Miriam Stauffer

Miriam Stauffer, 84, of Goshen, Indiana, died surrounded by her family on Tuesday, February 25, at Goshen Hospital from heart-related complications. She was born May 10, 1940, in Elmira, Ontario, Canada, to Menno R and Mary Ann Martin.

On January 2, 1971, she married Loren Stauffer of Goshen. Together they raised three children: Greg (Camille) Stauffer, Broomfield, Colo.; Lisa Stauffer (Todd) Mayen, Bailey, Colo.; and Ryan (Caitlin) Stauffer, Portland, Ore. They also have four grandchildren: Olivia, Jackson (Jack), Larkin (Ry) and Finnegan (Finn) Stauffer.

In addition to being survived by her husband, children and grandchildren, Miriam is also survived by three sisters: Arlene (Harvey) Kehl, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada; Erla (Lloyd) Koch, New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada; and Marilyn (Paul) Brubacher, Elmira, Ontario, Canada. She is also survived by three brothers: James (Jim) (Shirley) Martin, Wellesley, Ontario, Canada; Ken (Gloria) Martin, Elmira, Ontario, Canada; and Darrell (Julie Brown) Martin, Cochrane, Alberta, Canada. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law: Mary Ann Martin and Lynette Martin.

She was preceded in death by her parents and also four brothers:  Leonard (Len), Arnold (Arnie), Laurence (Larry) and Ron, all of Ontario.

Miriam graduated from Lougheed Business College in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, and worked as a secretary to the president of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in Kitchener, until she moved to Elkhart, Indiana. She was employed as an administrative assistant at the Mennonite Board of Missions (now Mennonite Mission Network), Goshen College and Waterford Mennonite Church where she also was a member. In addition to her positions as an administrative assistant, she was also involved in numerous volunteer positions within the Waterford.

Miriam volunteered at Goshen Hospital, The Window and Greencroft, all in Goshen. Her community involvements included membership in the Goshen Hospital Auxiliary, a 20-year membership in Kiwanis International and meeting with one of the Goshen Kiwanis clubs.

Miriam loved being in the outdoors and nature, walking, and designing and caring for flower beds around her home and in her community. She had a special love for her heirloom roses, starts of which she shared with many friends and neighbors. She enjoyed caring for eastern bluebirds who nested in her yard and responded to her whistle to come to the deck for a feast of mealworms.  After their move to Greencroft, Miriam carried on this passion by monitoring the bluebird boxes in the wildflower prairie on the Greencroft campus. She also loved to entertain friends in their home, read and travel. She and Loren volunteered for Mennonite Mission Network in San Antonio, Tex; and Glendale and Tucson, Ariz.

Both she and Loren shared a love for outdoor activities including hiking in parks, nature preserves and in the mountains, while visiting their children. They also hiked in Switzerland and Austria while traveling in Europe and enjoyed bicycling with friends to breakfast on Saturdays. They joined their bicycling group for several trips to Europe where they biked along the rivers and vineyards of France, Luxembourg and Germany.

Visitation will take place on Friday, April 4, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Waterford Mennonite Church. A memorial service will be held at Waterford Mennonite Church on Saturday, April 5, at 11 a.m., preceded by a visitation at 10 a.m.

Memorial contributions can be sent to the Waterford Wetlands Development, Mennonite Central Committee or the American Heart Association.