Smucker, Fanny (1909-2003)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2003 Oct 6 p. 8

Birth date: 1909 Aug 11

text of obituary:

FANNY SMUCKER

Fanny Smucker, 94, died Aug. 22, 2003, at Pleasantview Home in Kalona, Iowa, where she had lived for many years. She was born Aug. 11, 1909, to John and Lydia (Reber) Gingerich, and grew up in Washington Township in Johnson County, Iowa.

On Nov. 30, 1933, she married Herman J. Smucker. Except for a few years in West Liberty, Ohio, they lived in Kalona, Iowa City and Hills, Iowa.

Baptized in her youth, she became a member of Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church. For many years she was also a member of Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church of Hills, where her husband pastored.

Children were always her delight. In the early 1950s she was in charge of the "Nurse's Nursery" at the University of Iowa hospitals, and when that closed, she continued babysitting for several families until her health failed. She enjoyed teaching children's Sunday school classes. She also had friends of all ages.

Survivors include her daughter, Mary Lou Bowers and her husband, Paul, of Iowa City; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Herman, in 1970; two brothers, Melvin and Ralph Gingerich; and two sisters, Mary Marner and Alta Kauffman.

Services were held at Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church of rural Kalona. Burial was in Lower Deer Creek Cemetery.