Edna Z. Lochner

Edna Z. Lochner, 96, from Fort Wayne, Indiana, passed away Friday, April 9, 2021, at Ascension Living Saint Joseph Village in Freeport, Illinois. Edna was born on August 18, 1924 in LaOtto, Indiana. She was the 6th child born to the late Ralph and Margaret (Freeman) Lochner. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Jacob “Jake”, Francis “Basie” & Irwin “Bub” Lochner and six sisters, Ruth Roush, Mary Strong, Elsie Fahlsing, Geneive Fahlsing, Naoma Fogle & Orrel Wiley.

At the age of seven, Edna accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior. Missionaries from Africa visited Edna’s church and when she was in second grade, she shared with a lady that she was going to be a missionary. The lady responded “Oh Edna! The lions will eat you up!” Edna’s faith was her foundation, and she would not be shaken by these words. Even as a young adolescent, Edna knew she needed to go to college in order to be a missionary. Working in the school office and in the onion fields while still in high school, Edna saved her money so she could attend Olivet Nazarene College. During her senior year, Edna became sick with scarlet fever, and she was required to be in bed for many hours. Her illness was a setback, but it did not keep her from her goal, her focus to be a missionary to Africa. Attending Olivet, Edna worked multiple jobs and was able to finish with only owing $150 which her brother Jake loaned her. After Olivet, Edna taught elementary school for three years. While teaching full time, Edna also attended Ball State College earning a master’s degree in Administration in Education. The International Church of the Nazarene Literature Department offered Edna a job working in their editorial section. It was here that Edna learned how to write and revise literature which would prepare her for many different roles she had as a missionary in Africa. In 1952, Edna was turned down from going to Africa. Edna sought the Lord even more, and she says “the next six months were lived close to Jesus. He did not show me what He would do in the future, but He did show me what I should do day by day.” At the end of six months, Edna was appointed to do missionary work in Swaziland, Africa. In August 1953, Edna traveled to New York City to board the ship for Africa, and all that she knew was fading away into the distance. Edna whispered “Lord, I’m in Your hands.”

Edna faithfully served as missionary for 38 years in Swaziland, Africa. Serving as a teacher, a principal, a school grantee, and a literature director, Edna impacted countless lives. In her autobiography, she recounts many times when her life was in danger and yet the Lord provided a way out and kept Edna safe. No lions ate her! Many snakes and a few crocodiles were close to causing her harm, but the Lord protected her. When she retired at the age of 66, Edna learned what nicknames the Swazi people had for her. Mentakahle- “one who does right”, Maphikelela- “one who holds and does not give up”, Umuntu Wabantu- “one who is a person of the people (one of them).”

In 1990, Edna retired to Fort Wayne, Indiana, but she did not really retire and rest. Even in retirement, she still had a passion for providing Christian literature for Africa. While still in Africa, Edna was reading a passage from I Chronicles 28:20-21 “... ‘Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.” Even though she was in the United States now, the words “DO IT” were still clear and strong in her heart. In February 1991, with the help of her family, Edna founded Christian Literature for Africa Association. (CLAA) Through many tests and trials, CLA broke ground on their own building in 2004. God provided again with monetary donations as well as laborers for the physical building. Bibles and holiness literature have been delivered to forty countries in Africa.

In 2010, Edna returned to Swaziland and was honored by the Prime Minister by holding a celebration for Edna with attendance by leaders of education, former students and co-workers. The dinner celebration was televised throughout the whole country of Swaziland.  Edna still has a dream. “A dream of giving good books which give hope to the hopeless; Bibles and Christian literature that inspire people to dream the right kind of dreams. Books that challenge individuals to believe that they can achieve and share their Christian faith. The least we can do is to place in their hands the kinds of tools they need.”

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 16, 2021 at Trinity Church of the Nazarene with Rev. Mike Shalley officiating 4150 Stellhorn Rd., Fort Wayne, Indiana 46815. Interment will follow at Cedar Creek in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The service will be live streamed from the link at Trinity Church of the Nazarene Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Friends and family will be received from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, April 15, 2021 at Trinity Church of the Nazarene and one hour prior to the service. MASKS will be required.

Preferred memorials are to Christian Literature for Africa.

Arrangements are by Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, in Decatur, Indiana.