson, Iowa, and a host of other relatives and friends. In his youth he confessed Christ as his Saviour, was baptized and became a member of the Mennonite Church of which he has been a faithful member until death. He was ordained to the ministry in 1895 at the Goodfield Mennonite Church, in which capacity he served until recent years when he retired from active service. Though not able to preach any longer he has always attended church up to the last Sunday he lived and taken a great interest in his Master's service. The greatest part of his time during recent years was spent in reading the Bible which seemed to be his greatest treasure. He had a meek and quiet spirit and always showed great interest and love for his family and for his fellow men, manifesting a friendly spirit to every one he met. Funeral services were held June 8 at the Morton Mennonite Church in Morton, Ill., in charge of Bros. J. D. Hartzler of Gridley, Ill., and Simon Litwiller, Minier, Ill. Interment in Mt. Zion Cemetery near Deer Creek, Ill.

"E'en for the dead I will not bind
My soul to grief;
Death cannot long divide,
For is it not as though the rose
That climbed my garden wall
Has blossomed on the other side?
Death doth hide
But not divide,
Thou art but on Christ's other side.
Thou art with Christ,
And Christ with me.
In Christ united still are we." -By the Family.

Baptism:
By Christian Ropp

Ordained:
By Bishop John Smith

Buried:
Mt. Zion Cemetery

Daniel married Katherine Heiser on 13 Jan 1874. Katherine (daughter of Jacob Heiser and Katharina Wagler) was born on 1 May 1854 in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 15 May 1911 in Deer Creek, Washington Twp., Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Deer Creek, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Amish Mennonite

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald June 1, 1911,
Sister Catharine Zehr (nee Heiser) was born near Pekin, Ill., May 1, 1854; died of heart failure, near Deer Creek, Ill., May 15, 1911; aged 17 y.(sic) 14 d. she was united in marriage to David Zehr, Jan. 13, 1874. this union was blessed with 7 children. She leaves a sorrowing husband, 7 children, 22 grandchildren, 6 brothers, 2 sisters and many friends to mourn her departure. Her father, mother, 1 brother and 3 sisters preceded her to the spirit world. Sister Zehr united with the A.M. church in her youth and remained a faithful member until death. Funeral services were held by Christ king at the home in German (text, Psa. 90), and at the church by Dan Nafziger and John C. Birkey in German and A.A. Schrock in English. Texts, I Cor. 15:1-23; John 5:28,29. Buried at Mount Zion cemetery.

Buried:
Mount Zion Cemetery

Notes:

Married:
By Bishop Andrew Ropp

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.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Mennonite

Notes:

Obit: Gospel Herald, Vol. L, No. 1, 01 January 1957

Springer - Joseph W. son of Joseph and Barbara (Nafziger) Springer, was born May 3, 1871 near Minnier, Illinois; passed away in the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, Lincoln, Illinois on November 28, 1956, aged 85 years,6 months and 25 days. He had been in failing health for the past year.
He accepted Christ in his youth and became a faithful member of the Hopedale Mennonite Church.
On February 9, 1896, he was married to Mary Litwiller and they observed their 60th wedding anniversary this past year. Besides his wife, the following children survive: (Laura - Mrs. Silas Nafziger, Martha, Allan and Simon of Hopedale: Elmer Armington and Ada - Mrs. Paul Schertz, Lowpoint, Illinois. Two sisters and four brothers preceded him in death.He served the church faithfully in many different ways as trustee, on the building committee, superintendent, teacher and many other ways.
Funeral services were held December 1st at the Hopedale Church with Howard Zehr and Ivan Kauffman officiating. Burial was made in the Hopedale Mennonite Cemetery.

Buried:
Hopedale Mennonite Cemetery

Joseph married Mary Litwiller on 9 Feb 1896. Mary (daughter of John Litwiller and Veronica (Fannie) Birky) was born on 2 Feb 1878 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; died on 5 May 1963 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Delavan?

Buried:
Hopedale Mennonite Church

Notes:

Died:
St. Francis Hospital

Buried:
Hopedale Mennonite Cemetery

Amos married Mattie Mast on 1 Jan 1901 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL. Mattie (daughter of John D. Mast and Amanda Miller) was born on 24 Sep 1880 in Kokomo, IN; died on 18 Apr 1969 in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL; was buried in Hopedale, Tazewell Co., IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
Hopedale Mennonite Cemetery