John Eldon Witmer^{[1, 2]}

1914 - 2014  (99 years)

• Name	John Eldon Witmer
  Born	17 Oct 1914	Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  Gender	Male
  Residence	1933	Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  Eby ID Number	00003-605.901
  Died	19 Mar 2014	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  Buried	First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 3]
  Person ID	I25269	Generations
  Last Modified	28 Jan 2025

  
  

  Father	Rev. John Wesley Witmer,   b. 27 May 1879, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 14 Feb 1960, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 80 years)
  Mother	Almeda Hallman,   b. 25 Dec 1878, Howick Twp., Huron Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. 5 Dec 1920, Petersburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 41 years)
  Family ID	F5695	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Lauretta Boshart,   b. 17 May 1912, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 29 Aug 2011, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 99 years)
  Children	1. Murray Witmer   2. John Murray "Murray" Witmer   3. Dorene Katherine Witmer   4. James Bruce "Jim" Witmer   5. Judith Marie Witmer,   b. 14 Mar 1947,   d. 5 Feb 1951  (Age 3 years)
  Last Modified	29 Jan 2025
  Family ID	F6491	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Witmer, John Eldon October 17, 1914 - March 19, 201 Beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, he will be sadly missed. In his 100th year, Eldon passed away peacefully on March 19, 2014, at Trinity Village Care Centre. Eldon's wife, Lauretta Boshart, passed away August 29, 2011. He is survived by son, Murray Witmer (Ruth), daughter, Dorene Rudy-Snyder (Doug Snyder), son James Witmer (Dianne). Lovingly remembered by his nine grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. Predeceased by daughter Judith Marie Witmer in 1951. Predeceased by parents Rev. John Wesley and Almeda (Hallman) Witmer, stepmothers Selina Knechtel Witmer, Ada Bechtel Witmer, and Minnie Brooks. Eldon was the last living relative in the Witmer and Boshart families. He was predeceased by Witmer siblings and their spouses, Vernon (Vinetta) Witmer, Luella (Vernon) Schott, Grace (Lloyd) Sider, Edward (Elmina) Witmer, William (Alice) Witmer, and Melvin (Ethel) Witmer, and Morgan Witmer (died at 2 years of age). Predeceased by Boshart siblings and spouses Moses (Bertha) Boshart, John (Ida) Boshart, Netta (Moses) Gingerich, Lily (Ezra) Brenneman, Mary Boshart, Menno (Mynetta) Boshart, Simeon (Esther) Boshart, Aaron (Marion) Boshart, Gideon (Pearl) Boshart, Luella (Clarence) Erb, and Elmina (Edward) Witmer. Dad was born on a farm in Rosebank, ON, and was baptized as a member of the Mannheim Mennonite Church where his father was pastor. Through the years Dad's careers included: Burkhart Dairy, Dunker Construction, Weston's Bakery, Custodian for First Mennonite Church and Bible Institute, Chesley Lake Camp Manager, Provident Book Store as shipper and receiver, and for Herald Press as Book Distributor. He retired in 1981 at sixty-seven years of age and said that was way too early! During his time at First Mennonite Church he taught the Youth Class and he and mom were Youth Sponsors for 3 years. Then he became Adult Superintendent. For forty years he was on the Church Council (eight years as Council Chair) with pastors C.F. Derstine, John Hess, Ed Metzger and Bob Johnson. Mom and Dad lived at Fairview Mennonite Home for thirteen years. With sadness, but wanting to be closer to his children, Dad moved to Trinity Village Care Centre in October 2013. We are so pleased with the love, care and concern shown to Dad from Fairview Mennonite Home and Trinity Village Care Centre. Dad will be dearly missed for his twinkling smile, warm gentle hugs and loving accepting manner. He loved life and lived his faith each day. Friends are invited to share their memories of Eldon with his family during memorial visitation at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home , 171 King St. S., Waterloo on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Cremation has already taken place. On Wednesday, March 26, 2014, interment at 11: 00 a.m. at First Mennonite Church Cemetery. The memorial service will be held at First Mennonite Church, 800 King Street E., Kitchener at 11: 30 a.m. with Pastor Nancy Brubaker officiating. Reception to follow after the church service. Condolences for the family and donations to First Mennonite Church, MennoHomes Inc., and Fairview Mennonite Home may be arranged through the funeral home at www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445. Waterloo Region Record, March 22, 2014

  
  

• Sources

  [S47] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - First Mennonite CC#4507 Internet link First Mennonite Cemetery online. Witmer / Lauretta / (Boshart) / 1912- / John Eldon / Witmer / 1914- / their beloved daughter / Judith Marie 1947-1951 [S2403] News - Unidentified Newspaper Obituary, Obituary of Magdalena Gerber - Boshart. [S602] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - The Waterloo Region Record (March 2008- ), Obituary of John Eldon Witmer - March 22, 2014. [S8] News - Gospel Herald, December 21, 1933 - Obituary of Selina Knechtel.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 17 Oct 1914 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1933 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 19 Mar 2014 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth