Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 123, Number 13, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 29 March 2000 — Page 5

Obituaries

HARVEY W. STUMP May 19, 1924-Mar. 11, 2000 Harvey W. Stump, 75, Ontario, California, formerly of New Paris, went to be with the Lord, March 11. He was the oldest of eight children bom to Rev. Carl and Walta Stump, New Paris. Harvey moved to California in 1941. He married Lorraine Bolsinger, June 18, 1948, in the Madison Chapel Church, Wakarusa. Surviving with Mrs. Stump are five children: Sonja (Mrs. Bob Fagg), Claremont, California; Judy (Mrs. Mike Musser), Ontario, Ca.; Lola (Mrs. David Dukes), Upland, Ca.; Nelson (and wife Kaye) Engle, Ontario, Ca.; Anette (Mrs. Brian Keagy), Alta Loma, Ca. He was also blessed with 15 grandchildren. Also surviving are seven brothers and sisters: C. Owen Stump, Nappanee; Ray Stump, Ontario, Ca.; Leighton Stump, Wakarusa; Naomi Hertzler, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; Kenneth Stump, Upland, Ca.; Mary Lou Sheets, Nappanee and Doris Huber, Elkhart. Memorial donations may be made to the National Tuberous Sclerosis Association, 8181 Professional Place, Suite 110, Landover, Maryland 20785, or Western Christian School Claremont, 3105 Padua Ave., Claremont, California 91711, or Child Evangelism Fellowship, Box 533, Upland, California 91785. ELMER C. KESSENS Mar. 9, 1919-Mar. 20, 2000 Elmer C. Kessens, 81, Indiana Veterans Home, West Lafayette, formerly of Nappanee, died Monday, March 20, at the veteran’s home. Born Marcy 9, 1919, in Ft. Wayne, he was the son of Christian and Cora (Bobmeyer) Kessens, and married Mary Jane Reilly, July 8, 1945, in Ft. Wayne. She died January 27, 1996. Mr. Kessens was a WWII Army Veteran and a retired cabinet maker, retired custodian and courier for First National Bank and member of Nappanee United Methodist Church and Nappanee American Legion Post #154. Surviving are a son, Richard C. Kessens, Rockhill, South Carolina; a daughter, Rebecca C. Goulet, Wimberley, Texas; five grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren and a sister, Mrs. Marie Simmons, Ft. Wayne. He was also preceded in death by two brothers: Harry and Bob Kessens; three sisters: Irene Kessens, Alice Kessens and Agnes Hollopeter and two infant brothers. The Rev. Doug Hadley, of the Nappanee United Methodist Church, assisted by the Rev. Dave Engbrecht, of the Nappanee Missionary Church, conducted services Saturday morning, March 25, at Nappanee United Methodist Church, with burial at South Union Cemetery, Nappanee. Arrangements were with Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home, Nappanee. Memorials may be made to the Nappanee American Legion or VFW Post. BURDENIA REYNOLDS Sept. 30, 1908-Mar. 20, 2000 Burdenia Reynolds, 91, Hubbard Hill Village, Elkhart, died Monday, march 20, at Valley View Health Care, Elkhart, where she had been a patient for the past month following a short illness. Bom September 30, 1908, in Marion, she was the daughter of Charles and Mamie Fallis Rennaker, and moved to the South Bend area in 1944 from Marion. She married James Kenneth Reynolds June 8,1929, in Marion, and he preceded her in death, October 12, 1988. She was a housewife and seamstress. Surviving are four daughters: Wanda Maxine Burkholder and Mrs. Jim (Lulla Belle) Foster, both of Elkhart; Mrs. Burton (Wilma Jean) Cheney, Niles, Michigan and Mrs. Chuck (Velma Darlene) Gross, Middlebury; 10 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Virgil Daniel Rennaker,

&undal jam E. _JB -ISH ai»»M-gs4 y 4HnS| 219M2-2255 /ImalLia oiiml>iam aaJ AAAtiiA >|n Emlmgt Jm iNkkMl UfAlliM ViWTifJ wlH *FWh™9 locilly wd d fcy tin Burt fwtly. 6«ll to<l«y for i«fomaH«n on frm-4 fuaw«l «rr«at>iM9ti w to cotto twl iirvlew.

