Ivan Swartzentruber

KALONA ? Ivan Lee Swartzentruber, 95, of Sarasota, Florida, formerly of Kalona, died Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016, in the Weaver Haus in Sarasota, Florida.

Celebration of life service will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 19, at the Fairview Mennonite Church in rural Kalona with the Rev. John Hershberger, the Rev. Perry Miller and the Rev. Leon Stutzman officiating. Burial will be in the Fairview Mennonite Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., Monday at the church. The Yoder-Powell Funeral Home in Kalona is in charge of the arrangements.

Mr. Swartzentruber was born Feb. 9, 1920, in rural Kalona, the son of Loyd and Eva (Kemp) Swartzentruber. He married Alma Borntrager on Sept. 1, 1940, at the Fairview Mennonite Church. She preceded him in death. He married Esther (Knepp) Swartzentruber on May 26, 2007, at Bethel Mennonite Church in Montgomery, Indiana.

He helped build Fairview Mennonite Church and was a charter member. When he owned Swartzentruber (Sharon) Grocery Store, he was drafted for Civilian Peace Service (CPS) and served at Hills City, South Dakota, and on the canning truck for MCC. He was a farmer and a carpenter, and repaired furniture and did numerous wood carvings since 1980. After their marriage, he and his wife Esther spent summers in Montgomery, Indiana, and their winter home was in Sarasota, Florida.

Surviving are his wife Esther; four children, Elva Silvey and husband Myron of Pensacola, Florida, Jo Ann Miller of Goshen, Indiana, Lee Swartzentruber and wife Kathy of Phoenix, Arizona, and Geneva Miller and husband Del of Millersburg, Indiana; 10 stepchildren, Sondra Stoll and husband Levi of Jerome, Michigan, Daryl Swartzentruber and wife Mary Lou of Montgomery, Indiana, Diane Otto and husband Dean of Evansville, Indiana, Cheryl Gingerich and husband Don of Sarasota, Florida, Connie Wagler and husband Allen of Loogootee, Indiana, Patti Stoll and husband Ben of Sarasota, Florida, Judy Moger and husband Dana of Jessup, Georgia, Marlene Jones and husband Steve of Ligonier, Indiana, Randy Swartzentruber of Montgomery, Indiana, and Craig Swartzentruber and wife Marita of Fairfield, Montana; one son-in-law, Alvin Miller and wife Eileen of Goshen, Indiana; one daughter-in-law, Twila Swartzentruber of Kalona; and grandchildren, step-grandchildren, great-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Loyd and Elva Swartzentruber; his stepmother, Effie (Hostetler) Swartzentruber; one brother, Olan Swartzentruber; one sister, Edna (Swartzentruber) Schrock; his wife Alma; one daughter, Martha Fern Miller; and one son, Don Swartzentruber.