Eli Swartzentruber

Celebration of Life Service: Monday, March 23, 2009 10:00 AM Sunnyside Conservative Mennonite Church, Kalona Burial: Fairview Cemetery, rural Kalona Visitation: Sunday 2-8 PM Family will be present from 2-4 and 6-8 at the SUNNYSIDE CONSERVATIVE MENNONITE CHURCH, Hwy 22 East, Kalona, Iowa Memorail Fund: Pleasantview Home Celebration of Life Monday, March 23, 2009 10:00 AM Sunnyside Conservative Mennonite Church Words of Comfort Pastor John King Pastor Floyd Helmuth Pastor Floyd Yutzy Mixed Octet Anna Fern King Norman Bontrager Rhoda Beachy Richard Beachy Grace Miller Paul D. Miller Norma Nisly Harley Nisly Casket Bearers Josh Miller Carl Miller Andy Swartzentruber Mark Shores Nathan Swartzentruber Dwayne Patterson Interment Fairview Cemetery Rural Kalona, Iowa Eli A. Swartzentruber was born in Fredericksburg (Holmes Co.) Ohio, the son of Andrew "Andy" S. and Amanda (Wengerd) Swartzentruber. He attended rural school and grew up in the Holmes County Amish community. On July 3, 1949 he was united in marriage to Katie Ann Schrock Yoder at the Fairview Mennonite Church near Kalona. Eli was a self-employed "finish carpenter" by trade and enjoyed many other interesting hobbies. He was a musician, inventor, woodworker, and rug weaver and also enjoyed fishing. He played mandolin in the Route 1 Bluegrass group, which included two of his sons, Laban and Joe, as well as two other gentlemen. He and Katie welcomed many Kalona Historical Society tour groups into their home for rug weaving demonstrations and sold her crocheted doilies and his wooden creations as E & K Crafts. They had a floral shop in Kalona called Katie's Flowers and maintained beautiful gardens at their home. Earlier they owned and operated a health food store called Stone Mill Foods, also in Kalona. He was a member of the Sunnyside Conservative Mennonite Church, Kalona Area Chamber of Commerce and the couple had managed the Kalona Chamber booth at the Iowa State Fair for a number of years. Eli is survived by his wife Katie of Kalona, five children and spouses: Verton and Pat Yoder of Mishawaka, IN, Barb and John D. Miller of Kalona, Laban and Kathy Swartzentruber of Junction City, KS, Joe and Deb Swartzentruber and Jim and Sherry Swartzentruber, all of Kalona. 15 grandchildren, one step grandchild, 21 great grandchildren, and 4 step great grandchildren. Also surviving are two brothers, Ammon and wife Erdine Swartzentruber of Storm Lake, IA, Joe Swartzentruber of Wooster, OH, and one sister, Mary and husband Atlee Barkman of Millersburg, OH. Preceding Eli in death were his parents, one sister Nettie Christner and one granddaughter, Barbara Miller. A memorial fund for Pleasantview Home has been established in Eli's honor.