Marion and two sisters: Mrs. Lewis (Lois Mae) Butcher, Marion and Norma Jean Nelson, Princeton. She was preceded in death by one grandchild; two sisters: Betty Louise Rennaker and Marquerite Marie Swarzkapf and two brothers: John Hubert Rennaker and Bernard Charles Rennaker. The Rev. Dave Engbrecht, assisted by the Rev. Don Rohrer, conducted services Thursday morning, March 23, at Nappanee Missionary Church, with burial at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Bourbon. Memorials may be made to Nappanee Missionary Church or Elkhart Community Hospice. BONNIE HARTZLER Oct. 21, 1926-Mar. 24, 2000 Bonagene “Bonnie” Hartzler, 73, 652 N. Miami Dr., Nappanee, died Friday, March 24, at Valley View Nursing Home, where she had been a patient for two weeks. She had been ill since December 1999. Bom October 21, 1926, in Nappanee, she was the daughter of Orvil L. and Georgia M. (Smith) Teeter and a lifetime area resident. She was a 1944 graduate of Nappanee High School, and had worked as an insurance claims secretary for Callander Insurance and Salem Insurance. She married Kenneth D. Hartzler, January 24, 1947, and he preceded her in death, November 29, 1997. Surviving are a sister-in-law, Gladys Perrin, Goshen, and many nieces, nephews and friends. She was also preceded in death by her parents and a son, Courtney Ryan Hartzler. The Rev. Kenneth Hunn conducted services Tuesday morning, March 28, at First Brethren Church, Nappanee, with burial at South Union Cemetery. Arrangements were with Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home, Nappanee. Memorials may be made to First Brethren Church, Nappanee. GENE H. KING Sept. 28, 1912-Mar. 24, 2000 Gene H. King, 87, Miller’s Merry Manor, Wakarusa, formerly of Nappanee, died Friday, March 24, at Miller’s Merry Manor. Bom September 28, 1912, in Bristol, he was the son of Clarence Eugene and Evalyn Louise (Hermance) King, and a lifetime resident of this area. He married Joy C. Troxel, January 30, 1937, in Elkhart, and she preceded him in death on April 29, 1990. Mr. King did metal plating at Excel Corp. in Elkhart. He was a member of the Nappanee United Methodist Church and was in the Civil Conservation Corp. many years ago. Surviving are a son, Thomas M. King, Wakarusa; two daughters: Mrs. Daniel (Betty) Bridenstine, Nappanee and Barbara LeMaster, Warsaw; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. His parents, brothers and sisters have also preceded him in death. Services were conducted Monday morning, March 27, at Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home, Nappanee, with burial at South Union Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Nappanee United Methodist Church. RUBY SHEETS Feb. 6, 1925-Mar. 25, 2000 Ruby Sheets, 75, 59057 SRI9 South, Elkhart, died Saturday morning, March 25, at her residence. Bom February 6, 1925, in Wakarusa, she was the daughter of Roy M. and Grace (Lehman) Summer (Reese was her name at her time of death). She married Robert Sheets, June 16,1946, in Wakarusa, and he died September 28, 1997. She is survived by two daughters: Mrs. Ron (Cyndi) Troxel, Goshen and Mrs. John (Janet) Geary, Elkhart; a sister, Mrs. Walter (Alyse) Szurek, Chicago; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Helen Esenwein. Mrs. Sheets was a 1943 graduate of Wakarusa High School, a retired bookkeeper and member of St. John’s United Church of Christ, Elkhart. Pastor Helen Nusbaum conducted a memorial service Wednesday

- /7 Wt

MAPLE SYRUP PARADE—Beautiful weather brought hundreds of people to the 31st annual Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival

