PUBLISHED: Thursday, July 28, 2005
Gerhard (George) Buhr was born in Mount Lake, Minn., to Peter and Marie (Neufeld) Buhr July 28, 1918. He grew up speaking Low German, and the first years of his schooling were in a Mennonite parochial school. During his childhood, most activities were centered on the extended families and the First Mennonite Church where he was baptized July 5, 1938.
Basketball was gaining a foothold in southern Minnesota, and George found that he had an aptitude for the game. What he lacked in height, he made up for in quickness and determination. His love of sports developed into a lifetime career and a focal point for many of his activities and relationships.
After high school, he attended college for a year at Mankato before transferring to Freeman Junior College in Freeman, S.D., where he met his future wife, Mildred Waltner. Their marriage plans, however, were interrupted by World War II and the draft. George registered as a conscientious objector and worked in Civilian Public Service Camps in Denison, Iowa, Fort Collins, Colo., and North Fork, Calif. He worked primarily as a surveyor, helping out on the forest fire fighting crews also when needed.
After their marriage in 1945, George and Mildred embarked on a two-and-a-half-year voluntary service assignment in Paraguay where Mildred taught, and George helped settle Mennonite refugees from Europe who were displaced by the war.
After seven years of voluntary service, George finished his college degree at Bethel College when he and Mildred returned from Paraguay. He then embarked on a career in education and coaching, first in industrial arts in Lehigh and then for 10 years from 1955 to 1965 at Bethel College in North Newton. There he served as athletic director and basketball coach, with short stints as football, track and golf coach when necessary.
In 1965, George and Mildred, along with their three sons, moved to Kansas City where he took a position teaching elementary school physical education at several schools in the Shawnee Mission District. He thoroughly enjoyed his new role, developing games and activities to exercise and develop the bodies of his young students.
In 1995, they moved to the Kidron Bethel Retirement Community in North Newton where they were both very involved in the life of the community. The close proximity to Bethel College afforded George the opportunity to watch his beloved Threshers, and he was often seen making his daily rounds to watch the progress of the various sports teams. George and Mildred rejoined Bethel College Mennonite Church and were active participants until their health failed.
Athletics and exercise were George's primary focus for his 87 years. In his later years, he enjoyed walking, and particularly ice skating, even up until a few weeks ago. George also had a lifelong emphasis on service and he was quite active in Mennonite Disaster Service trips to various parts of the U.S. and Mexico.
One of George's greatest pleasures during the Kidron years was to visit with his friends in Low German. He and Mildred helped organize regular "Plautdietsch" conversation groups at Kidron-Bethel which were enjoyed by many from surrounding communities.
George passed away Sunday after a six-month illness. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and two grandchildren. He is survived by: three sons and their wives, John and Vanessa of Newtown, Pa., Bruce and Meribeth of Wichita and Paul and Deanna of Goodland; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Memorials have been established with Kidron-Bethel Village, Bethel College and the Mennonite Central Committee. A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Aug. 25 at Bethel College Mennonite Church. Family will greet friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 24 at the church
Gerhard (George) Buhr was born in Mount Lake, Minn., to Peter and Marie (Neufeld) Buhr July 28, 1918. He grew up speaking Low German, and the first years of his schooling were in a Mennonite parochial school. During his childhood, most activities were centered on the extended families and the First Mennonite Church where he was baptized July 5, 1938.
Basketball was gaining a foothold in southern Minnesota, and George found that he had an aptitude for the game. What he lacked in height, he made up for in quickness and determination. His love of sports developed into a lifetime career and a focal point for many of his activities and relationships.
After high school, he attended college for a year at Mankato before transferring to Freeman Junior College in Freeman, S.D., where he met his future wife, Mildred Waltner. Their marriage plans, however, were interrupted by World War II and the draft. George registered as a conscientious objector and worked in Civilian Public Service Camps in Denison, Iowa, Fort Collins, Colo., and North Fork, Calif. He worked primarily as a surveyor, helping out on the forest fire fighting crews also when needed.
