Mary K. Eicher

Mary Kathryn Eicher, age 94, of Berne, Indiana passed away Monday morning, September 14, 2020, at Swiss Village in Berne.

She was born on August 8, 1926, in Berne, Indiana to Palmer and Edna (Lehman) Moser. Mary graduated from Berne High School in 1944 and married John Eicher on November 1, 1947. John and Mary celebrated 71 years of marriage, and he preceded her in death on December 1, 2018.

Mary was an active and faithful member of First Mennonite Church. Her church activities included Women in Mission, teaching children’s Sunday School, and visiting the parents of newborn infants as a member of the Cradle Roll Committee.

Mary’s work life centered on Moser Motor Sales, a Ford dealership in Berne that was started by her grandfather, A. J. Moser. For many years, she and John were co-owners of the business along with her brother, Millard Moser and his wife, Janean. Mary worked at the dealership for 35 years as a bookkeeper, payroll clerk and receptionist.

At home, Mary was the quiet, steady influence that held the family together. Her planning and behind the scenes work made it possible for the whole family to enjoy all of the fun and adventure thought up by John. As a young woman, she spent several years caring for her invalid grandmother and mother and keeping house for her father, husband and brother. After raising her own family, she often cared for her grandchildren, and she loved preparing their favorite meals for them.

In retirement, Mary and John enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and to Switzerland. Even as her health declined in the past few years, Mary actively prayed for and encouraged her family, friends and those who cared for her.

Mary is survived by her three children and their spouses, Phil (Cindy) Eicher, Jim (Linda) Eicher, and Greta (Scott) Lehman, all of Berne; one sister, Margie (Dick) Baum of Bloomington, Illinois; one brother, Millard (Janean) Moser of Berne; two step-brothers, Kenyon (Mary) Sprunger of Poneto, and Benjamin (Sue) Sprunger of Bluffton, Ohio; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband and parents, Mary was preceded in death by step-mother Viola (Sprunger) Moser and step-sister-in-law Betty Sprunger.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, September 25, 2020, at First Mennonite Church with Rev. Jim Schwartz, Rev. David Moser and Rev. Kenzie Intemann officiating. Private interment will follow at a later date in MRE Cemetery in Berne.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no visitation. We also request all family and visitors to wear a mask when entering the church and throughout the memorial service, and to practice social distancing by sitting as individuals or family groups. For those who prefer or who are in a high risk category, go to firstmennonite.org ., where the service will be live-streamed.

Preferred memorials are to First Mennonite Berne Preschool or Swiss Village Samaritan’s Fund.

Arrangements by Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Yager-Kirchohofer Chapel in Berne, Indiana.