Melvin J. Herschberger, 12 Dec 1934 - 27 Jun 2016

HERSCHBERGER, EASH, MILLER, HOSTETLER, FLATT, WATKINS, BENDER, YODER, BORNTRAGER, BIGGERSTAFF

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 7/15/2016 at 13:34:41

MELVIN J. HERSCHBERGER

Kalona

Melvin J. Herschberger was born Dec. 12, 1934, in Arthur, Ill., 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, Iowa, the daughter of C. Jay and Dinah (Miller) Miller. She graduated from Iowa Mennonite High School in 1956.

On Dec. 23, 1956, Mel and Veva were united in marriage at 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.

Mel and Veva died Monday, June 27, 2016, in an automobile accident near Orion, Ill. Mel was 81 and Veva was 78.

They are survived by three sons, Darrel (Diane) Herschberger of Marion, Wade (Denise) Herschberger of Minneapolis, Minn., and Brian (Heather) Herschberger of Kalona; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; Mel's brothers, Jonas Herschberger and Levi (Lizzie Ann) Herschberger; a sister, Emma (John) Hostetler; a sister-in-law, Elmina Herschberger, all of Arthur, Ill.; Veva's brothers, Alvin (Marianna) Miller and Dale (Linda) Miller of Kalona; and a sister, Eldora (Alvin) Flatt of Newberry, Mich.

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

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, July 1, at Kalona Mennonite Church. The Rev. Scott Swartzendruber will officiate. Burial will be in Sharon Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 30, at the church where the family will greet friends from 1 to 4 p.m. 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 caring for Mel and Veva and their family. Messages may be sent to the family at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.

Gazette,Thursday, 30 June 2016, 9a