Paul Thomas Guengerich

Paul Thomas (Paul T.) Guengerich Paul T. Guengerich, 98, of Harrisonburg, VA died on Tuesday, October 4, at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community. Born May 15, 1913 near Centralia, Missouri, he was the son of Elmer J. and Magdalena (Yoder) Guengerich. He moved to the Kalona, Iowa area when his family returned to Iowa in 1915. He attended rural, one-room schools in Johnson County, Iowa until his parents moved to Kalona where he graduated from Kalona High School in 1932. He was baptized at East Union Mennonite Church near Kalona in 1928.After one year at the State University of Iowa, he taught for 7 1/2 years in rural schools in Johnson County while working on his bachelor?s degree, graduating with a B.A. from the University of Iowa. After one year of teaching and coaching at Wyman High School, he married Marjorie Yoder (who survives) at her family home in rural Pamell, Iowa on May 24, 1942. From July 1942 to March 1946, Paul served in Civilian Public Service at Fort Collins, CO; Hill City, South Dakota, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, and Luray, Virginia. Upon returning to Iowa, Paul farmed and was ordained to the ministry at West Union Mennonite Church near Parnell, on December 21, 1947. In addition to farming 80 acres and pastoring, he was named principal of Iowa Mennonite School (IMS) beginning in January 1949. He worked in these capacities until he moved to Harrisonburg, VA in 1964.In Harrisonburg, Paul served at Eastern Mennonite College/University from 1964-81 as dean of men, dean of students, registrar, and in admissions. Following his first retirement, from 1981-2006 he continued part-time at EMU in the Alumni Relations office. Paul had a real love for others and the gift of remembering almost everyone he ever met. This excellent memory for names was a valuable asset to the alumni office of EMU. During a one year leave of absence from EMU, Paul served as principal at Hokkaido International School in Sapporo, Japan, 1970-71. In 1982 during retirement, Paul and Marjorie were instrumental in the formation of the Harrisonburg Gift and Thrift Store for Mennonite Central Committee. Paul served as a volunteer at the store and as both vice president and president of the Gift and Thrift Board. Paul and Marjorie have been members at Community Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg from 1976 to the present. Paul received an M.A. in School Administration from the University of Iowa in 1954, and attended Goshen Biblical Seminary in the fall of 1948 and during the 1958-59 school year. Paul is survived by his wife Marjorie of 1475 Virginia Ave, Harrisonburg; two sons: Ronald Guengerich married to Ruth Lapp Guengerich, of Goshen, IN, and Philip Guengerich, married to Susan Hess Guengerich of Harrisonburg, VA, five grandchildren: Paul Thomas Guengerich of Socorro, NM, Lisa Way and husband Jason of Evanston, IL; Melani and husband Curtis Novinger of Austin, TX, Gail and husband Steve Miller of Albuquerque, NM, and John Guengerich of Broadway, VA; nine great- grandchildren: Leah, Tessa, and Asher Guengerich; Jack Hart and Henry Way; Madeleine, John and Isaac Novinger; Lali Miller, and three step?grandchildren, Michael, Skyler and Kailyn Gerber, three sisters-in-law, Allie Guengerich of Harrisonburg, VA, Helen Ruth Yoder of Wellman, Iowa, and Ruth Ann Yoder of Kalona, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents, by his brothers Willis, Edwin (Jack), L. Glen Guengerich, and his sister Laura Gingerich. A memorial service will be held at Community Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, VA on Tuesday, October ll, 2011 at 10:30 am, with Pastor Jennifer Davis Sensenig and Loren Swartzendruber, president of Eastern Mennonite University, presiding. A private burial will be at Weaver?s Cemetery prior to the memorial service. A visitation will be at Community Mennonite Church on Monday, October 10, 2011 from 5:30 to 8 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to Eastern Mennonite University, 1200 Park Road, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22802 or to Mennonite Central Committee, 21 S. 12th Street, PO Box 500, Akron, Pa. 17501-0500. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.mcmullenfh.com. Arrangements are being made by McMullen Funeral Home of Harrisonburg.