Elmer A. Wall

Elmer Alvin Wall was born October 30, 1929, son of Abram D. and Mary (Hiebert) Wall in Mountain Lake, Minnesota.

Elmer grew up on a farm and attended a wonderful one-room country school. He graduated from Mountain Lake High School in 1947. He furthered his education by attending Bethel College, North Newton, KS, and Goshen Biblical Seminary where he received his Bachelor of Divinity degree. He received a Master of Theology from McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL in 1960. Between his sophomore and junior year at Bethel, he spent a year in Mennonite Voluntary Service, Gulfport, Mississippi. In the summer of 1952 he was a Unit Leader working in migrant camps in Clinton, NY. The following summer he served at Lake Bluff Children’s Home, Lake Bluff, IL.

He began his life of pastoral ministry in July, 1955 at Warren Street Mennonite Church, Middlebury, IN. He was ordained in his home church, First Mennonite Church, Mt Lake, MN, in August 1956.

Elmer and Winifred Elizabeth Mumaw were married December 17, 1960, at Prairie Street Mennonite Church, Elkhart, IN. They were blessed with three children, listed below. Together, they served the following pastorates: Church of the Brethren, Middletown, OH, Good Shepherd Mennonite, Sioux Falls, SD, Carlock and North Danvers Mennonite Churches, Carlock IL, Salem-Zion Mennonite, Freeman, SD, and First Mennonite, Pretty Prairie, KS. He was active in the work of the larger church, which included being a member of the General Conference DGS (Division of General Services) for 13 years, Home Missions Committee of Central District Conference, and president of Northern District Conference for 5 years. He spent summers as a leader and Bible teacher at summer camps. During retirement years, he and Winifred served four interim pastorates in Freeman, SD, Fairview, MI, Montgomery, IN, and Goshen, IN. He was a member of Silverwood Mennonite Church, Goshen, IN.

He is survived by his son, Timothy John (Zoann) Wall, Goshen, IN, Loren James (Dawn) Wall, Manhattan, KS, Mary Elizabeth, known as Mary Beth (Scott) Neufeld-Wall, St. Louis, MO, and six living grandchildren, Chloe Walter and Benji Wall, Brant and Carson Wall, Maya and Sadie Neufeld-Wall. Preceding him in death were his wife, Winifred, his parents, twin sisters Margaret and Marjorie Wall (at birth), brother Arthur Wall, and three grandsons, twins Christian and Christopher Wall and Nathaniel Wall (all three at birth). Three nephews and their families survive in Mountain Lake, MN.

Elmer loved the reading of the Scripture, his preparation and study for preaching and the total work of the pastoral ministry. He read through the Bible at least 63 times and preached his last sermon at age 90. His favorite Scripture passage was Ephesians 1 because it tells of Jesus Christ’s salvation for us all. Besides his love for God and serving Him, he devoted his life to his wife and family.

Visitation will be held at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, 1911 S Main St, Goshen, IN 46526, Saturday, May 30, 2026, 4:00-7:00 pm.

A funeral service will be held at Silverwood Mennonite Church, 1745 W Lincoln Ave, Goshen, IN 46526 Sunday, May 31, 3:00 pm. A meal will be served following the service. Burial will take place on Monday, June 1 at 9:30 am at Violett Cemetery.

Instead of flowers, the family asks for donations to Africa Inter Mennonite Mission; https://www.aimmint.org/ or Mennonite Mission Network;https://www.mennonitemission.net/