Diller, Ivan R. (1923-2010)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2010 Aug 2 p. 13

Birth date: 1923 Jan 23

text of obituary:

IVAN R. DILLER

Ivan R. Diller, 87, of Hesston, Kan., died July 18, 2010. He was born Jan. 23, 1923, to Jacob R. and Grace (Cooprider) Diller in Hesston.

He was a lifelong resident of Hesston and graduated from Hesston Academy. He married Doris Jantz on March 16, 1947, at Greensburg (Kan.) Mennonite Church.

He worked in construction with his father before becoming owner and manager of Diller Construction. The business was turned over to Preferred Builders in 1989, and he continued doing finish work on a part-time basis.

A member of Hesston Mennonite Church, he was involved as a volunteer with Mennonite Disaster Service from the organization’s beginning. He also volunteered with the Hesston Fire Department for many years. He sang with the Kansas Mennonite Men’s Chorus and various quartets for decades.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Doris; four children, Althea Harvey and her husband, Ron, of Front Royal, Va., Stephen Diller and his wife, Janelle, of Colorado Springs, Colo., Betty Jo Hague and her husband, Barth, of Newton, and Jeanie Martin and her husband, Greg, of Elkhart, Ind.; two brothers, Robert Diller and his wife, Marcella, and Eugene Diller and his wife, Donna, all of Hesston; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by three siblings, John Diller, Allen Diller and Lois Hershberger.

A celebration of life service was held at Hesston Mennonite Church. Burial was in Eastlawn Cemetery.