Ruth Hartzler volunteers with several Mennonite church agencies
Ruth Soldner Hartzler died Friday, Sept. 19, 2014, at the Hilty Memorial Home, Pandora.
She was born May 11, 1922, in Berne, Indiana, to Dr. T. H. and Meta (Neuenschwander) Soldner. She on March 2, 1946 married Ellwyn Hartzler, who died Oct. 20, 2000.
Survivors include five children, Tim (Marybeth) of Bluffton, OH; Jan (Lonnie) Buerge of Kansas City, Mo.; Judy Hartzler of Columbus; Sandi (Jim) Hostetler of Goshen, Ind.; and Alan (Staci) of Pettisville; 11 grandchildren; and t10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a brother who died in infancy and a sister, Vera Grimm, who died last year.
Ruth graduated from high school in Berne. She attended Bluffton College and Bethel Deaconess School of Nursing, Kansas where she received her RN degree.
Ruth, with her husband, served under Mennonite Central Committee in Puerto Rico as an instructor and a supervisor of nurse aides. She also worked as nurse in Chicago and at the Bluffton Community Hospital. After retirement, Ruth and her husband spent 14 years in voluntary service around the country as well as weaving many rugs and placemats with recycled fabrics. She also volunteered at the Et Cetera Shop in Bluffton.
She was a member of the Grace Mennonite Church, Pandora, where she served in many capacities, including Christian Education and Women in Mission.
A memorial service will be held 11 am Oct. 11, at Grace Mennonite Church, Pandora.
Burial of the cremated remains will be in Mennonite Reformed Evangelical Cemetery, Berne, Ind. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.
Memorials may be made to Grace Mennonite Church, Mennonite Central Committee, or Hilty Memorial Home. Online condolences may be expressed at chiles-lamanfh.com.
Stories Posted This Week
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
- September 9 Bluffton High School athletics lineup, streaming
- Bluffton alumni will discuss pathways to chaplaincy
- Beaverdam cleanup day is Sept. 12
- Pirate boys golf 3rd at NWC quad
- Pirate volleyball outlasts Arlington
- Pirate girls soccer blanks Crestview
- Pirate boys soccer tie vs. Kalida
- Letter: The future of American agriculture
- Maple Grove Cemetery records now online
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
- Bluffton Historical meets Sept. 9 at the 1899 Depot
- Jerry L. Blosser worked for DTR Industries
- Bluffton Schools cancelled on September 8, cleanup for biodigester malfunction underway
- July 2026 Bluffton Police Dept. activity report
- Hillville Rd. closure on Sept. 8-9
- Lions and friends will count pathway users in September
- Bluffton Ohio Historical Society takes part in Ohio Open Doors, Sept. 12