Barbara J. Eichorn

Barbara J. Eichorn, 70, of Goshen, Ind., died May 16, 2018.

She was the oldest of three children born in Sturgis, Mich., on April 21, 1948, to Edwin L. Eichorn and Elma (Yoder) Eichorn Stauffer, both of whom preceded her in death. She was also preceded by an infant sister. Her stepfather for four years was Glenn E. Stauffer, also deceased.

On January 1, 1998, she married Roy M. Bergey at East Goshen Mennonite Church.

He survives along with two stepdaughters, Krista Bergey of Atlanta, Ga, Lisa Bergey (Welby) Lehman, and grandson, Grant Lehman, of Harrisonburg, Va.; two brothers, Galen (Carol) Eichorn and Lewis (Linda) Eichorn, of Sturgis; eight nieces and nephews; and 18 grandnieces and nephews.

Upon her marriage, Roy’s former parents-in-law, Dean and Vivian (deceased) Brubaker, welcomed Barbara as an integral part of their family, expanding the privilege of family relationships to include Cliff and Marilyn Grasse Brubaker, Hillsdale, Mich., and Joyce and Tom Hartman, Sturgis.

Barbara graduated from Centreville (Mich.) High School in 1966, and took some college at Kellogg Community College, Battle Creek, Mich., and at Goshen (Ind.) College. Her career was as an administrative assistant at Froh Community Home, Sturgis, 1968-1970; Mennonite Publishing House, Scottdale, Pa., 1970-1973; Laurelville Church Center, Mt. Pleasant, Pa., 1973-1974; Eastern Mennonite Board Missions, La Ceiba, Honduras, 1975-1978; Mennonite Central Committee/EMBM, Nairobi, Kenya, 1981-1984; Locust Grove Mennonite Church and School, Burr Oak, Mich., 1985-1987; and she retired from Mennonite Board of Missions/Mennonite Mission Network, Elkhart, Ind., after more than 25 years (1970-1973, 1978-1981, 1987-2003, and 2006-2013). Since 2003, she assisted her husband in his business, Bergey Financial.

In 1988, she helped form the Support Circle, a group of women in international ministry. In the beginning years they communicated through support letters, shared prayer concerns, and had occasional retreats. As the 12-18 members returned to North America, the nature of the support changed to annual retreats.

Barbara was a member of Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship in Goshen. Her favorite hobbies were scrapbooking and reading. She and Roy enjoyed warmer winters at Sunnybreeze, Fla., where they were part of Sunnybreeze Christian Fellowship.

Friends may call May 18, 2018 from 2 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m., at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, Goshen, Ind. A worship service celebrating her life and faith will begin at 11:00 a.m. with visitation 10-10:40 a.m. on Saturday, May 19 at Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship, 2509 Berkey Avenue, Goshen, Ind., followed by burial at Locust Grove Mennonite Church Cemetery, Burr Oak, Mich., 3:30 p.m.

Memorial contributions in Barbara’s honor may be sent to Fundameno, P.O. Box 638, Greencastle, PA 17225 to benefit the K’ekchi’ Mennonite Education Center, Bezaleel (Guatemala), or to Mennonite Mission Network, P.O. Box 370, Elkhart, IN 46515-0370. Gifts to these organizations may also be made through Yoder Culp Funeral Home.