Suvilla M Hershberger

Suvilla M Hershberger
December 03, 1919 - January 08, 2011
Kalona, Iowa
Visitation: 2-8 p.m. January 11, 2011 at Yoder-Powell Funeral Home
Funeral Service: 10:00 a.m. January 12, 2011 at Kalona Mennonite Church
Interment: January 12, 2011 at East Union Cemetery
Suvilla M. Bontrager Hershberger was born December 3, 1919, near Sturgis, Michigan the daughter of Menno J.S. and Fannie (Yoder) Bontrager. Her family moved to Iowa when she was young. On August 28, 1941 she was united in marriage to Joseph Hershberger in rural Kalona. The couple lived on various farms in the area and later moved to Iowa City. Suvilla worked as a lab attendant in the radiology department at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for many years, before retiring in 1984. In 1987 Suvilla and Joe moved to the warmth of Arizona to enjoy their retirement. They moved back to Kalona in 2003. She was a member of the Kalona Mennonite Church. Suvilla was a creative person - sewing, quilting, cake decorating, oil painting, ceramics, flower arranging, cooking and more. All that she created was made perfectly. She was a giving person who touched the lives of all who met her, be it a radiology trainee, a foreign exchange student, her grandchildren or nieces, or a total stranger. Her immaculate home had an open door and was a welcome haven to those who entered. Her home was always surrounded by the beautiful flowers that thrived under her green thumb. Suvilla died on Saturday, January 8, 2011 at the Pleasantview Home in Kalona at the age of 91 years. Suvilla is survived by her husband Joseph of Kalona; a daughter Esther Gingerich and husband Warren of Kalona; a son Jeremiah Hershberger and wife Dawn of Council Grove, Kansas; three grandchildren - Lisa Harms, Jeff and Dan Gingerich; five great grandchildren - Philip and Steven Harms, Katie and Sam Gingerich, Calvin Gingerich; three sisters - Lovina Miller of Kalona; Edna Yoder of Iowa City; Esther Tate of Iowa City; a brother - Joe Bontrager of Fresno, California; and a sister-in-law Mabel Bontrager of Kalona. She was preceded in death by her parents; a son Philip Hershberger; and three brothers - Clarence Bontrager, Amos Bontrager and Perry Bontrager. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at the Kalona Mennonite Church. Rev. Scott Swartzendruber and Rev. Perry Miller will officiate. Burial will be in the East Union Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 2-8 p.m. on Tuesday at the Yoder-Powell Funeral Home in Kalona where the family will greet friends from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. A memorial fund has been established for Iowa City Hospice.