Happy Birthday 30 Lois Cook Wendell Metzler Ralph Borkholder Neil Hinton Phillip Rosentraler Steven Smith Edith Baumgartner Cynthia Julien Mrs. Robert Plotnr Charles C. Myers Tammy VanDenDriessche Tara German 31 Suzie Hoffer Karen Graverson Helen Yoder George Brich Spencer Weaver April 1 Geraldine Fink Newell Clouse Harold Peterson Cheryl Mattem Connie Burkholder Howard Mishler Dwight Barnes Jeannette Miller Katherine Mortimore 2 Karen Dixon Mrs. Frank Method Sharie Heckaman Steven Doll Shireen Hoover Danny Wortinger Teresa Ingalls 3 Dick Rogers Steve Culp Brian Johnson Minnie Rittenhouse Jill George Marcia Kay Mast Gayle Meek Joe D. Stutzman Rex Dumph 4 Thomas Mattem Darrell Schwartz Kent Weber Lee Fairchild Susan K. Slagle Lisa Stickley Jeffrey Reid 5 Melinda Heckaman Dorothy Hollar Roger Hostetter Dick Pletcher Ray Clouse Glenn Reed Kay Zentz Tim Holtzman Betty Ward Dennis Evans Spencer Terrance Elliot Rotary report... The speaker at last week’s meeting of the Nappanee Rotary Club was Solvejg Gletz, who is a German exchange student at Concord High School, under the Rotary Student Exchange Program. She was introduced by Chris Reiff, of the Concord Rotary Club. John Moore was the program chairman Anna Huff was a guest and prospective member, with Rotarian Tara Lengacher. Tara also announced that the annual Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by the club will take place April 22, at the athletic field on CR7. John Leavitt talked about the “Spring Into Art” program sponsored by the Nappanee Public Library, to be held April 14-16. afternoon, March 29, at St. John’s United Church of Christ, Elkhart, with burial at Olive West Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Salvation Army or St. Joseph County Hospice.

jlleadovn Community Church Worship 1:00 PM Sundays at the Worship & Community Center _ 1105 West Market Street. Nappanee On US 6 across from Meadows B Casual - Nursery & Children’s Ministries - 219-773-5343 B

parade, Saturday, March 23rd, which kicked off Saturday's events. (AN photo by Mindy Shearer)

Passion play stars largest cast

The largest cast ever assembled in the nine seasons of the Oakwood Passion Play of Syracuse Indiana will again this year be bringing to life the sights, sounds and unusual characters of ancient Jerusalem. Every year, over 3,000 people visit the Oakwood Inn and Park on beautiful Lake Wawasee to experience these celebrated theatrical productions. The Oakwood Passion Play bends together the unique styles of “environmental” and “interactive” theatre, where audience members are seated in the midst of a public plaza of Jerusalem. The three story stage completely surrounds the audience, giving them a feeling of having withdrawn from the modem world and stepped back into ancient times. Audience members have the opportunity to question the Roman Guards about their difficult tour of duty in this unstable realm of the Roman Empire, sample the wares of roaming street vendors, and experience the mob action that leads to a terrible beating in Pilate’s courtyard. The production is written and

Church Notes

Shares Lenten videos Bremen Missionary Church, 2958 Elm Road, will host several special videos on Sunday evenings leading up to and including Easter on April 23. The community is invited to attend any or all of the special presentations. April 2, 6p.m.—’’The Passover,” which welcomes viewers into a Jewish home for the festival meal celebrated on the first night of the Passover. April 16, 6p.m.—Palm Sunday—’’The Prosecutor,” a moving drama debating the evidence for and against Jesus’ resurrection in a modem trial setting. April 21,7p.m.—Good Friday—’’Victory at Jerusalem,” with viewers traveling back into time, to visit, site by crucial site, the climactic last days of the Savior. April 23, 6p.m.—Easter—’’The Last Supper,” with viewers meeting Jesus and His disciples in the Upper Room, to share the historic Passover meal, which later became the Last Supper. Pastor Hinkle states, “If you would like to learn more of the historic Easter event, you will want to come and view these videos.” Present crosses at worship Every person worshiping at the 9:30a.m. worship service at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Sunday, April 2, will receive a three-inch wooden cross, with cord, to be worn around the neck. The crosses came from Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and are from their “A Church Built From Crosses” program. To date, more than 70,000 crosses have been made and distributed by the members of this mission congregation, to gather funds for the purchase of property, on which to build their church. St. John’s sent a gift to this congregation and the program began. Two members of St. John’s, Nappanee, Bill and Beckie Pressler, contributed enough funds so that every worshiper this Sunday could be presented with a cross. The sermon, preached by Pastor Thomas A. Herbon, will be entitled “Look & Believe & Live,” based on the three lessons for the day: Numbers 21:4-9, Ephesians 2:1-10 and John 3:14-21. The Adult Bible Class will continue its study of the book of Romans, with the class taught by Pastor Herbon. The mid-week Lenten service begins at 7:00 Wednesday evening, with the sermon entitled “Nailed,” based on Luke 23:26-33. This is part of the Cross/Peace series—’’For He is our peace...through the Cross,” which is this year’s Lenten theme. The public is cordially invited to both the Wednesday evening service and the Sunday morning worship. St. John’s is located at 655 S. Main St. For further information, contact Pastor Herbon at the church, 773-7571, or at his home, 219-533-5480.

