McDonald, Esther Mae Andres (1928-2005)

Newton Kansan obituary: 2005 Mar 21 p. 7; 2005 Mar 22 p. 9

Birth date: 1928 Mar 13

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2005 Apr 4 p. 11

text of obituary:

Esther Mae McDonald, 77, of North Newton, Kan., died March 20, 2005, at Kidron Bethel Retirement Village. She was born March 13, 1928, to Peter C. and Anna (Richert) Andres in Newton.

She graduated from Mennonite Bible Academy in North Newton in 1946. She was baptized May 14, 1944, at Zion Mennonite Church in Elbing.

On Oct. 15, 1966, she married J.C. McDonald in Kansas City.

After attending college, she worked as a nurse for more than 40 years, including in Taiwan from 1957 to 1962 at Mennonite Christian Hospital, at KU Medical Center in Kansas City for six years and as director of nurses at Bethel Home for the Aged for 15 years.

She was a member of Faith Mennonite Church of Newton. She worked with the library for many years. In her work on the Health and Wellness Committee she participated in various study groups. She was an advocate for the local Offender Victim Ministries, giving freely of her time and energy.

Traveling was a special joy for her, and she took numerous tours to various locations in the United States. Her special interest was lighthouses. Genealogy was another interest, especially connected to the 125th anniversary celebration of the Regier family coming to the U.S. from Europe. She enjoyed watching baseball games and tennis.

Survivors include two sisters, Sylvia Jantz of Hesston and Della Wiebe of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and two brothers, Eldon Andres of Peabody and Homer Andres of Ferndale, Wash.

She was preceded in death by her husband, J.C. McDonald.

Services were held at Faith Mennonite Church of Newton. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery.