Dareld Stauffer

MOUNT PLEASANT ? Dareld Wayne Stauffer, 83, of Wayland, died Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, of natural causes.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 12, at the Sugar Creek Mennonite Church in rural Wayland with the Rev. Nathan Luitjens officiating. Burial will be at Sugar Creek Cemetery. A visitation for family and friends will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Thursday at the church. A memorial has been established to Central Plains Mennonite Conference, Quito Ecuador Partnership. Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel in Mount Pleasant is assisting with arrangements.

Mr. Stauffer was born in Milford, Nebraska, on Feb. 25, 1932, the son of Vernon Stauffer and Lillie (Stutzman) Stauffer. He married his high school sweetheart, Joannita Hirschy, on May 31, 1953, at Sugar Creek Mennonite Church, where both were lifelong members.

He graduated from Wayland High School in 1950. He completed a term of 1W service in Indiana in the early 1950s. He was a hard-working farmer, an electrician, and a devoted husband and father. He was very active in the life of his church, and greatly valued the friendships and support of his Sunday school classmates and friends, especially in his later years. He was known for his entertaining stories, his wit, and his love and knowledge of all things related to farming.

Surviving are five children, Michael Alderfer Stauffer and wife Julia of Harrisonburg, Virginia, Ardell Nissley Stauffer and wife Amy of Hesston, Kansas, Sonya Stauffer Kurtz and husband Roger of Rochester, New York, Jo Helmuth of Goshen, Indiana, and Leida Stauffer High and husband Tom of Appleton, Wisconsin; 10 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; one sister, Carol Swartzendruber and husband Arliss of Denver, Coloradop and his brother-in-law, Ellis Leichty of Wayland.

He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; his stepfather, Enos Lehman; one sister, Phyllis Leichty; and one daughter-in-law, Brenda Stauffer.