Bargen, Eldon Kliewer (1930-2007)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2007 Apr 23 p. 8

Birth date: 1930 Dec 6

text of obituary:

ELDON KLIEWER BARGEN

Eldon Kliewer Bargen, 76, of North Newton, Kan., died March 29, 2007. He was born Dec. 6, 1930, to Bernhard B. and Esther Bargen in Wichita.

He grew up as a “campus kid,” the son of a Bethel College professor. He graduated from Newton High School in 1948 and Bethel College in 1954, after taking a stand for peace in resistance to military conscription.

He married Helen J. Bartel of Hillsboro on Dec. 28, 1951.

He made his occupation as an educator, draftsman, woodworker and mission service worker. He made a lifetime commitment to nonviolent service to community, beginning with his young family, by serving a term of Mennonite Voluntary Service at Brooklane Farm psychiatric center in Maryland.

He and his family moved numerous times as he continued to serve others by teaching industrial arts at West High in Wichita, on staff at Camp Friedenswald in Michigan, volunteering at the Mennonite mission school in Cachipay, Colombia, retraining to teach Spanish in Ohio, and more MVS at Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Indiana before retiring to his home town of North Newton in 1982. Throughout this time, he volunteered drafting services in Latin America for earthquake disaster relief, Interamerican Mission facilities and Wycliffe translators program. Locally, he custom-designed houses and remodeling projects, with a reputation for innovation and creative problem solving. He was a member of Bethel College Mennonite Church.

Survivors include his wife, Helen; a son, Dale Bargen and his wife, Jenny, of Buford, Ga.; a daughter, Jan Bargen of Silver Spring, Md.; a sister, Joyce Bargen Koehn of Concordia; and four grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held April 21 at Bethel College Mennonite Church in North Newton. Burial will be a private inurnment service.