Emma Mast Shetler was born Nov. 5, 1928, in rural Kalona, the daughter of Abraham and Sarah (Schrock) Mast. She died on Oct. 3, 2023, due to complications from a fall she sustained in August.
Emma attended Middlebury School and studied at Johnstown Bible School near Holsopple, Pennsylvania. She was married to Harley Shetler on Dec. 14, 1952. She raised eight children along with Harley.
They gardened organically and practiced reduce, reuse and recycle long before it was admired. In her fifties, she began working at Pleasantview as a housekeeper, retiring from there when she was 82.
She was part of Sunnyside Mennonite Church for many years where she and Harley were custodians for more than 30 years. Emma enjoyed gardening, reading and visiting family and friends.
Survivors include her eight children: Marnetta (Jerry) Bradford of Shavertown, Pennsylvania, Arnold (Linda) Shetler of Plain City, Ohio, Leonard (Rose) Shetler of Goshen, Indiana, Elaine (Merle) Miller of San Antonio, Texas, Philip Shetler of Mechanicsburg, Ohio, Stanwyn (Beth) Shetler of Wellman, Elroy Shetler of Kalona, and Merlin Shetler of Kalona; 15 grandchildren: Brendan Bradford (Aide Cuenca), Brittany Bradford, Aaron (Megan), Ami, Linette and Luke (Mary) Shetler, Darren, Kara, Jordan (Rachel Lanctot), and Blake Shetler, Liliana and Sophia Miller; two great-grandchildren: Elianna Shetler and Simon Shetler; sisters-in-law: Clara and Ruth Ann Shetler, Mary Jane(Ed) Miller, Alta Yutzy, Janet Shetler, Katie Ann Shetler and Penny Shetler; and brother-in-law: Vernon Miller; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Emma was preceded in death by her parents; her husband: Harley, in 1987; her siblings: Henry Mast (Wilma) (Hazel), Gertrude (Joe) Hostetler, Ora (Mattie) Mast and Freddie Mast; and Harley’s siblings: Paul (Dorothy) Shetler, John (Mildred) Shetler, Dennis Shetler, Raymond Yutzy, Lena Miller, Albert Shetler, and Philip Shetler
A funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, at Sunnyside Mennonite Church in Kalona. Burial will be at Fairview Mennonite Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, from 2-4 then 5-7 p.m. at the Yoder Powell Funeral Home in Kalona. A memorial fund has been established for Christian Aid Ministers.
Messages may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com
