Melvin and Veva Herschberger

KALONA ? Melvin J. Herschberger, 81, and Veva A. Herschberger, 78, both of Kalona, died Monday, June 27, 2016, in an automobile accident near Orion, Illinois.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, July 1, 2016, at the Kalona Mennonite Church with the Rev. Scott Swartzendruber officiating. Burial will be in the Sharon Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m., Thursday at the church, where the family will greet friends from 1 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. A memorial fund has been established for Kalona Mennonite Church and Mennonite Historical Society of Iowa. The Yoder-Powell Funeral Home in Kalona is in charge of the arrangements.

Melvin J. Herschberger was born Dec. 12, 1934, in Arthur, Illinois, the son of John E. and Christena (Eash) Herschberger. He attended rural country school.

Veva Aleene Miller Herschberger was born Feb. 7, 1938, in Kalona, the daughter of C. Jay and Dinah (Miller) Miller. She graduated from Iowa Mennonite High School in 1956.

Mel and Veva Herschberger were married on Dec. 23, 1956, at the East Union Mennonite Church in rural Kalona. They lived in Marengo, Keswick, Wellman and Flint Ridge before moving to Kalona. They owned and operated the Kalona Locker from 1969 to 1998, and were very active with the Iowa Meat Processors Association. They were members of the Kalona Mennonite Church.

Surviving are three sons, Darrel Herschberger and wife Diane of Marion, Wade Herschberger and wife Denise of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Brian Herschberger and wife Heather of Kalona; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; Mel?s brothers, Jonas Herschberger of Arthur, Illinois, and Levi Herschberger and wife Lizzie Ann of Arthur, Illinois; Mel?s sister, Emma Hostetler and husband John of Arthur, Illinois; one sister-in-law, Elmina Herschberger of Arthur, Illinois; Veva?s brothers, Alvin Miller and wife Marianna of Kalona, and Dale Miller and wife Linda of Kalona; and Veva?s sister, Eldora Flatt and husband Alvin of Newberry, Michigan.

They were preceded in death by their parents; two daughters, Kathy Herschberger, and Marcia Watkins; one brother, Jacob Herschberger; three sisters, Amelia (Mrs. Orval) Bender, Mary (Mrs. Marvin) Yoder, and Elnora (Mrs. Dave) Borntrager; Donna Biggerstaff; and one sister-in-law, Edna Herschberger.