Marjorie Fast Schowalter

Marjorie Fast (Franz) Schowalter died at the age of 84 on Feb. 4 at Kidron Bethel Village in North Newton Kan., where she had resided for the past five years.

She had been an elementary music teacher, an accomplished pianist and costume seamstress prior to the onset of crippling arthritis. She received her music degree from Bethel College in N. Newton, Kan., with additional studies at Wichita State University.

Her first husband, Duane Schowalter, a Boeing engineer, preceded her in death in 1987.

In 2000, she married Earl Franz of Lind, a former friend from Bethel College days.

Also preceding her death were her parents Dr. Henry and Ethyl Fast, and an eight-year-old sister Elinor.

She is survived by her husband Earl; sons, Tim (Cathy) Schowalter, Steve (Marna) Schowalter; daughters Cynthia and Stephanie; two granddaughters, Shannon and Corin, a sister Florence and Merle Siebert; a brother Richard (Mary Ann) Fast; three step-daughters Yvonne Redelfs, Gail Hudson and Jeanette Filan; seven step-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren.

Memorial services are being held in the Bethel College Mennonite Church in N. Newton Kansas on Saturday, February 23rd at 11 a.m. She has donated her body to the University of Kansas Medical Center.

Memorials can be sent to “Bethel College Christian Education Student Scholarship Fund.”