Voth, Herman Rudolph (1920-2006)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2006 Dec 18 p. 11

Birth date: 1920 May 20

text of obituary:

HERMAN R. VOTH

Herman Ruldoph Voth, 86, of Newton, Kan., died Nov. 3, 2006, from injuries sustained in a fall Nov. 1. He was born May 20, 1920, to Henry H. and Katie Buhler Voth near Goessel.

When he was 7, his family moved to a farm near Elbing. He attended Newton High School. His family attended Emmaus Mennonite Church near Whitewater, where he was baptized and became a member.

In 1941 he was drafted as a noncombatant, eventually serving in Europe. During the occupation he was assigned to the regimental glee club and traveled in France and Germany entertaining the troops. He was discharged in 1946 and returned to Newton. He was employed at Kroger grocery store and Goodyear Tire store and attended Pittsburg State College.

On May 16, 1947, he married Dora Harder.

They lived in Newton, where he was employed with the Chrysler and International Harvester dealership. When this closed, he was transferred to the Wichita IH dealership and they moved to Wichita.

In 1954 he transferred his membership to First Mennonite Church in Newton, where he remained a member the rest of his life. He enjoyed working in the cassette taping ministry, the welcoming committee and Homemakers Sunday School Class. While in Wichita he attended Open Bible Mennonite Church near his home. When they moved to a home near Whitewater in 1967, he was active in Emmaus Mennonite Church. He sang with the Kansas Mennonite Men’s Chorus.

They moved back to Newton when he retired. He continued small motor repair and the restoration of tractors and enjoyed gardening.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Dora; two sons, James Voth and his wife, Barbara, of Newton, and Thomas Voth and his wife, Pamela, of Wichita; his twin sister, Helen Claassen of Whitewater; and seven grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Martha Busenitz and Anna Penner; and two infant siblings.

Memorial services were held at First Mennonite Church of Newton.