Zehr, John David (1923-1966)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 196 Jul 14 p. 3

Birth date: 1923

text of obituary:

Fatal Crash in Wisconsin

Services Held at Indiana Church for Pastor, Son

Goshen, Ind. — Two largely attended funerals were held last week at the Yellow Creek Brick Mennonite Church near here as the congregation, relatives and friends paid last tribute to the church's pastor, Rev. John David Zehr, 43, and his 12-yer-old son, Bruce Neal, both victims of a highway crash near Racine, Wis. Saturday morning, July 2.

Rev. and Mrs. Zehr and son were en route to the Christian Writers' Conference at Green Lake, Wis. when the car driven by Rev. Zehr went out of control on temporary I-94 and struck an overpass support pillar.

Rev. Zehr died Saturday evening at St. Luke's Hospital, Racine. His funeral was held at the local church, Tuesday, July 5, with Rev. John Steiner officiating.

Bruce Neal died Tuesday evening at the Racine hospital, and the funeral was conducted at the church here Saturday forenoon by Rev. Steiner and Rev. Simon Gingerich.

Mrs. Zehr who was listed in critical condition following the accident, showed rapid improvement and was returned here by ambulance in time to attend her son's funeral.

Rev. Zehr, a native of Manson, Iowa, was a graduate of Goshen College and was completing his studies at the seminary here while serving the Yellow Creek congregation as pastor. Before coming here he was pastor of the Calvary Mennonite Church in Los Angeles.

Surviving in addition to Mrs. Zehr are three older children, Diane Fay, Joan Kay, and David Juan, who did not go along on the trip to Wisconsin; Rev. Zehr's mother, Mrs. Silas Zehr of Manson, and a brother and sister.

The Mennonite obituary: 1966 Aug 2 p. 486