Diener, Truman Leroy (1921-2003)

Newton Kansan obituary: 2003 Oct 27 p. 2

Birth date: 1921 May 15

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2003 Dec 1 p. 11

text of obituary:

TRUMAN LEROY DIENER

Truman Leroy Diener, 82, of Hillsboro, Kan., died Oct. 26, 2003, at Hillsboro Community Medical Center. He was born May 15, 1921, to Harry and Amanda (Seltzer) Diener in Yoder.

He accepted Christ as his Savior when he was 12 and was baptized by his father at Yoder Mennonite Church. At age 14 he was teaching children in the church.

He graduated from Hesston Academy in 1940 and from Kansas State University with a degree in agriculture education.

In 1943 he was drafted and served as a conscientious objector in Civilian Public Service in Terry, Mont., doing waterway construction; in Denison, Iowa, performing farm labor; and in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., working in a mental hospital. There he met his future wife, Venora Wiebe, who was a volunteer.

After CPS he served as a Mennonite Central Committee relief worker in Ethiopia from 1946 to 1948. While there he completed the conversion of a cotton mill into Haile Mariam Mammo Hospital.

Upon his return from Ethiopia, he and Venora Wiebe were married Sept. 10, 1948.

His first public school teaching experience was in Miltonvale. In 1955 they moved to Hillsboro, where he taught vocational agriculture for 34 years and was adviser for the Hillsboro FFA chapter. In 1967 he completed his master's degree at Kansas State University. He retired from teaching in 1989.

At Trinity Mennonite Church, he served as a Sunday school teacher and a deacon. He enjoyed caring for horses and horseback riding with his children. He liked Elderhostel programs and Great Plains Seminary classes.

Survivors include two sons, Tim and his wife, Donna, of Hillsboro, and Glen and his wife, Sharon, of Newton; a daughter, Ann Kopper and her husband, Bryce, of Garden City; four brothers, Edward of Archbold, Ohio, Clayton and Paul, both of Hesston, and Herman of South Hutchinson; and six grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Venora; a daughter, Nannette; and three brothers, Harold Glen, Willard and Daniel.