David Joseph Rempel Smucker, 71, of Winnipeg, Man., died March 12, 2021, after a long and courageous struggle with kidney disease. He was born April 9, 1949, to Carl F. and Irene M. (Yoder) Smucker in Bluffton, Ohio. He was baptized at First Mennonite Church in Bluffton.
After attending Bluffton College and graduating from Oberlin College in Ohio, he earned a master’s of arts and religious studies from Hartford Seminary in Connecticut. Following graduate studies and work in a small shop building handcrafted decorative mirrors, he received a doctorate in 1981 from Boston University in Christian church history and American religion, focusing on the sources of American gospel music.
From 1981 to 2003, he worked at Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society in Pennsylvania as researcher and editor of Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage. He planned tours, lectures and conferences related to Mennonite, Amish, local and church history, and genealogy.
In 1984 he married Judith Rempel, a Manitoban serving with Mennonite Central Committee in Akron. In 1985-86 he and Judith lived in Basel, Switzerland, where he pursued historical and genealogical research in Switzerland, France and Germany while she studied graphic design.
Mennonite history, music and hymnology were among his passions as freelance researcher, continuing after he and Judith moved to Winnipeg in 2012. He was also an avid piano and banjo player, birdwatcher and environmental advocate.
His personal journey led him to embrace the Christian faith in an Anabaptist expression, with an ecumenical perspective. He applied his faith practically, spiritually and intellectually, inspiring many. In Lancaster he engaged actively at Bethel Mennonite and East Chestnut Street Mennonite, and later in Winnipeg at Home Street Mennonite Church.
Survivors include his wife, Judith Rempel Smucker; two children, Annali (Zacary) Smucker-Bryan and Levi (Rebecca) Yoder Smucker; a sister, Mary (Ron) Conrad; and two grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Larry Smucker (Fauzia Rashid).
A virtual memorial service was held. Donations in his memory may be made to The Hymn Society in the U.S. and Canada.
