Wall, Elmer (1916-2006)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2006 Jul 31 p. 8

Birth date: 1916 Jan 20

text of obituary:

ELMER WALL

Elmer Wall, 90, of Hillsboro, Kan., died July 18, 2006. He was born Jan. 20, 1916, to Henry and Anna Adrian Wall in Mountain Lake, Minn.

He was converted July 31, 1930, and baptized in August of that year in Maiden Lake in Delft, Minn. He joined the church choir when he was 14 and the male chorus at 16. At 18 he was the part-time choir and male chorus organist. At 21 he was elected choir director and introduced English songs to a traditionally German church. He loved music and played the violin in high school and dreamed of someday being a concert violinist. He sang tenor in the school and church choirs. He sang in the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church choir for 26 years. He sang with the 500-voice Kansas Mennonite Men’s Chorus for 17 years.

He entered Civilian Public Service in 1941 in Dennison, Iowa, and finished in Terry, Mont., in 1945. He married Frieda Bartel on May 16, 1944.

He began farming in 1946, buying a Sculley Lease that he farmed for 34 years before being forced to retire because of arthritis. He still helped son Richard during planting and harvesting. He was always willing to share his farming experiences to assist his sons in their farming. He drove a school bus for 26 years with an excellent safety record and drove to his sons’ out-of-town games. He loved to play the piano and accompanied is daughter, who played French horn.

In 1980, when he and his wife moved to Hillsboro, he began a new activity, bowling. He became accomplished at this, bowling a 200 game and a 600 series.

Survivors include his wife, Frieda Bartel Wall of Hillsboro; a son, Robert and his wife, Joyce, of Conway Springs; a daughter, Sandra Garrard and her husband, John, of Antelope; and seven grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Frieda Wall Wiens; two brothers, John and Sam; and a son, Richard.