Swartzendruber, Wilbur (1925-2007)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2007 Sep 3 p. 9

Birth date: 1925 Jun 24

text of obituary:

WILBUR SWARTZENDRUBER

Wilbur Swartzendruber, 82, of Wellman, Iowa, died Aug. 18, 2007, at Parkview Manor after a lengthy illness. He was born June 24, 1925, to Peter and Lydia Swartzendruber in Johnson County near Wellman.

He married Lois on June 5, 1949, in Wayland.

They lived in Wellman, where he was an auctioneer and an active member of Wellman Mennonite Church.

He was very involved in the Wellman community, where he served as mayor of Wellman for four years, on the city council for two years, with the Wellman Volunteer Fire Department since 1957 and the Wellman Cooperative Telephone Association for 40 years. He was past president of the Wellman Community Club and charter member of the Jolly Men’s Club.

He helped organize the Iowa Mennonite Central Committee annual sale, volunteered with Mennonite Disaster Service, Habitat for Humanity and as an auctioneer for the Pleasantview Benefit Sale and Johnson County 4-H Fair auction.

Survivors include his wife, Lois Swartzendruber of Wellman; a daughter, Joyce Swartzendruber and her husband, James Melnis, of Orono, Maine; two sons, Doug Swartzendruber and his wife, Gail, of Castro Valley, Calif., and Jim Swartzendruber of North Liberty; two brothers, Mark Swartzendruber of Kalona and John Swartzendruber of Wayland; and a sister, Faith Carpenter of Sturgis, Mich.

Services were held at Wellman Mennonite Church. Private graveside services were held in Wellman Mennonite Cemetery.