Donald Seiler

Donald Seiler, Macon, MS

Donald Seiler, 91, of Macon, MS passed away Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at Oakwood Manor in Brooksville, MS.  Funeral services will be held at Southern Star Mennonite Church in Geiger, Al at 10:15 a.m. Saturday, June 16, 2018. Interment will follow in Souls Chapel Cemetery.  Visitation will be held at the church Friday from 6-8 p.m. Cockrell Funeral Home of Macon is entrusted with arrangements.

My husband, our father, and "papa", Donald P. Seiler, was born June 7, 1927, in Fulton County, Ohio, at home, to Amandus and Sylvia (Schneider) Seiler.  He peacefully passed away at Oakwood Manor, Brooksville, Mississippi, on June 13, 2018, reaching the age of 91 years.

He spent the first seven years of his life in Ohio before moving to Gratiot County, Michigan, where he spent his growing up years. He attended school at Carson City, Michigan.  At the age of 14 he gave his heart to the Lord and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, by Min. Harry Wenger. He remained faithful to these vows to the end.

He found his life's companion in me, Vada Mininger. We were married on Nov. 3, 1946 by Uncle Francis Peters. We shared the joys and sorrows of life for over 71 years. With the exception of several years that we lived in Florida in the early 1950"s our home was in Michigan, until we moved to Mississippi in 1968. He enjoyed being involved in the early years of the new congregation at Macon. Dad provided well for us as a family. We remember many lessons he taught by example as we worked together on the family dairy and farm. After retiring, he continued to farm a few acres of hay until we moved to Oakwood.

In 1956 he was ordained into the gospel ministry by Min. Glenn Litwiller, at Ithica, Michigan. He upheld the Church and faithfully preached the gospel for over 50 years. He was a true shepherd and many people benefited from his shepherd's heart. His life was one of temperance and stability. His gifts were much used by the Church as he labored in counseling through some challenging years.

We were invited to help pastor the Southern Star Congregation at Geiger, Alabama, in January, 1984.  He was used and appreciated in that capacity until he retired from active ministry.

In 1987 he answered the call to be a father to the young ministers in the church in the Philippines. On the eve of their departure he suffered a heart attack, changing their plans. This  was greatly disappointing, however he felt God had extended his time, and soon the door opened for him to serve as a shepherd in various congregations, including Ukraine. This was a fulfilling time for him.

The family deeply appreciates the tender loving care he received at Oakwood Manor, and from Kindred Hospice.

Those left to follow his Godly example and cherish precious memories are his wife, Vada; three sons and two daughters: Michael and Carolyn; Patrick and Darlene, all of Macon, Mississippi; Marcia and Roland Koehn, Epes, Alabama; Clark and Carol, Carol and Kerry Giesbrecht, Macon; seventeen grandchildren, thirty-six great-grandchildren; a special family friend, Ang Nichols; two sisters: Lois Buck, Marilyn and Bob Haynes, all of Carson City, Michigan; brother-in-law, Robert Mininger, Moundridge, Kansas; two sisters-in-law; Pauline Harms, Brooksville, Mississippi; and Elgene and Michael Martinez, San Antonio, Texas.

He is proceeded in death by a grandson, Kevin Seiler, one brother William and one brother-in-law, Eugene Buck.