REMEMBERING

Joanne Nesler, 90, the first woman to serve as director of Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS), passed away in Inverness, Fla., on Feb. 19. In addition to directing BVS from 1976 to 1980, she also served as administrative assistant to the treasurer of the Church of the Brethren from 1970 to 1976 and managed the SERRV Handcrafted Gifts International store in Dundee, Ill., from 1983 to 1988, when it was still a part of the denomination. Her work for the Church of the Brethren began in 1950 when she started as an employee of the Brethren Publishing House in Elgin. After four years she joined BVS and was assigned to Kassel House in Germany to work with refugee programs for children and the elderly. Upon returning to the US, she earned a degree in sociology from Manchester College in Indiana and a master’s in social work from Michigan State University. She resumed employment with the Church of the Brethren in 1968. In other community leadership positions, she was executive director of Elgin’s Well Child Conference. In 1989, she was the recipient of the Elgin YWCA Leader Luncheon Award for social services. She served a term as chair of the Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren board. In 1999, she retired to Florida, settling in Homosassa and becoming active in Spring Hill Presbyterian Church. Among survivors are her son, York Davis, his wife, Amy, and their son. A memorial service was held March 10 at Spring Hill Presbyterian Church. [from “Newsline”]

Horace Huse, who served Canton as pastor from 1969 to 1973, died Oct. 14 in Toledo, Ohio. Horace, who grew up in California, was 94. He attended Ashland Theological Seminary. In addition to Canton, he pastored congregations in Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Ohio, where he continued to assist at Heatherdowns Church of the Brethren in Toledo until it closed in 2013. He also served as a hospital chaplain and on the board of the Multifaith Council of Northwest Ohio and did significant volunteer work, most recently as a beekeeper for a community gardening program in Toledo. He is survived by his wife, JoAnn; a brother; two daughters; and four grandchildren. A memorial service took place Nov. 5 in Ohio. The full obituary can be found at Horace Huse Obituary (1928 - 2022) - Toledo, OH - The Blade (legacy.com).

Lorene Moore, who served as Canton's pastor from 1988 to 1992, died Feb. 4 in Springfield, Mo. She was 91. Born in Wichita, Kan., Lorene was a graduate of McPherson (Kan.) College, Bethany Theological Seminary, and the Graduate Seminary at Phillips University. She served in Brethren Volunteer Service, was a regular participant in CROP Walks, was a frequent camp volunteer, and assisted with the work of Global Women's Project. In addition to Canton, she pastored Church of the Brethren congregations in Kansas, Missouri, and Minnesota, as well as some ministry in other denominations. She is survived by her husband, Byron, and three children and their families, and two siblings. A memorial service took place March 11 in Springfield, Mo.; another will be held March 18 at 1 p.m. at Mayfield (Kan.) Federated Church. The full obituary is at Lorene Moore Obituary (1931 - 2023) - Legacy Remembers.

Jan West Schrock, former director of Brethren Volunteer Service and daughter of Heifer International founder Dan West, passed away on March 8 in Camden, Maine. Jan served as director of BVS from 1987 to 1995. She later served for a decade as a consultant to Heifer International, an independent nonprofit that began in 1944 as a ministry of the Church of the Brethren. Service information is not yet available.