Buller, Leonhard (1902-1975)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1975 Jul 10 p. 8

Birth date:

text of obituary

• Leonhard Buller of Newton, who was a native of Goessel and a retired employee of the Santa Fe Rail Mill, died last Thursday evening at Bethel Deaconess Hospital at the age of 73. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the First Church, with Dr. Albert Epp, the pastor, officiating. Mr. Buller leaves his widow, the former Rachel Flaming of the home; two sons, Donald Dean of Sedalia, Mo., and Richard James of Newton; his step-parents, Mr. and Mrs. Pete Androes of Fresno, Calif.; two sisters, Mrs. John Unruh of Shatter, Calif, and Mrs. Milton Doell of Aztec, N. M.; four brothers, Arnold of Reedley, Calif., Ernest of Newton, Hugo of Goessel and Otto of Cottage Grove, Ore.; three step-brothers, Bill, Vernon and Dave Buller, all of Fresno; and five grandchildren. One son, Harold, preceded him in death.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1975 Sep 4 p. 11

Birth date: 1902 Mar 27

text of obituary

LEONHARD BULLER

Leonhard Buller was born March 27, 1902 on a farm near Goessel, Kan., the second of 11 children of Jacob J. and Helena Buller. The farm near Goessel, where he was born, is no longer in existence, but a picture of it is in the museum at Goessel.

While he was still young the family moved to Oklahoma tor a short time, then returned again to the Goessel area. He received his education at the Emmantal school south of Goessel.

He spent time working both on the farm and in the Southwest for the Santa Fe Railway before settling down in Newton as a painter and paper hanger.

As a young man he joined the Goessel Mennonite Church. There, at the age of 28, he married Rachel Flaming on April 30, 1930. Shortly after this he transferred his membership to the First Mennonite Church in Newton where he continued his membership until his death.

At First Mennonite he was an active member of the Men's Balcony Sunday School Class. In earlier years he served as a church usher. In later years he frequently donated time helping at the Mennonite Relief Center at North Newton.

During World War II he worked as a painter for the Boeing Co. in Wichita, and then returned to the Santa Fe, working at the rail mill until his retirement. In later life he found much enjoyment in fishing, bowling, and spending time with friends and relatives.

He was a husband to Rachel for 45 years and was father to three sons: Donald Dean of Sedalia, Mo., Richard James of Newton, and Harold Glenn, who preceded him in death in 1942. He was also grandfather to five grandchildren.

He is also survived by his stepmother, Mrs. Pete (Helen) Androes; four brothers, Arnold, Ernest, Hugo, and Otto; two sisters, Mrs. John (Hilda) Unruh and Mrs. Milton (Selma) Doell; and three half-brothers, Bill, Dave, and Vernon.