William R. Regehr

William R. (“Willie” or “Bill”) Regehr, 92, of North Newton, Kan., died May 26, 2022, at Kidron Bethel. He was born Jan. 11, 1930, to Jacob T. and Marie Regehr near Inman.

Regehr

During the Korean War he entered alternative service, becoming a Mennonite Voluntary Service worker. He was the unit leader of hospital aides in Portland, Maine. He graduated from Bethel College in 1958.

He married Lora Maurine Voth on July 26, 1955, at Bethel Mennonite Church, Inman. They spent a year in Canada, where he taught in a one-room school. Other schools he taught at included Welcome and Little Valley of rural Inman, Washington of Newton, Pleasant Acres and Suncrest east of Newton. In 1959 they moved to teach for the Indian Service at Berego Pass, N.M., with the Navajo, and Kykotsmovi, Ariz., with the Hopi for four years. In 1966 the family moved to Hesston. He worked at Hesston College starting in 1974 as director of custodial service.

He had a spirit of adventure, taking trips including touring with Kansas Mennonite Men’s Chorus, fruit drying in California, and a big trip to South Korea, China, Tokyo and Hong Kong in 1987. He visited the Old Colony Mennonites in Mexico and went with his brother Dave to Paraguay.

He enjoyed drawing, photography and ceramics, combining this love of craft with a love of his mother tongue, Plautdietsch. His mugs with Low German sayings were sold at the Kansas MCC sale.

He cared deeply for people and latched onto the term “leveling” to describe how God’s love should lift up the lowly and bring the mighty down from their thrones. His politics shifted to support candidates who advocated for the poor and disenfranchised.

He and Maurine moved to Kidron Bethel in 2015 and joined Faith Mennonite Church.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Maurine (Voth) Regehr; four children, Lowell Peter (Carol Sisson) Regehr, Mark David (Darlene Blair) Regehr, Kristine Kay Regehr and Paul “Jack” Lamar (Judy Naillon) Regehr; two siblings, Evelyn (Ed) Peters and David (Judy Voth) Regehr; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by three adult siblings, Eldo (Mary Ann Balzer) Regehr, Lilly Ann (Herb) Neufeld and Ted (Alice Penner) Regehr; and three childhood siblings, Wilber, Leo James and Mary Jane.

Memorial gifts may be given to Kidron Bethel Benevolent Fund, Faith Mennonite Church and Mennonite Central Committee.

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