Diener, Esther M. Swartzentruber (1923-2009)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2009 Nov 9 p. 9

Birth date: 1923 Oct 9

text of obituary:

ESTHER M. DIENER

Esther M. Diener, 86, of Archbold, Ohio, died Oct. 17, 2009, at the University of Toledo Medical Center. She was born Oct. 9, 1923, to Laban and Nanna (Bender) Swartzentruber in Altoona, Pa.

She married Edward Diener on May 7, 1944.

She lived at Clarence, N.Y., Hartville and Pettisville before moving to Archbold in 1998. Prior to her marriage, she was involved as a professional educator in five school systems at Haven, Kan., and Greenwood, Del. After marriage she taught at Alden (N.Y.) Christian School, 1953-56; Clarence (N.Y.) Public School, 1958-65; and Hartville Christian School, 1965-68. During most of her teaching years she taught classes in music and directed children and youth choirs. She also taught some classes in business education.

Her husband served as a pastor at Clarence Center, N.Y., Hartville and Pettisville. At each of these congregations she was active in Christian education of children and directed children and adult choirs. From 1973 to 1999 she was manager of Das Essen Haus Restaurant at Pettisville. This was followed by nine years as hostess of Diener’s Guest House. She also served as a board member of Four County Career Center in Archbold for the last 20 years. She was a member of West Clinton Mennonite Church in Wauseon.

Survivors include her husband of 65 years, Edward; three children, Larry Diener and his wife, Doris, of Sarasota, Fla., David Diener and his wife, Carol, of Fort Collins, Colo., and Diane Omondi and her husband, Ibrahim, of Nairobi, Kenya; a brother, Clayton Swartzentruber of Harleysville, Pa.; a sister, Dorcas Miller of Greenwood, Del.; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two step-grandsons and three step-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Margaret Diener; and four sisters, Mirian Hostetler, Dorthy Steckly, Rachel Schlabach and Vida Huber.

Memorial services were held at West Clinton Mennonite Church. Burial was in the Pettisville Cemetery.