Irvin Harms was born September 18, 1928 at 3:00 pm. He died at Pine Village on Monday, November 8, 2021 at the age of 93. He was born in Harvey County to Leonard O. and Martha Penner Harms. He grew to manhood on a farm east of Newton, except for four years when the family lived at Newport, Washington. He graduated from Candy Grade School but never completed high school. Due to the family needing help, he started working for various farmers in the community. Upon confession of his faith he was baptized June 13, 1943 by Rev. J. J. Voth. He joined Gnadenberg (Grace Hill) Church, later changing his membership to Eden Mennonite Church of Moundridge where he served as a trustee and usher for many years.
June 13, 1947 he married Evelyn Stucky at the Eden Mennonite Church by Rev. Peter J. Dyck. May 5, 1952 Evelyn was called home to her Lord and Saviour leaving two young children, Thomas Dean and Barbara Jean. June 9, 1953 the family was completed with the marriage to Evelyn Friesen at the First Mennonite Church in Hillsboro, by Rev. Arnold Nickel. To this union, two more children were added, David Alan and Carolyn Jane.
He enjoyed serving on the board of the Kansas State Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) as well as the National Board. He made many friends while serving in MDS. Some of the states that he helped in were Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Texas, Colorado, Kentucky, South Dakota, Mississippi, and Kansas. He also served on the Credit Union Board in Moundridge for 9 years.
Irvin enjoyed farming for many years as well as many years helping with carpenter jobs. Surviving Irvin’s passing are his wife, Evelyn (Friesen) Harms; and children, Thomas (Tom) and wife Darlene of McPherson, Barbara and husband John D. Darney of N. Jackson, Ohio, David and wife Cathy of Corry, PA and Carolyn and husband Kyle Janzen of Hesston; 10 grandchildren, Craig Harms, Christine Schrag, Timothy Darney, John Darney, Jessica McAllister, Julia Darney, Lindsey Koehn, Michael Janzen, Matthew Harms, and Joshua Harms; and 15 great-grandchildren.
Preceding him in death was his first wife, Evelyn Stucky; parents, Leonard O. and Martha Penner Harms; stepmother, Elizabeth (Schmidt) Harms; and his brothers and sisters, Victor Harms, Ruth Wiebe, Elmer Harms, Lillian Leppke, Sylvester Harms, Willard Harms, & Velma Fast.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 Friday, November 19, 2021 at Eden Mennonite Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Friends may pay their respects and sign the guest register from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m., with the family greeting friends from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, November 18, at Moundridge Funeral Home.