Waltner, Vernelle Schroeder (1915-2003)

Newton Kansan obituary: 2003 Mar 27 p. 2; 2003 Mar 28 p. 2

Birth date: 1915 Sep 11

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2003 Apr 14 p. 15

text of obituary:

India mission worker dies

By Mennonite Mission Network

NORTH NEWTON, Kan. — Vernelle Waltner, 87, a longtime mission worker in India who later became registrar at Bethel College, died march 27 at Kidron Bethel Retirement Center.

Waltner and her husband, Orlando, were married June 9, 1939, and a few days later were ordained as missionaries to India. There, Waltner wanted to work with her aunt, Helen Nickel, an evangelist and educator. The Waltners served in central India for 17 years with the mission board of the General Conference Mennonite Church.

In India, Waltner assisted her husband with the administration of a home for leprosy victims in Champa. The home provided housing for more than 500 patients. The Waltners' duties included the care and education of the patients' children.

When the family relocated to Jagdeeshpur, Saripali and later Janigir, Orlando oversaw three church districts while Vernelle's work focused on providing training for women in the local churches.

The Waltners returned to the United States in 1956, settling in North Newton a year later. There Waltner became registrar at Bethel College, a position she held until her retirement in 1981.

Waltner was born Sept. 11, 1915, at Berne, Ind., the daughter of Peter R. and Susie Nickel Schroeder. In 1928, the family moved to Freeman, S. D., where Waltner's father served as president of Freeman Junior College. Waltner attended Freeman Academy and Freeman Junior College and graduated from Wheaton College in 1939.

Waltner is survived by a daughter, Carol, of San Antonio, Texas; and two sons, John D. Waltner of Hesston and Robert C. Waltner of Wichita. Her husband died in 1991.

A memorial service was held March 31 at Bethel College Mennonite Church in North newton.