Ediger, Albert L (1914-2003)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2003 May 12 p. 8

Birth date: 1914 Aug 10

text of obituary:

ALBERT L. EDIGER

Albert L. Ediger, 88, died April 28, 2003, at Hutchinson (Kan.) Hospital. He was born Aug. 10, 1914, in Henderson, Neb., to Henry A. and Katherine Toews Ediger.

When he was 3 years old, his family moved to Oklahoma. He attended school and helped on the family farm, an occupation he enjoyed all his life.

He served in the Army Air Corps as an airplane mechanic during World War II. He was crew chief, working on B-25 and B-26 bombers.

He married Ethel Schroeder of Hillsboro, Kan., on Aug. 23, 1942, in the Mennonite Brethren church. They began their married life at Sheppard Field Army Base in Wichita Falls, Texas. They lived on various army bases during their early years.

After his discharge on Nov. 15, 1945, they settled in eastern Colorado, near Holly, to begin farming. The years in eastern Colorado were not always good. The dirt storms took their toll, and for five years there were no crops. He took any job he could, but even through these difficult times he spent one winter remodeling First Baptist Church in Holly without pay. The family moved back to Kansas and eventually bought a farm northwest of Inman.

His family was his greatest concern. He did his best to provide for them and set a good example. He believed in the value of hard work. Honesty was his trademark. He served as a Sunday school teacher, was on the church trustee board and was a deacon. He worked as a leader in Andover 4-H Club and helped many of his neighbors remodel and fix their homes.

Survivors include his wife, Ethel; two daughters, Kathleen Lafferty and her husband, James, and Janiece DeSocio and her husband, John; two sons, Steve and his wife, Melanie, and David; two brothers, Henry and Neal; three sisters, Mary Fletcher, Lynda Willems and Adina Schmidt; 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at Zoar Mennonite Brethren Church of Inman. Burial was in Zoar Cemetery.