Janette E. Stutzman

Janette E. Stutzman, 85, of Goshen, was born July 19, 1935 in Callaway, Becker County, Minnesota, on the White Earth Indian Reservation. She lived there the first seven years of her life with her grandmother, whom she dearly loved.

Jesus saw her battling many issues, which were complicated by Covid 19. Jesus recognized that she was looking for a new home and called her there on January 2, 2021.

After graduation she worked at Beatty Memorial Hospital in Westville where she personally worked for the President of the hospital, taking shorthand and typing up his notes. This is where she met Vern Stutzman. They moved to Goshen and were married on September 18, 1955 at Clinton Frame Mennonite Church, by cousin Vernon E. Bontreger.

Janette is survived by her husband, Vern Stutzman; three children, Cheryl Lynn (Kermit) Hoover of Goshen, Jana Stutzman of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Marty Stutzman of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; twin sister, Jackie Berkey of Goshen and twin siblings, Sharon Andorfer of Springfield, Ohio and Warren “Buck” (Mary Ann) Gray of Valparaiso; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence MacArthur and Gladys (Friedman Gray.

Some of her employment years were with Goshen Chamber of Commerce and Coachman Industries. She later worked as the telephone operator at W.F.R.N. Janette also volunteered at Community Church of Waterford as part of the staff.

Janette spent many years singing in an acapella octet that traveled to many tri-state area churches. She loved to sing, not only as a hobby, but as a ministry to those that attended the programs.  Another gift was taking notes. She always had a pen and paper in hand and would share some of her thoughts with others as God put them on her heart. This gift touched the heart of many people as she shared with them.

As her health and physical abilities declined, she kept her mind active with word search puzzles, sometimes going thru two books a month.  She was a long-time Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bulls fan, and could name all the players and their positions.

Janette truly loved her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Today she is doing what she loved, and that was to sing. What a joy to sing for Jesus!

A private graveside service was held at Little Pine Cemetery, Goshen.

A memorial service will be held February 28, 2021 at 2 p.m. at Community Church of Waterford, Goshen.  Pastor Dave Bunyan will officiate.

Memorial gifts in Janette’s memory may be directed to SPA Ministries, Elkhart, and mailed to Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, 1911 S. Main St., Goshen, IN  46526.