Rev Etril J. Leinbach

Rev. Etril J. Leinbach, 96, of Goshen, died late Tuesday night, November 14, 2006, at Goshen General Hospital where he had been a patient since November 11. He was born February 8, 1910 in Nappanee, Indiana, to Leander Garber and L. Anna Leinbach.  He married Wilma Pearl Pletcher on October 7, 1933 in Middlebury, Indiana.  She survives.   Rev. Leinbach attended New Paris High School and audited classes at Goshen College and Goshen Biblical Seminary.  He was ordained in 1948 and served the church for 40 years; 20 years as pastor at the Moore Park Mennonite Church in Michigan, eight years at Valparaiso Mennonite Church and as an interim pastor for three years at Benton Mennonite Church and six and a half years at Emma Mennonite Church.  He retired in 1976.   Prior to his ordination, Rev. Leinbach worked at Western Rubber in Goshen, and had a bread route in the Millersburg, Benton, Syracuse and North Webster areas,  In 1939 he purchases half interest in Pletcher Dairy in Middlebury.    While pastoring he worked part-time wallpapering, painting, driving mail truck from White Pigeon to Kalamazoo, driving school bus, and working in a cabinet shop.   He served on almost every committee of the Indiana Michigan Church Conference and was a delegate to the General Assembly Conference of North America.  He attended six Mennonite World Conferences; two in the US, two in Canada, and two in Europe.   Rev. Leinbach had visited 47 of the states and 17 foreign countries in Europe, Africa and the Holy Land.   He is survived by his wife, Wilma; two sons, Keith (Vi) Leinbach of Haven, Kansas, and Dale (Edie) Leinbach of Toccoa, Georgia; five grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and eight step-great-grandchildren.  Also surviving are three half-sisters, Dorcas Snyder, Violet (John) Kaufman and Cora Askrin, all of Goshen; and two half-brothers, Verlin Garber of Boston, Massachusetts, and Keith (Roma) Anglemyer of Wakarusa, Indiana.   He was preceded in death by a son, Glen Leinbach in 1969; a grandson, Robert Leinbach; three half-sisters, Myrtle Shaum, Lovina Hershberger and Hazel Toney; and a half-brother, Leroy Garber.   Friends will be received 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday and 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.  Friday, November 17, at the funeral home.   A memorial service will be held 3:30 p.m., Saturday, November 18 at the Clinton Frame Mennonite Church, Goshen.  Pastors Terry Diener and Jeff Mumaw and family friend Brooks Henry will officiate.   A private family burial service will be held at the Clinton Union Cemetery, Goshen.   Memorial contributions may be made to Mennonite Mission Network or to the donor’s choice.