Merril J Harms

Merril J. Harms, 100 years, passed trusting in God’s grace on November 3, 2025 at Kidron Bethel Health Care, North Newton, Kansas, after being a resident for almost five years with declining vascular dementia. He was born to Alfred and Lorena (Klaassen) Harms on February 11, 1925 in Newton, second oldest of four siblings. He started school at the one room Foster School with another student, Gladys Schmidt, who later became his wife for 68 years. He gave her a Valentine when they were in Second/First grades which Gladys kept all her life. Two more sisters, Glendeen and Loraine joined his family later.

The family moved around during the depression, settling by Whitewater. Merril worked for various area farmers while he attended Whitewater High School. He joined the Army as a WWII noncombatant, serving from July 11, 1944 to June 27, 1946. This brought him opportunities to see other parts of the US and go by ship to Italy. He served as a medic and office staff because of his typing skills. During leaves, he traveled to nearby sights such as Florence, Venice, Pompeii and Pisa.

After WWII and many letters to Gladys, he returned home to farm and they were married on September 19, 1947 at Gnadenberg Mennonite Church, now known as Grace Hill. He was a faithful member of the church all his life, serving as a Sunday School teacher, on various committees, singing in choirs and worked on church building and maintenance projects. Merril was a rural letter carrier for 40 years. He enjoyed greeting the children at the mailbox and giving them candy. The Kansas Rural Letter Carriers’ Association brought many opportunities of leadership, friendship and travel. He continued farming until they moved to North Newton in 2010.

Merril and Gladys served in a variety of capacities with Bethel College, Mennonite Central Committee, Camp Mennoscah and Kidron Bethel. He also served as a Wheat State Manor founding board member and on the Rural Water District No. 1 board.

Merril is survived by daughters Marianne Eichelberger, and Jenny and Weldon Martens, all of North Newton; granddaughters Laurel Martens, Boston, and Michaela Martens, Wichita; sisters Glendeen Schroeder, Mountain Lake, MN, and Loraine (Gronau) and Vern Giebler, Hays.

Proceeded in death by his parents, sister Jean Schroeder, brothers/sister-in-law Menno Schroeder, Robert Schroeder, Henry Gronau Jr, Olin and Alma Schmidt, son-in-law Gary Eichelberger, and grandson Graham Martens.

Services will be held at Grace Hill Mennonite Church on Friday, November 7, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.

Private family interment will be in the Grace Hill Mennonite Cemetery

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Grace Hill Mennonite Church and Camp Mennoscah.