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Buller, Herman O. (1923-2005)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2005 Aug 1 p. 7
Birth date: 1923 Feb 15
text of obituary:
By Mennonite Weekly Review staff
GOSHEN, Ind. — Herman O. Buller, a mission worker in Congo for 22 years who played a key role in maintaining good relationships after the Congolese church's transition from foreign to locl leadership, died June 14. he was 82.
Buller went to Congo in 1966 with Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission as an administrator and accountant overseeing the mission medical program.
His financial leadership role took on a new dimension when African delegates elected him assistant treasurer of their church. his trustworthy service was vital during a sensitive time, said Jim Bertsche, former AIMM executive secretary.
"Placed in a dual role of overseeing mission funds and monitoring the transfer of mission contributions to the church's own budget, there was all manner of opportunity for misunderstanding, mistrust and miscommunication," Bertsche said.
"But while the relations of some mission groups with their churches turned sour during the 1970s due to controversy over funds, AIMM never had a problem."
Buller retired from mission work in Congo in 1988.
He was born Feb. 15, 1923, in Orienta, Okla., to Herman J. and Hulda (Koehn) Buller.
He attended Bethel College in North Newton, Kan., and served in Civilian Public Service in Colorado and Nebraska. After CPS he served with Mennonite Central Committee, making nine round trips across the Atlantic with horses for wr refugees struggling to rebuild their lives. He later served in Hamburg, Germany, where he met Ruth Lehman, also an MCC volunteer. They were married June 6, 1951, in Goshen.
Buller graduated from Goshen College in 1951 with a degree in accounting and joined the administrative staff of the Mennonite Hospital of Bloomington, Ill. In the early 1960s he became administrator of a hospital in Hinton, Okla., before answering the call to mission work.
He is survived by his wife; a daughter, Marcia J. Glick of Glenwood, N.M.; a son, Royce D. Buller of Atlanta; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a brother, Vernon of Tahlequah, Okla.
A memorial service was held at Silverwood Mennonite Church. Burial was at Violett Cemetery.
