Kliewer, Jonah C. (1933-2008)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2008 Jul 21 p. 10

Birth date: 1933 May 8

Former Tabor music professor dies

By Tabor College staff

HILLSBORO, Kan. — Jonah C. Kliewer, emeritus professor of voice and choral music at Tabor College, died July 12 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 75.

Kliewer joined the Tabor faculty as an assistant professor in 1975 and served in a variety of roles. He retired from full-time teaching in 1998.

"We were all touched by his life, ministry and music," said President Jules Glanzer. "The world is a better place because of him, and the face of heaven is different because of his ministry on Earth."

Kliewer graduated from Tabor in 1955. He received a master's degree from the University of Kansas in 1957 and a doctorate from the University of Southern California in 1970.

He was born May 8, 1933, to J.C. and Mary Thomas Kliewer in Isabella, Okla. On June 24, 1955, he married Elinor Ewert, who survives in Hillsboro.

Also surviving are three sons, Jan Kliewer of Powell, Wyo., Kenneth Kliewer of Hillsboro and David Joel Kliewer of Newton; a daughter, Joan Kennedy of Omaha, Neb.; two brothers, Vernon Kliewer of Newton and Steve Kliewer of Isabella; a sister, Mary Elinor Gaede of Reedley, Calif.; 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. July 22 at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church.