Shenk, Joe (1938-2005)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2005 Aug 1 p. 3

Birth date: 1938

text of obituary:

Accident claims life of Africa mission worker Shenk served in Tanzania, Kenya with EMM, MCC

By MCC and EMM News Services

NAIROBI,Kenya — Joe Shenk, a son of pioneer missionaries whose own leadership among Mennonites in East Africa spanned more than 40 years, died July 21 of injuries suffered when he was hit by a truck while jogging. He was 67.

Shenk, principal of Mennonite theological college of East Africa in Musoma, Tanzania, served in Kenya and Tanzania with Eastern Mennonite Missions and Mennonite Central Committee.

An avid runner, Shenk was struck by a large charcoal truck July 9 while on a morning job. He was airlifted to Nairobi to be treated for multiple injuries. He died of complications from his injuries.

Born and raised in Tanzania, the second son of pioneer Mennonite missionaries Clyde and Alta Shenk, he returned as a young adult to help train leaders in the church his parents had helped to plant.

During his last term of service he worked as a peer alongside many of his former students, now the leaders in the church and community.

His death "comes as a great loss for the Tanzanian church, EMM and MCC," said Tesfa Dalellew, co-director of MCC's Africa program. "He's been a serant of the church all these years and has been key in helping the Tanzanian church with leadership development."

Shenk's wife, Edith, served with him in a joint leadership training position of EMM and MCC.

Shenk served with EMM in Tanzania and Kenya from 1962 to 1982. He was MCC's East Africa country representative in Nairobi in the late 1970s and early '80s.

He also served as a campus pastor and international student adviser at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va.; as director of overseas ministry for Virginia Mennonite Board of Missions; and as co-pastor of Weavers Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, Va.

An ordained pastor, Shenk received master's degrees from Eastern Mennonite Seminary in biblical studies and New York University/New York Biblical Seminary in religious education. He wrote two books on church and mission history.

An outdoor enthusiast, Shenk last year climbed Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro, a 19,340-foot peak, with two of his daughters.

In addition to his wife, Shenk is survived by three brothers, David of Mountville, Pa., John of Stevens, Pa., and Daniel of New York City; a sister, Anna Kathryn Eby of Harrisonburg; and four daughters, Joyce Y. Maxwell of Nairobi, Dianne L. Zehr of Rochester, Minn.; Rosemary J. Shenk of Charlottesville, Va.; and Rebecca Roberts of Harrisonburg; and their families.