Genevieve Fern Lehman Buckwalter

Genevieve Fern (Lehman) Buckwalter, 91, of Goshen, died Sunday, February 22, 2015. She was born December 25, 1923, to Joseph and Stella (Sharp) Lehman in Kenmare, North Dakota. After her father's death in 1928, the family moved to Fairview, Michigan. Genny was a graduate of Fairview High School and La Junta School of Nursing, La Junta, Colorado. She also studied at Hesston College and Goshen College. On June 12, 1947, she married Ralph E. Buckwalter. In December of 1949, they were sent by Mennonite Board of Missions, Elkhart, IN, as first missionaries to Japan, along with Carl and Esther Beck. Genny and Ralph served together in Hokkaido for 30 years, planting and nurturing congregations in Kushiro, Hombetsu, Obihiro, Asahikawa and Furano. After Ralph's death in 1980, Genny served another 10 years, continuing her life's call until her retirement in 1989, when she moved to Goshen. Genny was an active member of East Goshen Mennonite Church and Faith Mennonite Church. She volunteered widely in the community, including Greencroft Healthcare, Goshen Hospice and taught English to Japanese women. She was a member of Evergreen Singers and Seniors for Peace. Genny was a gentle woman of strong faith and courage. She is remembered lovingly by friends and family in Japan and in the U.S. Genny is survived by her daughter, Rosemary (Ray) Hershberger of Columbus, Ohio; son, Michael (Yoko Ohmi) of Shintoku, Japan; granddaughters, Emily (Brian Bolton) Hershberger of Harrisonburg, Virginia, Lisl Hershberger of Boston, Massachusetts, and Selina and Marie Ohmi Buckwalter, both of Shintoku, Japan; sisters Mary Handrich of Grand Marais, Michigan, Ethel (Daniel) Slabaugh of Sturgis, Michigan, and Josephine Swartzendruber of Rocky Ford, Colorado; and brother David G. Lehman of Goshen. She was preceded in death by her husband; sister, Ruth Buller; brother, Reuel Lehman; daughter, Dawn Buckwalter, and three children and a grandchild, all of whom died shortly after birth, Karen, Robert and Thomas Buckwalter and Rosanna Hershberger. A memorial service will be held at 5:00 PM, March 29, 2015,at Faith Mennonite Church, 1201 S 11th St., Goshen. A time of visitation and fellowship, with light refreshments, will be held from 3:30 p.m., prior to the service. It will follow the memorial service for Dawn Buckwalter at 2:00 p.m., also at Faith Mennonite Church. Memorial gifts may be made to Mennonite Mission Network designated for the Hokkaido Mennonite Church and to Faith Mennonite Church. Yoder-Culp Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.