After their marriage in 1945, George and Mildred embarked on a two-and-a-half-year voluntary service assignment in Paraguay where Mildred taught, and George helped settle Mennonite refugees from Europe who were displaced by the war.
After seven years of voluntary service, George finished his college degree at Bethel College when he and Mildred returned from Paraguay. He then embarked on a career in education and coaching, first in industrial arts in Lehigh and then for 10 years from 1955 to 1965 at Bethel College in North Newton. There he served as athletic director and basketball coach, with short stints as football, track and golf coach when necessary.
In 1965, George and Mildred, along with their three sons, moved to Kansas City where he took a position teaching elementary school physical education at several schools in the Shawnee Mission District. He thoroughly enjoyed his new role, developing games and activities to exercise and develop the bodies of his young students.
In 1995, they moved to the Kidron Bethel Retirement Community in North Newton where they were both very involved in the life of the community. The close proximity to Bethel College afforded George the opportunity to watch his beloved Threshers, and he was often seen making his daily rounds to watch the progress of the various sports teams. George and Mildred rejoined Bethel College Mennonite Church and were active participants until their health failed.
Athletics and exercise were George's primary focus for his 87 years. In his later years, he enjoyed walking, and particularly ice skating, even up until a few weeks ago. George also had a lifelong emphasis on service and he was quite active in Mennonite Disaster Service trips to various parts of the U.S. and Mexico.
One of George's greatest pleasures during the Kidron years was to visit with his friends in Low German. He and Mildred helped organize regular "Plautdietsch" conversation groups at Kidron-Bethel which were enjoyed by many from surrounding communities.
George passed away Sunday after a six-month illness. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and two grandchildren. He is survived by: three sons and their wives, John and Vanessa of Newtown, Pa., Bruce and Meribeth of Wichita and Paul and Deanna of Goodland; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Memorials have been established with Kidron-Bethel Village, Bethel College and the Mennonite Central Committee. A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Aug. 25 at Bethel College Mennonite Church. Family will greet friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 24 at the church
PUBLISHED: Thursday, July 28, 2005
Gerhard (George) Buhr was born in Mount Lake, Minn., to Peter and Marie (Neufeld) Buhr July 28, 1918. He grew up speaking Low German, and the first years of his schooling were in a Mennonite parochial school. During his childhood, most activities were centered on the extended families and the First Mennonite Church where he was baptized July 5, 1938.
Basketball was gaining a foothold in southern Minnesota, and George found that he had an aptitude for the game. What he lacked in height, he made up for in quickness and determination. His love of sports developed into a lifetime career and a focal point for many of his activities and relationships.
After high school, he attended college for a year at Mankato before transferring to Freeman Junior College in Freeman, S.D., where he met his future wife, Mildred Waltner. Their marriage plans, however, were interrupted by World War II and the draft. George registered as a conscientious objector and worked in Civilian Public Service Camps in Denison, Iowa, Fort Collins, Colo., and North Fork, Calif. He worked primarily as a surveyor, helping out on the forest fire fighting crews also when needed.
After their marriage in 1945, George and Mildred embarked on a two-and-a-half-year voluntary service assignment in Paraguay where Mildred taught, and George helped settle Mennonite refugees from Europe who were displaced by the war.
After seven years of voluntary service, George finished his college degree at Bethel College when he and Mildred returned from Paraguay. He then embarked on a career in education and coaching, first in industrial arts in Lehigh and then for 10 years from 1955 to 1965 at Bethel College in North Newton. There he served as athletic director and basketball coach, with short stints as football, track and golf coach when necessary.
In 1965, George and Mildred, along with their three sons, moved to Kansas City where he took a position teaching elementary school physical education at several schools in the Shawnee Mission District. He thoroughly enjoyed his new role, developing games and activities to exercise and develop the bodies of his young students.
In 1995, they moved to the Kidron Bethel Retirement Community in North Newton where they were both very involved in the life of the community. The close proximity to Bethel College afforded George the opportunity to watch his beloved Threshers, and he was often seen making his daily rounds to watch the progress of the various sports teams. George and Mildred rejoined Bethel College Mennonite Church and were active participants until their health failed.
