Willis Christian Hallman, 95, of Kansas City, Mo., died Jan. 18, 2022, after a bout with congestive heart failure. He was born Jan. 2, 1927, in Vineland Station, Ont., to Anna and Aaron Hallman.

He spent his first years on his parents’ fruit farm, pruning trees and preparing fruit for sale. At age 21 he entered Eastern Mennonite University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology. In 1950 he married Katherine Anne Hertzler from Elverson, Pa.

His home congregation asked him to serve as pastor in the future, so he was ordained and the family moved to Goshen, Ind., for seminary. After seminary, he accepted a call to serve as pastor in Scottdale, Pa.

Because of his interest in counseling, he felt the need to study psychology. He and Kit drove out to the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Within two days, plans were completed for him to study psychology and serve as pastor for two Evangelical United Brethren churches in the area. A parsonage was supplied, and the family spent six good years among the generous farmers of Stull and Richland, Kan.

A KU professor suggested he apply to work with challenged children at Marillac School, in Kansas City, which he did, and served there 14 years. During this time, Vicki Lynn Melching joined the family in her teen years, continuing to adulthood and beyond. Next came his move to private practice, which he carried on informally into his final years. He and Kit lived at Kingswood Senior Center for two and one-half years. It was a sudden passing, but 37 years after his first cardiac arrest.

Services were held at The Summit Church, Lee’s Summit, Mo. A family burial was in Green Lawn Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Mennonite Central Committee.