jiguglj WFRN-FM 104.7 WLRX-FM95.7 Xl\ STATE ROAD 1* al JMcODNTIJM>AI^OJ

Nappanee Advance News Wednesday, March 29,2000

produced by Kosciusko resident Dr. Bob Whitesel, who is also the author of the popular Elizabethanera production, “Mr. Periwinkle’s Christmas Party at the Oakwood Inn.” In his popular passion play, Whitesel models the production after the famed European production at Oberammergau, Germany. And again this year many of Northern Indiana’s finest singers and actors will be participating. Many performances sell-out in advance, therefore it is recommended that tickets by secured early. Times and dates for the nine performances of the 2000 season of the Oakwood Passion Play are: 7p.m. April 14-16 and April 19-23; with 2:30p.m. matinees on Saturdays, April 15 and 22. Tickets are available by callin the Oakwood Inn at 219-457-5600, ext. 1427. Again this year special low cost tickets for teens and children are available, as well as overnight and dinner packages at the Oakwood Inn overlooking Lake Wawasee.

Safe VICTORY^CENTER Former Union Center School At the comer nfCR4SSCftII Milo Yutzy, Pastor 69954 CR 11 • Nappanee IN 46550 (219) 773-2611 Service Tlmae • Sun. fcSO AM • Wed. 7:00 PM AM An Welcome

Moment of Meditation... Pastor Jim Stultz, First Baptist Church, Bremen Pro tennis player, Steffie Graf was asked one dme the secret of her ability. She replied that she had learned to concentrate all of her attention on the tennis ball as it came toward her. Nothing took her focus off the ball. She didn’t notice the fans; she didn’t even pay much attention to her opponent. She had developed such a fixed focus that she could even read the trademark on the ball as it sped her way. A fixed focus is not only the secret to winning at tennis but also the secret at winning in the Christian life. We need to discipline our minds to fix our focus on Jesus Christ. Hebrews 12:2 challenges us: “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.” There are so many things that can absorb and distract our attention from Christ. It is very easy to fall into the trap of becoiping discouraged by the poor example and even downright sinfulness of other Christians. If we focus on people, even God’s people we are sure to be disappointed sooner or later. It is also dangerous to be over preoccupied with the blessings of God. We are delighted to have answers to our prayers and thrilled when we experience an emotionally uplifting worship service. However, if the blessings become more important than the Blesser, we lose our focus on Jesus. The disciples on the mount of transfiguration were caught up in the experience on the mountain that day. Moses and Elijah were there along with a supematurally bright light from heaven as well as the thundering voice of God. YetVhen the smoke cleared and the prophets were gone the scriptures record that they saw no man save Jesus only. God wanted to make sure that their attention was fixed on Jesus, his Son. What is it that is taking your eyes off Jesus? Tennis matches and spiritual victories cannot be won if we allow anything to distract us from our fixed focus. Let’s be sure to keep our eyes on Jesus.

FIRST CHURCH OF GOD Corner of CR 7 & 54 • Nappanee Senior Pastor: Rev Brad Kendall Pastor Emeritus: Rev Robed Fields Phone: 219-773-7743 Sen/ices: Wed. 7 pm Sun. 10:30 am (Sunday School 9:30 am) Sun. 6 pm “A place where people become whole and holy to the glory of God."

<e sWteri, fl 1155 N. Main St. \ 773-3773 Prayer Service 9:00 Sunday School 9:30 V Worship 10:45^

Page 5