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BethelCollege.edu/MagazineScience in History from Bethel,
a Masters of Arts in History and
Political Science from Michigan
State University, and an MBA
in Finance and International
Business from Indiana
University – Bloomington.
He and his wife, Roberta,
served with World Partners
of the Missionary Church
from 1966 to 1970, teaching
missionary children in Brazil.
After receiving his MBA, he
began his lifelong career in
finance with National Bank of
Detroit. He served on various
boards (including Bethel’s)
and was treasurer for the
Missionary Church
6
James “Jim” Lee Ditmer
,
age
85, died Aug. 21, in Goshen. Jim
is survived by his wife, Joanne,
of 64 years. They had three
daughters, Jane (Randy) Hogue
of Mishawaka, Judi DeLay of
Arcanum, Ohio, Jean (Robert)
Bjorkland of Mishawaka, and
Jill (Mo) Vincic of Elkhart;
eight grandchildren and 12
great-grandchildren. He is also
survived by three brothers,
Robert, Edwin and Donald
(Connie) Ditmer, and three
sisters, Esther Bunch, Marilee
(Jack) Todd, and Carol Hensley
Bradfields.
Jim briefly attended Bethel
College, traveled westward and
worked in sugar beet fields in
Wyoming until enlisting in the
Armed Services Army Division
where he served in Korea.
Jim was a lifelong member of
the Missionary Church and
Jeanie Mast (attended
’82-’83)
, age 53, of Wakarusa,
Ind., passed away on May
31, 2017, as a result of an
automobile accident. She was
a graduate of NorthWood
High School. She was married
to Lamar Mast on Dec. 30,
1988, and attended Nappanee
Missionary Church. Surviving
are her husband, Lamar;
sisters, Jeanette Prenkert, Joan
Siebert, Jackie (Archie) Mundy,
all of Wakarusa; and brothers,
Jim (Pat) Wisler, Wakarusa,
John (Carla) Wisler, Twin
Bridges, Mont.; Joe (Wendy)
Wisler, Wakarusa.
3
Dr. David Ray Pannabecker,
’74
, age 66, passed away on
May 28, 2017, at his home
in Hawaii from pancreatic
cancer. He was married to
Lois (Sousley) Pannabecker,
his partner in life and Christian
ministry for 42 years.
Also surviving are his children:
Michelle (Jack) Campbell and
their children Elijah, Isaiah, and
David in Lakewood, Wash.;
Andrew (Janell) Pannabecker in
Indianapolis, Ind.; and Brandon
(Crystal) Pannabecker and their
children Kyle and Emma of Ewa
Beach, Hawaii. David dearly
loved his family, and they
brought him tremendous joy.
David’s twin brother, Michael
Pannabecker and his sister,
Bonnie Pannabecker, both of
North Bay, Ontario, Canada,
also survive. He was preceded
in death by his parents, Earl
and Ruth Pannabecker of
North Bay, Ontario.
David has served as Minister
of Music at at Trinity Church in
South Bend, Ind., and at Kalihi
Union Church in Honolulu,
Hawaii. He received his B.A.
in Biblical Literature from
Bethel, an M.A. from Wheaton
Graduate School (’83), and a
Doctor of Worship Studies from
the Robert F. Webber Institute
for Worship Studies, (’07).
He taught courses at Bethel,
Huntington University and
Barclay College. He directed
Bethel College’s Gospel Team
program for five years in the
1990s. As owner of Puppetoire
Inc. and later Arms Length
Productions, Inc., David
became an industry leader in
designing and manufacturing
commercial puppets for
film, television, church and
education markets. He also
taught puppet construction
and performance in the U.S.
and in Russia, Canada, Portugal,
Spain, Romania, and the
Philippines.
4
Dr. Willard (Will) Jacob
Pannabecker, ’63
, age 77,
passed away Dec. 24, 2016, in
Austin, Texas. He was married
to Barbara Pannabecker. For
more than 40 years, he worked
as a clinical psychologist and
ordained minister. He was
a graduate of Texas Tech
University, University of Texas
at Austin, Asbury Theological
Seminary and Bethel College.
His career included positions
in community mental
health, psychiatric hospitals,
private practice and 12 years
as Director of Health and
Counseling at St. Edward’s
University. Will held adjunct
or allied health credentials
at a variety of colleges and
universities, including Baylor
University, UT-Austin and
Penn State University. Will is
survived by his wife Barbara
Pannabecker; children Lea
Smith, Rodney Pannabecker
and Marcia Oakes; step-children
Jennifer Evans, Charles
Verdict and Gregory Verdict;
grandchildren Alexandria,
Anne Marie, Emily, Avery,
Charlie, Caroline, Catherine
and Sebastian; siblings Esther
Matteson, Calvin Pannabecker,
Delora Craig and Mariette
Hayden, and many nieces and
nephews. He was preceded in
death by his parents and his
grandson, Jacob.
5
Darrell Lorne Schlabach,
’64
, age 74, of Brown City, Mich.
(formerly of Royal Oak, Mich.)
passed away on May 22, 2017.
Darrell is survived by his
beloved children; daughter
Brenda (Marcus) Warner and
grandchildren Stephanie and
Benjamin of Noblesville, Ind.;
daughter Cindy (Bart) DePage
and granddaughter Lauren
of Warren, Mich.. He is also
survived by his brother Gary
(Sue) Schlabach of Farmington
Hills, Mich. He is proceeded in
death by wife Roberta of Brown
City, Mich.
He earned a Bachelor of
Continued from p. 25
IN
MEMORY
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