Frank E. Shirk

Frank Edward Shirk, 89, of Leola, died Wednesday, October 8, 2014 at his home. He was born on February 23, 1925 in Gap, PA, the son of Peter N. and Joanna H. Shirk. He graduated from New Holland High School in 1943, immediately registered for the draft, and in August began three years of alternate military service, working in Virginia, Iowa, and New York with Civilian Public Service. In 1946 he volunteered for a two-year assignment in eastern France with a Mennonite Central Committee Relief Training Unit. It was there that he met Erica Hege, from the Mennonite community where the group was doing post-war reconstruction work. They were married in France on August 21, 1948. That December they moved to New Holland, PA where he worked in his father's electrical business until his father retired in 1959. He then sold appliances for a year, and in 1960 he began working for Goodville Mutual Casualty Company, becoming President in 1982. Meanwhile, in 1958, he was ordained pastor of the New Holland Mennonite Church, and in 1978 he was ordained bishop of the Groffdale District of Lancaster Conference. He also served as assistant secretary of the Conference for ten years. In 1990 he retired from Goodville Mutual and also from the Bishop Board. From 1993 to 1995, he and Erica served in Europe as liaison with Eastern Mennonite Missions. Over the years, he enjoyed many trips to Europe to visit Erica's family, and they also traveled to various other places around the world. He enjoyed reading, working on his computer, doing puzzles, reliving memories of his RTUF days, and spending time with his family.

Frank is survived by his wife Erica, by his nine children: Louise, wife of Bill Longenecker, Montfort, WI; Sylvia, New York, NY; Hilda, wife of Wes Farmer, Lancaster; Ed, husband of Phyllis, Woodland Park, CO; Eric, husband of Karen, Olympia Fields, IL; Mim, wife of Ron Byler, Goshen, IN; Peter, husband of Sandy, Leola, PA; Dorothy, Goshen, IN; and Philip, Lititz, and by 18 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by four brothers, Walter, James (Bud), Warren, and Paul, and one sister, Evelyn Longenecker.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by his brothers Jay, Raymond, Allen, and Ernest, his sister Anna, and his son-in-law, Chet Wenger.

His funeral will be held on Tuesday, October 14, 2014 at 4 p.m. at New Holland Mennonite Church, 18 Western Ave., New Holland. Private interment will be in New Holland Mennonite Cemetery. A viewing will be held at the church on Tuesday from 1:30 to 4 p.m. If desired, contributions in Frank’s memory may be sent to the Frank & Erica Shirk Endowed Scholarship, checks payable to Eastern Mennonite University, 1200 Park Ave., Harrisonburg, VA 22802-2462. The Groff-High Funeral Home, New Holland is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be posted at www.groffeckenroth.com.