Theron F. Schlabach

Theron F. Schlabach, 87, died Thursday, May 13, 2021 at Greencroft Health Care in Goshen, Indiana. He was born December 6, 1933 to Ezra and Vivian (Johns) Schlabach. He married Sara Ann Kauffman on January 8, 1955.

He is survived by a daughter, Kristina Johnson, Goshen; three sons, Gerald (Joetta) Schlabach, Michigan, J. Carlyle (Julie Birky) Schlabach, Arizona, Roderic (Mary Beth) Schlabach, Goshen; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two sisters, Ruth Shaum, Goshen, Arleta (Phil) Kilmer, New Paris; a brother, Dorvin (Ruth) Schlabach, Goshen; a brother-in-law, Emil Broni; and a sister-in-law, Viv Schlabach. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Sara, two brothers, Dale and J. Richard Schlabach, a sister, Eudean Broni, a brother-in-law, Paul Shaum, and a grandson, Brock Birky. He drew great joy in spending time with his family and was at his most vibrant at family gatherings and reunions. After enduring much of the pandemic year in quarantine, he was grateful for the presence of family during his final week of life.

Theron loved to remind people that he was both a professor and a trucker. He had married and begun supporting his family as a big-rig trucker before deciding to go to Goshen College (GC) and then the University of Wisconsin, where he received his doctorate in American social history. Returning to GC in 1965 to teach, he soon resumed trucking as a hobby for a few weeks each summer. Traveling the continent was a way to maintain his working-class roots while visiting historical sites. His biggest life disappointment was that Sara’s death in 2009 dashed his dream of continuing to travel with her well into retirement. Though he officially retired from teaching full-time from GC in 1995 he continued to teach part time into the early 2000s and to pursue his scholarly research and writing much longer. Known among colleagues and students as a craftsman of clear and accessible prose, he is the author of five books and editor of more, including an acclaimed four-volume history of Mennonites in America.

Though rooted in Elkhart County and the Mennonite Church, Theron’s faith and intellectual curiosity combined to guide him towards an increasingly international perspective. He and Sara twice led GC’s international studies program in Costa Rica. He led classes in Europe and travelled to China. He delighted in the international and multicultural breadth of his family, with links from Denmark to Costa Rica to Malaysia, and with great-grandchildren who share roots not only with his German-Swiss ancestors but with Africa, Central America, and the Navajo.

Above all, Theron hoped to be known as a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. He was baptized at Benton (IN) Mennonite Church. While studying at the University of Wisconsin he helped found the Madison Mennonite Church. He was a member of College Mennonite Church for more than five decades.

A funeral service will be held at Goshen College Mennonite Church at 11 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 19. An opportunity to visit with family will begin at 10 a.m. A private family burial will follow the funeral at the Clinton Union Cemetery in Goshen, Indiana. All in attendance are expected to wear masks for inside events and take other precautions throughout. A livestream of the funeral will be available at www.collegemennonite.org .

Memorial donations may be given to the Jubilee Fund at College Mennonite Church or the Mennonite Historical Library Endowment at Goshen College.

The funeral home has arranged for you to gift fully prepared meals to the family to assist them during this difficult time. Click here to gift meals.