Mildred Esther Steiner

Mildred Esther Steiner, 94, of Greencroft Health Care, died early Thursday morning, November 29, 2007.  She was born January 23, 1913, to the late Edith and Harvey Metzler on their family farm in Columbiana, Ohio.  Following high school she attended Goshen College and then graduated from Kent State College. She then taught in a two-room country school in her home community until her marriage to John Steiner on June 6, 1936.  The call of the church led Mildred and John to move their family to Kansas. For the next seven years they lived in three different communities in central and western Kansas: Hesston, Garden City, and Elbing. They moved to Goshen, Indiana, in 1954 when they received a call for John to serve as superintendent at Bethany Christian High School.  Mildred continued to pursue her interest in teaching, receiving her B. S. in Elementary Education degree from Goshen College. She taught at Clinton Christian School and Harrison Elementary School, near Wakarusa, until her retirement in 1977. She was a member at Pleasant View Mennonite Church for the past 53 years where she served not only as a minister’s wife, but as children’s Sunday school superintendent, women’s fellowship president, and Sunday school and summer Bible school teacher.  She was active in the women’s missionary sewing association and the Mennonite Relief Sale. She is survived by her five children: Sylvia (Don) Miller and J. (Lillian) Steiner, Goshen; Wes Steiner (Margaret), Middlebury; Janet Steiner (Michael O’Malley), Washington, DC; and Joan (Dave) Vogt, Evanston, Ill. She leaves nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She is also survived by one sister: Laura Metzler, Columbiana, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her husband John, and three sisters: Rena (John) Cullar, Sarah Metzler and Ruth (James) Steiner. Friends may call from 3 to 7 p.m., Saturday, December 1, at The Meetinghouse at Greencroft. A memorial service will take place on Sunday, December 2, 2007 at 3:00 p.m., at Pleasant View Mennonite Church.  Pastors Ron Diener and Tyler Hartford and Deacon Norm Maust, of Pleasant View Mennonite Church will officiate. A private burial will be in Pleasant View Cemetery, Goshen. Memorial contributions may be made to Mennonite Mission Network or Heifer International.