Phyllis J. Baumgartner

Phyllis J. Baumgartner, age 98, died January 4, 2024.  She was born on June 26, 1925 to Mahlon E. Hartzler and Verda M. (Zook) Hartzler in Goshen, Indiana.  She married Howard E. Baumgartner on August 17, 1947, and he survives.

Phyllis was an alumna of Bluffton University.  She sang in the Chancel Choir and the Mennonite Choral Society at First Mennonite Church, and was a member of Emmaus Road Mennonite Fellowship in Berne.  She also served as a member of the Swiss Village Board of Directors, a member of the Board of Trustees of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Vice-President of the Central District Conference of Mennonite Church USA, and was a co-founder of Women’s Retreat at Camp Friedenswald.  She also provided leadership with Women in Mission (Mennonite Women) and the Mennonite Central Committee International Trainee program, and was a long time active member of the Berne Mothers Club.  She was a substitute teacher for many years at South Adams Schools.  Phyllis and Howard enjoyed traveling together throughout the world and spending time with their family.

She is survived by her husband of 76 years, Howard Baumgartner, of Berne; daughter and partner, Barbra J. Gant and James Myers of East Liberty, Ohio; daughter and son-in-law, Jean and Wendell Miller of Bluffton, Ohio; daughter and son-in-law, Joyce and Marvin Hall of State College, Pennsylvania; son and daughter-in-law, James and Naomi Baumgartner of Goshen, Indiana; and son and daughter-in-law, David and Tanya Baumgartner of Berne. There are 11 grandchildren surviving: Zachary (Catlin) Miller, Erika (Matt) Fisher, Lauren (Vaughn Climenhaga) Hall, Andreas (Brynn) Baumgartner, Nathan (Janelle) Miller, Lukas (Erica) Baumgartner, James (Rachel Ekaireb) Hall, Caroline Hall, Nicholas (Shelby) Baumgartner, Stefan (Jacob Kraybill) Baumgartner, and Anika (Alex) Enriquez; 2 step grandsons, Vince Gant and Paul Gant; 12 great grandchildren: Elena Fisher, Lucia Fisher, Emerson Miller, Luka Miller, Mae Climenhaga-Hall, Cora Climenhaga-Hall, Zoey Baumgartner, Arlo Baumgartner, Chase Baumgartner, Mia Baumgartner, Ren Baumgartner and Ari Baumgartner; and a step great-grandson, Pierre M. Gant.  She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Verna Sprunger.  Preceding her in death are her parents; son-in-law, Pierre Gant; parents-in-law Elmer and Bertha Baumgartner; brother and sister-in-law, Donavon and Ellen Hartzler; sister and brother-in-law, Donita and Edward Brookmyer; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Elaine and Dale Lantz, Marjorie and Noel Sprunger, Eddyth and Wayne Reusser and Roger Sprunger.

Visitation will be at Swiss Village auditorium from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, January 12, 2024.  A memorial service will be at Swiss Village auditorium at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 13, 2024.  A private family burial will be held at MRE Cemetery prior to the service.  Preferred memorials are to be made to Swiss Village Samaritan Fund, Bluffton University or Mennonite Central Committee.

Arrangments by Zwick & Jahn Funeral Homes, Yager-Kirchhofer Chapel of Berne, Indiana