Jerry Shenk Breneman, 78, died March 2, 2023. He was born Jan. 18, 1945, to Martin and Naomi Breneman on their Manor Township, Lancaster County, Pa., farm.

Growing up, he enjoyed helping around the farm and working with animals. He was involved in FFA at Penn Manor High School, where he excelled in steer judging.

He was a follower of Jesus, committed to living out his faith from an Anabaptist perspective. An active member of Manheim Mennonite Church and, later on, Millersville Mennonite Church, he enjoyed teaching Sunday school and leading singing. He had a deep love of music and was a strong tenor. During the Vietnam War, his nonresistant convictions led him to alternative service with Mennonite Central Committee’s mobile meat canner.

He graduated from Eastern Mennonite College with a degree in Bible and wore several different hats after college, including part-time pastoring at Mountville Mennonite Church, teaching at New Danville Mennonite School and farming part-time up to the early 1980s. For more than 45 years he served coal and fertilizer customers as a local truck driver for F.H. Kreider until retiring in 2020. He always had a ready smile and a wave and showed that he cared about others by diligently sending greeting cards and offering gifts of food.

He married Miriam (Metzler) on June 9, 1979, and they shared more than 43 years together. Surviving, in addition to his wife, are two sons, Kyle (Danielle) Breneman and Duane (Stephanie) Breneman; four grandchildren; and siblings David (Yen) Breneman, Rhoda Breneman, Rachel Breneman and Roseanne (Kevin) Stewart.

A funeral service was held at Millersville Mennonite Church. Burial was at Habecker Mennonite Cemetery.

Contributions may be sent to Eastern Mennonite Missions or MCC.