John L. Weaver

John L Weaver, 83, of Goshen went "Home" to be with his Lord and Savior Sunday morning, July 27, 2014 at his residence from failing health after having four strokes five years ago. He was born Dec. 24, 1930, the youngest of six children to John S. Weaver and Minnie (Kohli) Weaver, in Elkhart, County. He married his wife, Phyllis Maxine Yoder at the Emma Mennonite Church on Oct. 31, 1954. They would have been married 60 years in October. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; a daughter, Sherry Lynn (Steven) Yoder, South Bend; a son, Steven Jay (Cathy) Weaver, Nappanee; five grandchildren, Jennifer (Nick) McClain, Jonathan (Kayla) Yoder, Janell (Cameron) Scharrer, Krista (Scoby) Griffey, Steven John Weaver; six great-grandchildren, Nathaniel Breining, Bryce McClain, Hannah Breining, Andi McClain, Abigail Breining and Jonah Yoder; a brother, Maynard Weaver, Goshen and a sister, Gladys (Weaver) Gongwer, Wakarusa. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Otis Weaver and two sisters, Christena (Weaver) Brown and Erma (Weaver) Troyer. He was a 1949 graduate of Wakarusa High School. When he and Phyllis were first married, they were in I-W Service in Westville, where he served in alternative service for two years. They lived on the home farm where he was born and raised on and he farmed and worked at Skyline Corporation and then Paul Mobile Homes. When he retired they moved into Goshen and enjoyed their winters in their Florida modular home that he designed himself. He loved his home in Florida, playing bocce ball, walking the beaches before his strokes, and even after his strokes, riding his three wheeler bike and going to Southern Gospel Concerts and having friends over to play card games. He was known for his sense of humor and gentle spirit and his love and devotion for his family and friends. He grew up in the Yellow Creek Mennonite Church as an infant and was raised and followed his father's footsteps as he was Yellow Creek Mennonite's Church Chorister for many years leading the congregation in singing and using the pitch pipe handed down from his father. He was in the Yellow Creek Mennonite Men's Quartet for approximately 40 years of the various groups of men including some of his own family members. Oh, how he loved to sing! He is also remembered as serving alongside his wife as Youth Group Leaders at Yellow Creek Mennonite Church in their earlier years of marriage and he and his good friend would also teach Sunday School Class together. One thing he will always be remembered for is his gift of empathy that he used in writing notes and letters to people when they were physically, emotionally, or spiritually down or to praise and encourage them in what they were doing. He just knew what to say or what Bible verse to send to uplift someone at the right moment. He usually put his favorite saying in each note: "Each day is a day the Lord has given us and each moment of each day is in his hands. Count each day a blessing." Visitation will be from 2 to 8 pm Thursday, July 31, 2014 at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home and one hour prior to the 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 1, 2014, funeral service at Yellow Creek Mennonite Church, 64901 CR. 11 Goshen. Pastor Wes Bontreger will officiate. Burial will follow at The Yellow Creek Mennonite Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Yellow Creek Mennonite Church Music Program.