Robert K Wert

Robert (Bob) K. Wert, 72, of Goshen, died Wednesday, April 4, 2012, at 6: 11 a.m. after a brief journey with bone cancer. He was born August 21, 1939, to Daniel D. and Esther (Umberger) Wert in Annville, Pennsylvania. Bob grew up in Lebanon and Lancaster counties (PA.). He graduated from high school at Lancaster (PA.) Mennonite School (LMS) in 1957. After taking a year off to work, he attended Eastern Mennonite University (Harrisonburg, VA). Two years later, he took another year off and was employed at LMS. In August 1961, Bob married Esther Glick, a fellow EMU student from Belleville, Pennsylvania. For three summers during college, Bob and Esther worked as wait staff at the Seaside Hotel in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. Bob graduated in 1963 with Bachelor's degrees in Bible and History. After two years teaching Physical Education and History at Lancaster Mennonite School, Bob and Esther had their first child, Donald Alan, in June 1965. The turmoil of the late 1960s drew Bob to service in the city, and in 1966 Bob and Esther and Don moved to inner city Washington, DC, to do two years of voluntary service with Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions. After developing an after-school drop-in center for inner-city youth, Bob realized his life-long purpose - helping people improve their lives. So he did a Master's program in Social Work at Howard University, a historic Black university in Washington, graduating in 1970. In November 1969, their second son, David Patrick, was born. As part of a mission group of Church of the Savior, Bob helped start the Learning Center as a project of FLOC (For the Love of Children). He then worked as a DC social worker for three years. After experiencing the city, Bob tried something completely different, moving to rural Kansas and teaching Social Work at Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas, for two years, from 1973 to 1975. From Kansas, the family joined an intentional community of several families in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, where he worked as a social worker with the Maryland Department of Corrections. In 1978, Bob and the family moved to Goshen, where he worked as an addictions counselor for Oaklawn Psychiatric Center in Elkhart. Later he moved to the Goshen offices of Oaklawn and focused on counseling children and youth. After the Oaklawn Hospital was built, he did much of his work there. . In2004, after 26 years, Bob stopped working at Oaklawn, but didn't stop working on behalf of people in need. Bob worked with the Outreach Commission and Jubilee Fund program at College Mennonite Church (CMC), where he was a member, did short-term service in Puerto Rico, and enjoyed serving meals at CMC. During his retirement, he frequently could be found at Goshen College music, drama, and sporting events, Lifelong Learning Institute classes, and the Rec-Fitness Center. He enjoyed meeting friends and writing (by hand!) at the Electric Brew. Saturday mornings he often went to Rachel's Bread and the Goshen Farmer's Market. He loved to spend time with his granddaughters. He enjoyed singing, traveling, and talking with friends. Bob is survived by his wife, Esther, of Goshen; two sons, Don (Terri) Carufel-Wert of Madison, Wisconsin and Dave (Cathleen) Hockman-Wert of Corvallis, Oregon; two grandchildren, Lauren and Gabrielle of Madison; two sisters, Nancy Wert Augsburger of Annville, Pennsylvania and Lois (Tom) Chamness of Thompsontown, Pennsylvania; two brothers, Dan (Miriam) Wert of Lititz, Pennsylvania and Jim (Kathy) Wert of Toronto, and eleven nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. We'd like to think Bob would be honored if he knew he died on the same day as Martin Luther King, Jr., a man he admired a great deal and whom Bob heard speak during his time in DC. Friends may call 3 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, April 13, at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home. A 4 p.m. Saturday, April 14, 2012, memorial service will be conducted at College Mennonite Church with Pastors Willie Kanagy, College Mennonite Church, and Del Glick, brother-in-law, will officiate. A private burial will occur prior to the service on Saturday at Violett Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Mennonite Central Committee (mcc.org) or Common Threads Family Resource Center, Madison, Wisconsin. "We sincerely thank the many kind, supportive, and hardworking nurses, doctors and support staff who made Bob's hospital stays more comfortable."