Menno Paul Gaeddert, 94, of Lakewood, Colo., died Jan. 27, 2023. He was born in Feb. 21, 1928, to Gustav Gaeddert and Anna Ratzlaff in Buhler, Kan.

He grew up in a devout Mennonite family along with two brothers, Roland and Sam. Influenza took his mother when he was 13. Due to her death and the Depression, his father moved the family to Reedley, Calif., to be next to Menno’s uncle. Soon after high school, Menno moved back to Kansas to attend Bethel College. He took a break from college to work with Mennonite Central Committee in Washington, D.C., at a boys home as a guidance counselor. Then he served two and a half years in Espelkamp, Germany, with the MCC program Pax, building homes for refugees from World War II.

He completed a business degree at the University of Kansas and married Jessie Brown on Aug. 25, 1952. He sold insurance for Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Co. in Newton, Kan., Kansas City, Kan., and Denver. In 1974, he started his own Christ-centered business, Gaeddert Insurance Agency, in Denver. Although he downsized his business in later years, he was still doing business when he was taken ill several weeks ago.

He and Jessie were members of Arvada Mennonite Church and participated in Western District Conference of the General Conference Mennonite Church and later Mennonite Church USA. He was active with global projects through MCC, Mennonite Mission Network and Mennonite Economic Development Associates. He helped start Rainbow Mennonite Church in Kansas City in 1957. He and Jessie served with MCC in Taiwan from 1989 to 1991.

For 65 years he was a passionate Gideon, helping to place Bibles in motels and handing out Bibles to students. Daily prayer and Bible study were disciplines he loved. In addition to Arvada Mennonite Church, he was part of the Lutheran Church and regularly attended Sunday morning services at both churches.

Survivors include his three sons, Dwayne (Patti) Gaeddert of Golden, Colo., Don (Marie) Gaeddert of Larned, Kan., and Ken (Debra) Gaeddert of Hesston, Kan., a son-in-law, Ray Wittwer, of Jefferson City, Colo.; nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jessie, in 2010, and daughter, Diane Wittwer (Ray), in 2018.

The funeral was held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lakewood. Memorial gifts may be given to the Gideons, Mennonite Christian Hospital in Hualian, Taiwan or Mennonite Mission Network.