Omer E. Troyer

Omer E. Troyer, 84, Greencroft Healthcare, died peacefully Sunday morning at 10:10 following a long illness. He was born at home on December 29, 1924 in Clinton Township to Ezra and Mary (Miller) Troyer. He married Dora Miller on November 10, 1945. They have four children: Robert “Bob” Troyer (Anne), Lewisville, TX; Margaret “Peggy” Garcia (Ed), Goshen; Denver Troyer, Chico, CA; and Delores Troyer (Steve Wogoman) Elkhart. They are the proud grandparents of six grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. In addition to his wife and children, he is survived by three brothers and two sisters: Edna Gingerich; Marion (Dorothy) Troyer; and Elmer Troyer, all of Goshen; Gladys Christner of Topeka; and Mervin (June) Troyer of Millersburg. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Melvin Troyer. He attended Clinton Community School for eight years, then was forced to end his formal schooling due to his religious background. He bought and operated a feed mill in Valentine, IN. After selling it he worked for The New Paris Silo company. He earned his GED when his children were young and later went to Ivy Tech for some drafting classes. He put that training to good use in his years at Moore’s Timesaving Equipment in Elkhart , and at Supreme Corporation in Goshen where he designed, built, and maintained large industrial machines. One of his favorite pastimes was singing bass in the Gospel Messengers. He was one of four men who sang in the chorus all 37 years. He and his family traveled to churches throughout Northern Indiana and the surrounding states every Sunday evening each summer to attend the concerts. Another interest was traveling by car with Dora to visit both of their sons in Texas and California, visiting other relatives and sites along the way. They also made a road trip to Alaska, and flew to Switzerland and Hawaii. They continued these trips well into Omer’s 70's. Many of his family and friends benefitted from his “handyman” skills and the use of his beloved front-end loader. He also donated many hours helping to build Shalom Houses. He and Dora moved often throughout Elkhart, LaGrange, and Noble counties in the first twenty-four years of their married life, but they moved to their home in Goshen in 1969. In August of 2008 they moved to an apartment at Greencroft, but continued failing health made it necessary to move into the Healthcare Center in the summer of 2009. That was his residence until his death. Friends will be received 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, November 24, at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the church. A 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, November 25, 2009, funeral service will be conducted at East Goshen Mennonite Church.  Pastor Steve Slagel will officiate. Memorials may be directed to The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care.