Leonard Elmer Schmucker

Leonard Elmer Schmucker Age 86, of Louisville, Ohio died Sept. 8, 2009. He was born Aug. 24, 1923 to the late Elmer and Ada (Maurer) Schmucker in Louisville, Ohio. He is preceded in death by his three brothers, Vernon, Elden, Loren; sister, Agnes Basinger. During his teen years, he sensed a call to serve in missions. On Feb. 20, 1945, he married his high school sweetheart, Lucille Sommers, while he was serving in Civilian Public Service (CPS) in Kalamazoo, Mich. Earlier CPS assignments were in Indiana and Idaho. Leonard completed studies at Goshen College and Goshen Biblical Seminary (Indiana). He was ordained to the ministry in 1952. He served as pastor in two Michigan congregations: Cedar Grove Mennonite Church near Manistique for 13 years and Bethany Mennonite Church, Imlay City for nine years. In 1975, the family moved to Hesston, Kan. where he completed the Registered Nurse (RN) degree at Hesston College and worked at Schowalter Villa until his retirement in 1990. He was a member of Hesston Mennonite Church. During retirement, they moved to their home community of Louisville, Ohio and rejoined the Beech Mennonite Church. He chose to praise God through singing tenor in church groups, in quartets and the 300+ member Kansas Mennonite Men's Chorus. He also enjoyed gardening, cabinetmaking, craft woodworking and painting. Survivors include his wife, Lucille of 64 years; their six children, Lillian and Michael Badrak of Cadillac, Mich, Marvin and Lee Schmucker of Wichita, Kan, Myrna Roiser of Rochester Hills, Mich, Carol and Dave Fite of Quarryville, Pa, Darrel and DeeAnn Schmucker of Sacramento, Calif, Ron and Lisa Schmucker of DeSoto, Kan; nine grandchildren. Memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 11 at Beech Mennonite Church, 10037 Easton Street NE, Louisville, Ohio 44641, followed by a fellowship luncheon for all attendees. Friends may visit with the family on Thursday, Sept. 10 from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at Stier-Israel Funeral Home, 917 E. Main. St., Louisville, Ohio. Memorial gifts may be send to Mennonite Mission Network, PO Box 370, Elkhart, Ind 46515-0370 or www.mennonitemission.net of Beech Mennonite Church.