Buhler, Hazel Senner (1921-2003)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2003 Nov 3 p.8

Birth date: 1921 Nov 3

text of obituary:

HAZEL SENNER BUHLER

Hazel Senner Buhler, 81, of Sioux City, Iowa, died Sept. 14, 2003. She was born Nov. 3, 1921, to William and Elizabeth Senner in Freeman, S.D.

She graduated from Bethel College in North Newton, Kan. She pursued additional studies at Wichita State University in Wichita, Kan., and at Morningside College in Sioux City.

She married Elmer Buhler of Medford, Okla., in 1946.

Her profession was teaching elementary school. Early years included teaching in South Dakota and Kansas, but after 1968 her career was spent in the Sioux City schools. She was passionate about teaching reading, which was her specialty, and she continued as a volunteer tutor for the public schools after her official retirement until her recent illness.

Volunteerism was a theme all of her life, manifested in church, school and community. Originally of the Mennonite church, she became a member of Grace United Methodist Church and focused her interests on issues promoting the cause of peace and justice and the betterment of the environment.

She was a member of the local chapter of the American Interprofessional Institute and the Women of Literature Group. She loved literature, music and art.

She also traveled frequently to visit family and friends or to see new places. Her appreciation of the environment gave her great pleasure.

Survivors include her husband, Elmer; three sons, Robert Buhler and his wife, Inez, of Sioux City, James Buhler of St. Paul, Minn., and Ken Buhler and his wife, Mary Hambleton, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; a daughter, Miriam Buhler and her husband, Neal Anderson, of Minneapolis, Minn.; a sister, May Juhnke of McPherson, Kan.; a brother, Robert Senner and his wife, Rachel, of Freeman; a sister-in-law, Hattie Buhler of El Dorado, Kan.; four grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren and eight step-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at Grace United Methodist Church of Sioux City.