Thayer, Theresa Ann (1987-2000)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2000 Oct 12 p. 7

Birth date: 1987 Apr 16

text of obituary:

Fire kills 6 in Kansas family

TAMPA, Kan. - Six members of an Amish-Mennonite family died Oct. 7 when fire destroyed their Marion County home.

Mary Esther Thayer and five of her daughters were killed by a fire that may have started in a wood-burning stove.

Her husband, Richard, and five other children escaped from the burning house.

Killed in the fire were Mary Esther Thayer, 47; Justina, 15; Theresa, 13, Jessamy, 8; Dorothea, 6; and Bernadine, 3.

The survivors were Richard Thayer, 51; Magdalena, 23; Matthias, 21; Andreas, 19; Alexander, 17; and Paula, 11.

“The worst thing was we found the five girls huddled together,” said McPherson Fire District No. 6 Fire Chief Mike Becker. He said that during the fire, Magdalena had told her sisters, who were on the second floor of the house, that she would return with a ladder. But rescue efforts failed.

It was the deadliest Kansas fire in more than two decades.

The family’s oldest son, Thaddeus, 25, said the family's faith in God and community support were sustaining them.

“We have really felt a lot of support from neighbors and friends," he said. “It is the hand of God reaching out to us.”

Brad Thayer, Richard's brother, said: “Without God in your life, all of this is a pointless tragedy. With Jesus in your life, we know we will all be together again."

The Thayers moved to the area from Minnesota in the late 1980s with five or six other families to start an Amish-Mennonite community. The other families had moved away, but the Thayers decided to stay. They attended Morning Star Mennonite Church, a Church of God in Christ, Mennonite (Holdeman), congregation.

The Thayers were well-known in the area for their friendliness and willingness to help neighbors in time of need. Now, neighbors and many others reciprocated with words of comfort and gifts of food, clothing, blankets, furniture and money.

The funeral service was held Oct. 11 at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church, which was chosen because its sanctuary can seat 1,100 people.

From reports by the Wichita Eagle, the Associated Press and the Hillsboro Free Press.

Find a Grave Memorial ID: 25295588