Millard Moser

Millard Moser, 89, passed away Saturday, Sep. 16, 2023, at 2:25 p.m. at the Bluffton Clinic, surrounded by his wife, children and several of his grandchildren. He was the only son of Edna (Lehman) and Palmer Moser and the cherished brother of Mary (Moser) Eicher and Margie (Moser) Baum, all of whom are also deceased. He was a lifetime resident of Berne, born Nov. 20, 1933, but also a world traveler, visiting over 30 countries from Europe to Asia to South America. He had a deep need to explore and to experience new things and kept an open and curious mind throughout his life.
He began his education at the Berne school along with 33 classmates, many of whom remained lifelong friends and one of whom, Kenyon Sprunger (along with younger brother, Ben), became his stepbrothers when he was a teenager.
He began a business major at Bluffton College in 1951, taking a break from 1952-55 to participate in PAX, rebuilding homes and clearing rubble in war-ravaged Germany and Austria as an alternative service to the military. During this time, he became an active correspondent with high school classmate, Janean (Sprunger) Moser, and the two married June 5, 1956, after he returned from Europe. They spent the earliest years of their marriage in Bloomington where he finished his business degree at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and then in Hong Kong where he was the director of the Mennonite Central Committee refugee feeding program. While in Hong Kong, they adopted two daughters, Kathy (Mai Lai) and Kristy (Su Fong), and she gave birth to son, David.
Upon return from Hong Kong, he began working at the family business, Moser Motor Sales, taking his place as the third generation to run the business, and the couple had their fourth child, Annie. The family was complete in 1973 when foster son, John Courtney, came to live with them.
He was an active member of the Berne community, serving as a longtime board member at the First Bank of Berne, the Berne Library and Swiss Village. For some of these organizations, he also served terms as president or chair.
He was an active member of the Mennonite Church. He and his family attended First Mennonite and later Emmaus Road Fellowship. He taught Sunday school for more than 60 years and served a term as chair of the Camp Friedenswald board. As an expression of their faith and deep commitment to helping others, they opened their home to countless people over the years, including MCC trainees and Lions Club exchange students from many countries. He also played an active role in supporting Cambodian and South American refugee families sponsored by the First Mennonite Church.
He loved spending time with family, riding his bicycle, reading theology and history, walking his dogs, traveling, sports and music of all sorts — from bluegrass to opera. He had an eclectic taste, valued things that expand the heart and mind and encouraged his children and grandchildren to love the same, taking them on countless trips, sharing his favorite books and performances with them and investing in their interests as well as his own. He was a Mennonite who felt called to live in community, love and peace. His favorite Bible verse was Micah 6:8 — “What does your Lord require? Do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God.”
He is survived by his wife; five children, Kathy Schwartz; Kristy (Jon) Donnally; John Courtney; David (Ingrid) Moser; and Annie (Mark) Gray; seven grandchildren, Lindsay, Elizabeth and Alex (Kristy’s daughters); Derek (Kathy’s son); Joshua and Ashley (John’s children); Nick (Annie’s son); and Levi and Peter (David’s sons); and six great-grandchildren with a seventh due in December.
Visitation will be from 1-2:25 p.m. Saturday, Sep. 30 at the Swiss Village Chapel immediately followed by a celebration of life service. Officiating will be Rev. Anita Rediger and Rev. Michael Spath.
Memorials may be made to the Swiss Village Samaritan Fund and Mennonite Central Committee.
Arrangements provided by Zwick & Jahn Funeral Homes, Yager-Kirchhofer Chapel in Berne. To sign the online guest book, visit www.zwickjahn.com.