Regier, Fremont A. (1935-2010)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2010 Jun 7 p. 7

Birth date: 1935 Aug 7

text of obituary:

Worker who served in Africa dies

NORTH NEWTON, Kan. — Fremont A. Regier, a former mission and service worker in four African countries and Mexico, died of prostate and bone cancer May 27 at his home. He was 74.

Regier and his wife, Sara, served with the Commission on Overseas Mission of the General Conference Mennonite Church, Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission and Mennonite Central Committee. They worked in Mexico, 1961-63; Congo/Zaire, 1965-76; Botswana, 1981-85; Mozambique, 1993-96; and Zimbabwe, 1997-2000.

Regier's work focused on crop research and extension, vegetable/field crop and small animal production, adult education and community development, administration and social services.

He also was a consultant for numerous other relief and development agencies, colleges and church-related organizations in more than 30 countries.

From 1977 to 1981 he was director and assistant professor of international development at Bethel College.

He was born Aug. 7, 1935, in Newton, to Alfred and Ione (Ayers) Regier.

He studied at Bethel College and earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Kansas State University and a doctorate in adult and extension education at the University of Wisconsin.

He served two years with MCC's Pax program in Congo before marrying Sara M. Janzen on Sept. 9, 1957, at Zion Mennonite Church in Elbing.

He is survived by his wife, Sara; two sons, Charles Regier and his wife, Cynthia, and Nathan Regier and his wife, Julie; a daughter, Heidi Regier Kreider, and her husband, David; eight grandchildren; and a sister, Louvina Miller of rural Whitewater.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Donice Kelly.

Services were held at Faith Mennonite Church in Newton. Burial of ashes will be at the Zion Mennonite Church cemetery.