Homer E. Yutzy, 95, of Wauseon, Ohio, died Dec. 12, 2021. He was born July 19, 1926, to Emery and Florence (Kramer) Yutzy in Plain City.

He attended Michigan Mennonite Bible School in Fairview, Mich., which led to his going to Naubinway, Mich., to serve the church through the Mennonite voluntary service program. Here he met his wife-to-be, Elizabeth Williams. They were married in Naubinway on Nov. 29, 1952.

Education was important to him. While living in Petoskey, Mich., he attended North Central Michigan College and completed an associate’s degree. He left Petoskey in 1976 to attend Goshen Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Ind., graduating with a master of divinity degree.

At age 18 he was drafted. He registered as a conscientious objector and joined Civilian Public Service, where he served for 22 months, cutting trails and watching for fires in three national parks, Shenandoah, Sequoia and Glacier. He also worked for a National Forest Department tree nursery in Indiana.

Ordained as a Mennonite minister in Naubinway on Oct. 18, 1953, he was sent to Gay, Mich., to continue a church-planting mission. In 1959 he and his family moved to Petoskey to pastor the church there. After graduating from seminary, he and Elizabeth moved to Tavistock, Ont., to minister at East Zorra Mennonite Church. In 1987 they moved back to the U.S. and served at Inlet Mennonite church in Wauseon until he retired in 1991. He supplemented his income as a pastor by working as a carpenter and selling insurance. They remained in the Wauseon area, where he volunteered for agencies including David’s House, the Red Cross, Shalom Restorative Justice Ministries and Hands of Grace.

Survivors include his wife of 69 years, Elizabeth; three children, Joy (Ike), Rhoda (Pat) and Keith (Linda); a daughter-in-law, Kathy Yutzy Nabitz; four siblings, Ada Schlabach, Paul (Martha) Yutzy, Allen (Connie) Yutzy and Esther Zeitz; a brother-in-law, Bud Legault; a sister-in-law, Sherry Wicker; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son, Paul Yutzy; an infant daughter, Faith Ann; four brothers, Ralph, Dan, Norman and Val; and two sisters, Katherine and Lula.

Memorial services were held at Tedrow Mennonite Church. Donations may be made to Habitat for Humanity in Delta and Sunshine Community in Maumee.