Peifer, Willis E. (1912-2005)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2005 Sep 5 p. 8

Birth date: 1912

WILLIS E. PEIFER

Willis E. Peifer, 93, of Lititz, Pa., and formerly of Manheim, died July 3, 2005, at Landis Homes Retirement Community. He was born to Clayton and Alice Erb Peifer in East Hempfield Township.

His first wife, Mary Rohrer Peifer, died in 1968. His second wife, Anna Mary Harnish Landis Peifer, died in 1999. He then married Grace Kautz Kreider Landis.

He owned and operated his own farm in Penn Township from 1935-98. He also worked as a carpenter for Clifford Denlinger of East Petersburg. A member of East Petersburg Mennonite Church, he volunteered with Mennonite Disaster Service and Mennonite Central Committee at Akron, with Meals on Wheels in the Manheim area and at Landis Homes Retirement Community of Lititz. He was a member of Mill Creek Hunting Club, Tioga County and Enterprise Stock Club of Lancaster. His hobbies included traveling, hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his wife, Grace; two daughters, Blanche R. Myer and her husband, Donald, of Lancaster, and Nancy J. Forrey and her husband, K. Eugene, of Mountville; two stepsons, Lee Landis and his wife, Patricia, of Narvon, and Kenneth Landis and his wife, Carolyn, of Christiana; a brother, Clarence Peifer of Bridgewater, Va.; five grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren and seven step-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his previous wives, Mary and Anna Mary; a daughter, Verna R. Peifer; and a sister, Anna Mary Miller.

Funeral services were held at East Petersburg Mennonite Church. Burial was in the church cemetery.