Neva M. Pharr

Neva M Pharr, 79, of Berne, Indiana went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, December 15, 2020, at her home on the Swiss Village North Campus surrounded by her husband and family after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

She was born on December 22, 1940 in Berne, Indiana to the late Sherman VonGunten and the late Naomi (Sprunger) VonGunten.  Neva was united in marriage to Derryle Lee Pharr on July 31, 1986 at First Mennonite Chapel in Berne.

She was an active and faithful lifetime member of First Mennonite Church in Berne.  Her activities included Sunday School teacher for 2-3 yr. old children, various food committees, Women in Mission, and quilting.

Neva was a graduate of the Berne High School class of 1958.  She was a very well-known seamstress.  Along with doing alterations in her home for many years, she worked several years for Custom Floor & Wall making draperies and was a seamstress and retail clerk for 20+ years at Stan’s Men’s and Women’s Apparel until that business closed.   She then worked at Sprunger Shoes as a retail clerk until that business closed and she retired.

Neva had a true passion for quilting which lead her to be a co-founder of the Swiss Stitchers Quilt Guild.  Along with making quilts and wall hangings for her family, she used her passion to create beautiful quilts that were donated to the Michiana Mennonite Relief Sale in Goshen, Indiana for worldwide relief.  Making these auction quilts brought her great joy.  She thoroughly loved watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren participate in sports and other activities.  She also loved having the opportunity to pass on her love for sewing and quilting to some of her granddaughters by helping with their 4H sewing projects.  Neva enjoyed playing Canasta with her friends and playing board games and card games with her family, especially her grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband of 34 years, Derryle Pharr of Berne, 4 children; son, Tom Dull of Berne; son, Ron (Celia) Dull of Berne; son, Mike (Rona) Dull of Cicero, Indiana; daughter, Rhonda (Shane) Reynolds of Decatur, Indiana; 3 stepchildren, Rick (Song) Pharr of Coalmont, Tennessee, Rita (Mike) Bolinger of Warren, Indiana, Tony (Jang) Pharr of Decatur, Indiana; brother, Roger VonGunten of Berne; sister, Sueann (John Alter) VonGunten of Bristol, Indiana, foster brother, Richard Sudduth of Titusville, Florida; 13 grandchildren, Caley Dull, Jayden Dull, Amber (Scott) Steiner, Drew (Julie) Dull, Tyler (Katlyn) Burnfield, Hannah Dull, AJ Dull, Morgan (Grant) House, Spencer (Kaitlyn) Dull, Amanda Reynolds, Chance (Natalie) Reynolds, Abby Reynolds, Cashton Reynolds; 7 step-grandchildren, Jarod Pharr, Tristan Pharr, Olivia Bolinger, Carson Bolinger; Brady (Chelsea) Bolinger, Brandon (Miranda) Bolinger, Andy (Jerica) Bolinger,  6 great-grandchildren and 3 more on the way in 2021 and 10 step great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her father and mother in law, Howard and Rufine Pharr; two brothers, Ken VonGunten and Dean VonGunten; three sisters in law, Bonnie VonGunten, Diana Foust, Dixie Pharr; one great-grandchild, Cole Dull; one step-granddaughter, Lexi Pharr; and one step-great-grandson, Shaun Hammond.

A funeral service will be held on Neva’s 80 ^th Birthday at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 22, 2020, at First Mennonite Church, Berne with Pastor Jim Schwartz and Pastor Jeff Linthicum officiating.  Burial will follow at M.R.E. Cemetery in rural Berne.

Family and friends will be received from 2-8 p.m. on Monday, December 21, 2020, at the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home – Yager-Kirchoffer Chapel in Berne and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Preferred memorials can be given to Three Oaks Christian School in Decatur, Indiana or Heartland Hospice.

Arrangements by Zwick & Jahn Funeral Homes, Yager-Kirchoffer Chapel in Berne, Indiana.