Howard Habegger

Howard Jay Habegger, 86, of Hesston, Kansas passed away on Saturday, December 28, 2018 at Schowalter Villa in Hesston, Kansas. He was born on September 6, 1932 in Berne. He was married on June 11, 1954 to Marlene Jane Short.

He graduated from Taylor University in 1954. He was called to the ministry and studied at New York Theological Seminary and Princeton Theological Seminary from which he received degrees in sacred theology and systematic theology. He was ordained in 1959 and became pastor at Grace Mennonite Church in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. He served as a missionary under the Board of Missions of the General Conference Mennonite Church and founded the First Mennonite Church in Bogota, Colombia. He earned his doctor of religion degree from The Claremont School of Theology, Claremont, California in 1970 and became the executive secretary of the General Conference Commission on Overseas Missions in Newton, Kansas until 1982. After two years of teaching in the Bible and Religion Department at Bethel College, Kansas, he returned to Colombia to pastor the Union Church of Bogota. In 1988, he became the pastor of Silverwood Mennonite Church in Goshen, where he served until 1997. He then retired to Lake Vista in Hesston, Kansas.

He is survived by his wife; two daughters, Cynthia (Marcus) Loganbill of Wichita, Kansas; and Lisa (Blair) Loganbill of Hesston, Kansas; son, Eric (Lisa) Habegger of Bogota, Colombia; seven grandchildren, Christian (Jaimie) Loganbill; Patrick Loganbill; and Genet Loganbill; Alec and Mia Loganbill; and Jeff and Kelly Habegger; sister, Evelyn Beitler of Berne; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Lydia (Neuenschwander) Habegger; parents, Clinton and Elta (Welty) Habegger; and brother, C. Earl Habegger.

Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 8 at Faith Mennonite Church in Newton, Kansas. A celebration of life service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 9 at the church.

Memorials may be made to Mennonite Mission of Colombia or the Schowalter Villa Good Samaritan Fund, in care of Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, 120 E. Broadway, Newton, KS 67114.

Arrangements provided by Broadway Colonial Funeral Home in Newton, Kansas. Online condolences may be made at www.broadwaycolonialfh.com.