Shenk, Marie Hershey Leaman (1938-2010)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2010 Sep 20 p. 7

Birth date: 1938 May 25

text of obituary:

Mission worker, EMU staff member dies

By Mennonite Mission Network and Eastern Mennonite University

HARRISONBURG, Va. — Marie Hershey (Leaman) Shenk, who served seven years in missions in Israel and Palestine and 14 years as an administrative faculty member of Eastern Mennonite University, died Sept. 7. She was 72.

Shenk was administrative assistant to the academic dean at EMU from 1976 to 1990. She twice served as staff assistant for EMU-sponsored cross-cultural tours to the Middle East alongside her husband, Calvin, professor emeritus of religion.

In 1994 the Shenks began an assignment in Israel and Palestine under Mennonite Board of Missions, a precursor organization to Mennonite Mission Network, and Mennonite Central Committee. For seven years they lived six months a year in Jerusalem, returning for the remaining six months to Harrisonburg.

"Marie and Calvin joined the Mennonite team in the Middle East at a crucial point in history," said John F. Lapp, MMN director for Asia and the Middle Est. "She enjoyed getting to know Israeli Jews, Palestinian Muslims and the Christians of all nationalities in Jerusalem."

Shenk was born Mary 25, 1938, to Daniel and Elizabeth (Hershey) Leaman, in Lancaster, Pa. She earned a bachelor's degree in liberal arts at EMU and a master's degree in religion from Eastern Mennonite Seminary.

On Aug. 30, 1958, she married Calvin E. Shenk, who survives. Also surviving are two sons, Douglas Shenk and his wife, Elaine, of Hummelstown, Pa., and Duane Shenk and his wife, Tanya, of Harrisonburg, a daughter, Donna Shenk and her husband, Ryan Sensenig, of Goshen, ind.; a brother, M. Hershey Leaman and his wife, Norma, of Lititz, Pa.; two sisters, Evelyn Sweigart and her husband, John, of Lititz, and Elizabeth Lehman and her husband, John, of Harrison Valley, Pa.; and nine grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a brother, James Leaman.