Oyer, Vilas John (1917-2006)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2006 Jul 3 p. 8

Birth date: 1917 Oct 3

text of obituary:

VILAS OYER

Vilas John Oyer, 88, of Gibson City, Ill., died March 17, 2006, at Heritage Manor. He was born Oct. 3, 1917, to Samuel and Elmire Naffziger Oyer in rural Mclean County near Foosland.

He attended Prairie Cottage and Caledonia grade schools in Bellflower Township. He attended Foosland High School and graduated from Bellflower Township High School in 1938.

He served for about four years in Civilian Public Service camps during World War II. He married Viola Stauffer on Oct. 4, 1944.

He was a dairy and grain farmer north of Fisher before moving to rural Gibson City in 1965, where he continued to be a grain farmer until his retirement. He was a lifetime member of East Bend Mennonite Church of Fisher, where he was active in service and leadership roles such as Sunday school superintendent and Sunday school teacher. He was one of the first elders to serve East Bend, was a trustee and was on the church council.

Survivors include his wife, Viola; two sons, Jerry S. Oyer and his wife, Susie, of Gibson City, and Kenneth R. Oyer and his wife, Marcia, of Mahomet; two daughters, Anna Marie Oyer of Ephrata, Pa., and Helen Mae Amberg and her husband, Edward, of Anaconda, Mont.; a sister, Leta Eichelberger of Lakewood, Colo.; and four grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Verle.