Elmer J. Bechtel

Elmer J. Bechtel, 96, of Ligonier and formerly of Goshen, passed away Wednesday afternoon, December 24, 2014, at Avalon Village where he had been since 2013. He was born March 6, 1918 in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada to Eden S. and Mary Etta (Rudy) Bechtel. On August 27, 1940 he married Mildred Amelia Reed/Reynolds in Kitchener, Ontario. She died November 26, 1995. Survivors include four daughters, Melva Sanders of Goshen, Eva Miller of Paulding, Ohio, Arlene (Jerry) Hartsough of Charlotte, North Carolina and Pauline (Douglas) Graff of Goshen; a son, Elmer "Jay" (Pat) Bechtel of Valparaiso; four grandchildren, Lora (Nick) Kokot, Wendy Tillery, Elizabeth Lievano and Nicolas (Denise) Lievano; eight great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; three sisters, Florence (Donald) Moncur, Beatrice Meirowski and Bernice Moncur; and a sister-in-law, Doris Bechtel. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife; three brothers, Norman, Clayton and Willard Bechtel; four sisters, Mabel, Norma, Vera and Verna; two brothers-in-law, Abraham Brubaker and Clayton Meirowski; a sister-in-law, Rose Meirowski Bechtel and a son-in-law, L. Dennis Miller. A Goshen resident since 1971, Mr. Bechtel was a member of North Goshen Mennonite Church. He retired from Miller Brother Builders where he worked as a carpenter and wood worker. Friends may call Monday, December 29, 2014, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home where an 11 a.m., Tuesday, December 30, 2014, funeral service will be conducted. Burial will follow in Clinton Brick Cemetery, Goshen. Memorial contributions may be made to North Goshen Mennonite Church.