Siemens, Walter Lee (1926-2003)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2003 Oct 6 p. 8

Birth date: 1926 Jun 10

text of obituary:

WALTER LEE SIEMENS

Walter Lee Siemens, 77, of Harrisonburg, Va., died Sept. 24, 2003, at the University of Virginia Medical Center. He was born June 10, 1926, to Henry Siemens and Elise Froese Siemens in Buhler, Kan.

He grew up on the family wheat farm. When Walter was 14, his father died, and so he assumed responsibility for his mother and 7-year-old brother, Abe. His older brothers, married and with families of their own, lived nearby, and the Siemens brothers remained close. In high school he excelled in basketball, baseball, music and science.

While studying at Bethel College in North Newton, Kan., he met Janis Krehbiel of Freeman, S.D. They shared a love of music and performed together in the choir. He graduated from Bethel with a degree in physics and education in 1951. They each took teaching positions in different towns but remained in touch and married in the spring of 1952. They settled in Oakley, Kan., and both taught.

He resumed his postgraduate education at the University of Notre Dame, and later at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. From Charlottesville they moved to Northern Virginia, where he took an administrative position with Fairfax County Schools and Janis taught music in the public schools. After his retirement, he resumed teaching at the college level.

He is thought of fondly by the many students he guided. He will be remembered for his gentle nature, his sense of humor and his beautiful bass voice.

They remained at their home in Vienna, Va., until 2000, when they moved to Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community in Harrisonburg. He had been in failing health, with advanced Parkinson's Disease, and suffered a fall Sept. 23, which resulted in cerebral hemorrhaging that caused his death.

Survivors include his wife, Janis; three daughters; two sons-in-law; a brother; and four grandchildren.