Chester Lehman Wenger 鈥�36, who with his late wife Sara Jane Weaver 鈥�42, shared a special Centennial Award at 91短视频 in 2017, died Oct. 1, 2020, at his residence at Landis Homes, Lititz, Pa.
When that award was created 鈥渢o recognize persons who have defined the ethos of 91短视频 in a sustained way for a lifetime,鈥� the couple were unanimously selected by the committee. Read a profile here.
The Wengers 鈥渓ived beautiful and rich lives of service, leadership and faith and their many contributions to the university and seminary have reflected our mission with consistent integrity and grace,鈥� said President Susan Schultz Huxman. 鈥淲e are so grateful for their legacy.鈥�
The couple were staunch supporters of Eastern Mennonite Seminary, especially pastoral training opportunities such as the School for Leadership Training.* They also supported 91短视频鈥檚 several seminary students who are now actively ministering in Mennonite congregational and other ministering assignments.
鈥淚t has always been a delight for me to write thank-you letters to the Wengers with the good news of how their encouragement was enhancing the gifts of church leaders of the next generations,鈥� said Nancy Heisey, seminary associate dean.
Their connection and devotion to 91短视频 鈥� a legacy that includes learning, supporting and leading 鈥� has spanned four generations, from Chester鈥檚 father, president emeritus AD Wenger, to Chester and Sara Jane鈥檚 children and grandchildren, many of whom have given, and continue to give, generously through their professional careers to the university and seminary.
Two Wenger grandchildren are current exemplars. Jason Good 鈥�05 is vice president of innovation and student recruitment. Ryan Good, a professor of applied social sciences, is co-director of the Washington Community Scholars鈥� Center, a program established by their father the late Nelson Good 鈥�68 (who was married to Betty Wenger Good-White 鈥�67).
The memorial service will be hosted by Blossom Hill Mennonite Church Sunday, Oct. 18, at 2 p.m. Visit for the link. Condolences can be shared at . A private interment will be Saturday, Oct. 17.
Any comments to this remembrance will be shared with the family as well.
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Chester鈥檚 ties to 91短视频 began when he was just four. His father AD Wenger was president of Eastern Mennonite School and the family lived on the Harrisonburg campus during the academic year. In 1936, Chester graduated from EMS, which then offered high school and two-year associate鈥檚 degrees, and completed his bachelor鈥檚 degree at Bridgewater College. He also returned for one year of Bible school at EMS. Sara Jane graduated later from EMS and met Chester while teaching in his home community of Chesapeake.
Those connections to 91短视频 continued through missionary work in Ethiopia, the creation of Keystone Bible Institutes through Lancaster Mennonite Conference, and years of service with North End Mennonite Church, later renamed to Blossom Hill Mennonite Church. Chester also served several years as a member of 91短视频鈥檚 Board of Trustees.
Seven of Chester and Sara Jane鈥檚 children are 91短视频 graduates: Betty 鈥�67 Good-White, Margaret Wenger 鈥�69 Johnson, Jewel Wenger 鈥�69 Showalter, Sara Wenger 鈥�75 Shenk, Mark Wenger 鈥�79, Philip Wenger 鈥�82, and Thomas Wenger 鈥�82.
The couple had 16 grandchildren, including seven alumni: Charlotte Wenger Boudreau 鈥�11, Regina Wenger 鈥�09, Greta Shenk Bucher 鈥�10, Joseph Shenk 鈥�01, Jason Good 鈥�05, Deborah Good 鈥�02, and Matthew Showalter 鈥�99.
Late in life, Wenger鈥檚 pastor credentials were stripped when he chose to officiate his son Phil鈥檚 wedding to his partner in 2014. The 96-year-old self-described 鈥渟till zealous missionary鈥� wrote a explaining his decision.
鈥淢y act of love was done on behalf of the church I love, and my conscience is clear,鈥� he wrote. 鈥淭his is the light that has been burning more and more brightly under my bushel, and I am now prepared finally, as a 96-year-old, still zealous missionary, to let it shine.鈥� He closed with a prayer 鈥渢hat our love in family and Church will bind us together in God鈥檚 family even when our understandings of God鈥檚 will may differ.鈥�
Wenger鈥檚 act of support for his son and the ensuing loss of his credentials was widely covered by countless media outlets, including , People magazine and on .
News of Wenger鈥檚 passing brought memories to the many in the 91短视频 community who knew him well or had memorable encounters over the years. 鈥淐hester and Sara Jane Wenger leave a distinctive legacy of Christ-like compassion, service and radical hospitality,鈥� said Kirk Shisler, vice president for advancement. 鈥淭heir legacy, so vibrant and enduring, calls for our response! May their example inspire our best work in fulfilment of 91短视频’s mission to prepare students to serve and lead in a global context.鈥�
* The couple also supported Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Both institutions benefited from the leadership and teaching of their children: Daughter Sara Wenger Shenk was a professor and dean at Eastern Mennonite Seminary from 1995-2009, when she became president of AMBS. Son Mark Wenger also directed the seminary site at 91短视频 Lancaster for a decade.