Ediger, Elmer (1917-1983)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1983 Sep 29 p. 3

Birth date: 1917

text of obituary:

Directed Prairie View Many Years

Recently-Retired Mental Health Leader Dies in Kansas at 66

NORTH NEWTON, KAN. — Elmer Ediger of North Newton, retired executive director of Prairie View Mental Health Center, Newton, died Sept. 22 at the age of 66 following a heart attack.

Ediger had served on the staff at Prairie View since 1957. He was administrator from 1957 to 1972, and executive director until Sept. 6 of this year. He continued as special assistant to the executive director.

Under his leadership Prairie View grew from a small private hospital, employing 29 persons, to a nationally-recognized community mental health center with a staff of 170. He died just hours before a planned tribute to him at the mental health center, when letters of congratulations on his career were to be read.

Ediger received his B. A. from Bethel College, North Newton, Kan., which he later served as a member and chairman of the board of directors. He received his M. Div. from Mennonite Biblical Seminary, then at Chicago, Ill.

His interest in mental health begam during World War II when he served as education director and later general director for Civilian Public Service, administered by Mennonite Central Committee. In these capacities he had frequent opportunity to tour mental institutions, where CPS men told of substandard conditions.

It was after the war that MCC became committed to opening mental health centers, a program which has grown to today's eight member-institutions of Mennonite Mental Health Services.

Ediger was director of MMHS and executive secretary of voluntary service for MCC in 1946-49. He later served as executive director of the Board of Christian Service of the General Conference Mennonite Church from 1951 to 1957.

A memorial service for Ediger took place Sept. 24 at the Bethel College Mennonite Church, with John Esau and Robert Carlson officiating.

Ediger was married in 1943 to Mildred L. Gerbrand, who died in 1974. He was married in 1975 to Tina Block, who survives. Ediger is also survived by one son, Mark D. of Palo Alto, Calif.; two daughters, Elaine (Mrs. Robert) Burdett of Mulvane and Carol (Mrs. Ronald) Peters of Hesston; six brothers, John David, Albert and Leo, all of Buhler, Irven of Burrton and Roland of Hutchinson; one sister, Minnie (Mrs. Pete) Voth of Buhler; and five grandchildren.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1983 Nov 17 p. 8

text of obituary:

NEWTON & VICINITY

● A public tribute to Elmer Ediger is planned for Monday evening, Nov. 21, at 7 p. m. in the auditorium of Prairie View Mental Health Center, Newton. Featured will be a slide-sound presentation which had been prepared for showing on Sept. 23 at a banquet recognizing Ediger's contributions to Prairie View and the field of mental health. The production now serves as a memoir to Eidger, who died unexpectedly on Sept. 22. Ediger served as chief administrative officer of Prairie View for 26 years and was one of the founders of Mennonite Mental Health Services. Refreshments will follow the 30-minute tribute.

The Mennonite obituary: 1983 Oct 25 p. 520

text of obituary:

Elmer Ediger, retired executive director of Prairie View Mental Health Center, Newton, Kan., died Sept. 22 at the age of 66 following a heart attack. Ediger had served on the staff at Prairie View since 1957, as administrator from 1957 to 1972 and executive director until Sept. 6. During World War II he served as education director and later general director for Civilian Public Service, administered by Mennonite Central Committee. He was director of Mennonite mental Health services and executive secretary of voluntary service for MCC in 1946-49. He later served as executive director of the Board of Christian Service of the General Conference from 1951-57. Ediger was married in 1943 to Mildred L. Gerbrand, who died in 1974. In 1975 he married Tina Block, who survives. he is also survived by one son, mark D. of Palo Alto, Calif.; two daughters, Elaine Burdett of Mulvane, Kan., and Carol Peters of Hesston, Kan.; six brothers, one sister and five grandchildren. A memorial service was held Sept. 24 at Bethel College Church, North Newton, Kan.