Willard Evans Gingrich

Willard E Gingrich, 95, of Goshen, died Friday, August 3, 2012, at IU Health Goshen Hospital, surrounded by his family. He was born in Freeport, Illinois, graduated from Freeport High School and was a long time resident of Freeport. He was born October 25, 1916 in Freeport, the son of Dilman and Cora (Ebersole) Gingrich. Willard married Olive Graybill in Dakota, Illinois on July 18, 1940. Willard was a dairy farmer and life time member of Freeport Mennonite Church where he was active as Sunday School Superintendent, teacher and elder. After retiring Willard volunteered at Freeport Memorial Hospital for 17 years, serving 42,000+ hours. In February 2006 Willard moved to Greencroft Assisted Living, Goshen, where he has lived the past six years. Since his move to Goshen he has been a member of Waterford Mennonite Church. Surviving are a son, Myron Gingrich (Lonna Stoltzfus) of Madison, Wisconsin, six daughters, Rachel (Kenneth) TerBeek of Saukville, Wisconsin, Barbara (Byron) Kauffman of West Liberty, Ohio, Lila (Jim) Gascho of Goshen, June (Bill) Cleaveland of Chehalis, Washington, Connie (Byron) Warkentin of Elkhart, and Beth Gingrich of Albuquerque, New Mexico; a daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Gingrich of Goshen; 21 grandchildren, and 24 great grandchildren. Willard was preceded in death by his wife, Olive, May 2004, his parents, a sister, Lucille Brown, a son, Keith; a son-in-law, Everett Oaks, and twin great grandsons, Judah and Micah Walker Cleaveland. A 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, August 8, 2012, memorial service will be held in Goshen at The Gathering Place at Evergreen Place, Greencroft campus, Goshen. Visitation at Burke Tubbs Funeral Home, Freeport, Ill. will be 4-8 p.m. on Friday, August 10. Services will be held Saturday, August 11, 2012, at Freeport Mennonite Church with private graveside services at 10 a.m. followed by a Memorial Service at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for the Keith E. Gingrich Memorial Scholarship Fund at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, IN and Heifer International.