Howard Zehr Obituary (1928 - 2017)

Howard Emanuel Zehr, 88, of Gridley, passed away at 8:57 p.m. Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, Normal. His funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 3, 2017 at Prairieview Mennonite Church, 13013 N. 400 East Rd, Gridley, with Rev. Doug Hicks officiating. Burial will follow at Waldo Twp. Cemetery, rural Gridley. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Sunday at Prairieview Mennonite Church and for one hour prior to services Monday. Memorials may be made to Gridley Emergency Medical Services or to Prairieview Mennonite Church. Calvert - Johnson & Froelich Memorial Home, El Paso is assisting the family with arrangements. Howard was born June 29, 1928 at Gridley, the son of Edward & Louella Bertsche Zehr. He married Loretta Goertz on May 8, 1955 at Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church, rural Inman, KS and was married 61 years. She survives with children, Cindy (Ron deceased) Ervin of Pawnee, Jay (Sandi) Zehr of Chenoa, Thomas (Sherry) Zehr of Danville, IN, Donna (Steve) Ringger of Lexington, and David (Mary) Zehr of Jasper, IN; thirteen grandchildren, Tim (Jessie) Ervin, Ryan (Nancy) Ervin, Kelli (Nathan) Tobin, Kevin Zehr, Lisa Zehr, Austin Zehr, Craig Zehr, Becky (Philip) Romersberger, Kate (Scott) Levy, Emily (Adam) Wherry, Sarah (Andy) Hermes, Steven Zehr and Leanna Zehr; and seventeen great-grandchildren with a new great-grandchild on the way. Also surviving are brothers, Orlyn (Jan) Zehr and Marvin (Jeannie) Zehr both of Newton, KS; sisters, Leola Flaming of Inman, KS, Marilyn Yordy of Flanagan, and Miriam (Robert) Liechty of Berne, IN; sister-in-law, Marieanna Siemens of Inman, KS; and brother-in-law, Ron (Edye) Goertz, of Millbrook, AL. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Edmund and Donald; and one sister, Evelyn. He was also preceded in death by brother-in-laws, Vernon Flaming, E.J. Yordy and Marvin Siemens; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Harold & Wilma Goertz, Wilbur & Berniece Goertz, and Arnold & Genny Goertz. Howard was a former member of Flanagan Mennonite Church and more recently a member of Prairieview Mennonite Church of Gridley. He was a feed salesman for 45 years beginning in 1954 with Honegger Feeds and Ringger Feeds, and retired from United Feeds in 1999. For many years Howard served on the board at Mennonite Hospital and later BroMenn Hospital. One of Howards favorite pastimes was spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, both here in the area and traveling to ones who lived away. He also enjoyed the many trips he and Loretta took to many different states. The family would like to acknowledge the love and care that Advocate BroMenn doctors and nurses gave to Howard during his hospital stay.