Obituaries
Allan G. Eitzen
Allan George Eitzen, 80, of Lititz, Pa., died of cancer on August 31, 2008. He was born May 25, 1928, to Agatha Warkentin Eitzen and George P. Eitzen of Mountain Lake, Minnesota.
After studies at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota, Allan moved to Scottdale, PA to work as an illustrator for Herald Press. At the publishing company, he met a young woman, Ruth Carper, who was developing educational materials. Only a month later, Ruth left for 4 years in Europe to work for Mennonite Central Committee. Allan kept in contact with her by mail and, after her return to the US, they married (July 12, 1954). In the meantime, he had earned a degree in illustration at Philadelphia College of Art (now University of the Arts).
Allan and his wife moved to a country home in Barto, PA, and had five children. He supported the family as a freelance illustrator of children’s books, magazines, and textbooks, and was kept busy caring for the country property and acting as family chauffeur. When the kids left home, he had more time to devote to his artistic medium of choice, printmaking.
Allan continued working professionally as an illustrator until 2007, and as a printmaker almost to the time of his death. In addition to his artistic pursuits, Allan was passionate about literature, classical music and jazz, travel and, above all, his family. His sense of fun, his optimism, and his enthusiastic spirit will be sorely missed.
Survivors include his five children – Hilda, Dirk, Ann, Laura and John – and eight grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on September 28, at 3:00 (with visitation beginning at 2:00), at East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church, 432 E. Chestnut St., Lancaster, PA 17602. Arrangements by the Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home and Chapel Inc. Lititz, PA 560 -5100. To send an online condolence, Please visit www.snyderfuneralhome.com.
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Ann, Hilda, Dirk, Laura, John, and Grandchildren,
What a pleasure and privilege for us to have known your father and grandfather, if only for a short time. During those ten or so days, he enriched our lives. Allan added interest, enthusiasm, knowledge, spirit, fun, and adventure to our trip to Italy. What an interesting and kind man!
You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Dave and Glenda Strong
To Hilda, Dirk, Ann, Laura and John, spouses and grandchildren,
As a SS class at East Chestnut St. Mennonite Church, we had only the period since your mother’s death to learn to know you dad and granddad. Almost all of that time he was battling some kind of major health challenge, and yet, as we visited him when he was in hospital, he never complained and appeared gentle in spirit.
Dirk and Myrna, it has been a difficult journey for you and the family, but thank you, from all of us, for carefully and diligently walking with your dad through his multiple unknowns of this past year plus.
This weekend (Sept 12-14) we are, as a class, going to Bethany Beach, DE. Weeks ago we agreed upon reading Randy Alcorn’s book Heaven, to discuss at the beach, and he was assigned a section to report on, about the time he was beginning to know incredibly dizziness from his brain tumors. As we gather, without Allan among us in person, we will be praying God’s comfort for each of you.
Bob and Nancy Martin, reps of the 434 SS Class
Dear Family of Allan and Ruth:
Our deep condolences to you on the passing of now both your dear parents. I, Sally, have enjoyed Cousin Ruth since childhood when I begged her to draw pictures for me. Then, when she and Allan married, Ken and I shared the same wedding day….June 12, 1954. Since then, we have visited numerous times when we were "back East", getting together for lunch or dinner. The last time that we were together was during Alan’s art exhibition at the Mennonite Heritage Center. Beautiful work!! We purchased "The Peaceable Kingdom" which hangs in our bedroom. We see it morning, evening and in between and think of Allan and Ruth…. two beautiful people whom we have loved and admired through the years and will miss very much. But we will see them again…. Praise God!
Ken and Sally Horst, Meadow Vista, California