Athletics and exercise were George's primary focus for his 87 years. In his later years, he enjoyed walking, and particularly ice skating, even up until a few weeks ago. George also had a lifelong emphasis on service and he was quite active in Mennonite Disaster Service trips to various parts of the U.S. and Mexico.
One of George's greatest pleasures during the Kidron years was to visit with his friends in Low German. He and Mildred helped organize regular "Plautdietsch" conversation groups at Kidron-Bethel which were enjoyed by many from surrounding communities.
George passed away Sunday after a six-month illness. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and two grandchildren. He is survived by: three sons and their wives, John and Vanessa of Newtown, Pa., Bruce and Meribeth of Wichita and Paul and Deanna of Goodland; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Memorials have been established with Kidron-Bethel Village, Bethel College and the Mennonite Central Committee. A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Aug. 25 at Bethel College Mennonite Church. Family will greet friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 24 at the church
Gerhard (George) Buhr was born in Mount Lake, Minn., to Peter and Marie (Neufeld) Buhr July 28, 1918. He grew up speaking Low German, and the first years of his schooling were in a Mennonite parochial school. During his childhood, most activities were centered on the extended families and the First Mennonite Church where he was baptized July 5, 1938.
Basketball was gaining a foothold in southern Minnesota, and George found that he had an aptitude for the game. What he lacked in height, he made up for in quickness and determination. His love of sports developed into a lifetime career and a focal point for many of his activities and relationships.
After high school, he attended college for a year at Mankato before transferring to Freeman Junior College in Freeman, S.D., where he met his future wife, Mildred Waltner. Their marriage plans, however, were interrupted by World War II and the draft. George registered as a conscientious objector and worked in Civilian Public Service Camps in Denison, Iowa, Fort Collins, Colo., and North Fork, Calif. He worked primarily as a surveyor, helping out on the forest fire fighting crews also when needed.
After their marriage in 1945, George and Mildred embarked on a two-and-a-half-year voluntary service assignment in Paraguay where Mildred taught, and George helped settle Mennonite refugees from Europe who were displaced by the war.
After seven years of voluntary service, George finished his college degree at Bethel College when he and Mildred returned from Paraguay. He then embarked on a career in education and coaching, first in industrial arts in Lehigh and then for 10 years from 1955 to 1965 at Bethel College in North Newton. There he served as athletic director and basketball coach, with short stints as football, track and golf coach when necessary.
In 1965, George and Mildred, along with their three sons, moved to Kansas City where he took a position teaching elementary school physical education at several schools in the Shawnee Mission District. He thoroughly enjoyed his new role, developing games and activities to exercise and develop the bodies of his young students.
In 1995, they moved to the Kidron Bethel Retirement Community in North Newton where they were both very involved in the life of the community. The close proximity to Bethel College afforded George the opportunity to watch his beloved Threshers, and he was often seen making his daily rounds to watch the progress of the various sports teams. George and Mildred rejoined Bethel College Mennonite Church and were active participants until their health failed.
Athletics and exercise were George's primary focus for his 87 years. In his later years, he enjoyed walking, and particularly ice skating, even up until a few weeks ago. George also had a lifelong emphasis on service and he was quite active in Mennonite Disaster Service trips to various parts of the U.S. and Mexico.
One of George's greatest pleasures during the Kidron years was to visit with his friends in Low German. He and Mildred helped organize regular "Plautdietsch" conversation groups at Kidron-Bethel which were enjoyed by many from surrounding communities.
George passed away Sunday after a six-month illness. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and two grandchildren. He is survived by: three sons and their wives, John and Vanessa of Newtown, Pa., Bruce and Meribeth of Wichita and Paul and Deanna of Goodland; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Memorials have been established with Kidron-Bethel Village, Bethel College and the Mennonite Central Committee. A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Aug. 25 at Bethel College Mennonite Church. Family will greet friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 24 at the church
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