Elmer Stauffer passed peacefully from this life to his eternal home in Heaven on January 9, 2026. He was 99 years old; just 2 months and 2 days short of his 100th birthday and slightly over a year after Mildred, his wife of 75 years passed away.
Elmer Stauffer, son of Rudy L. and Sylvia (Steiner) Stauffer, was born on March 11, 1926, in his parents’ home in Wayne County, Ohio. He grew up as a preacher’s son in the Smithville, Ohio area. He attended Smithville schools until his senior year of high school. He graduated from Eastern Mennonite High School in 1944. He returned to farm near Smithville and married Mildred Nussbaum in 1949 at Wooster Mennonite Church. In December of 1950 they moved to a farm near Chesterville, Ohio. In March 1953, their home was destroyed by fire, and they moved to Mt. Gilead, Ohio where they lived for 6 years while Elmer drove truck and continued to farm. In May 1959, Elmer and Mildred purchased a farm in Knox County near Fredericktown. They raised their 6 children there while Elmer farmed and drove a livestock truck. They were charter members of Gilead Mennonite Church near Chesterville and faithfully served in a variety of roles. In later years they worshipped at Salem Methodist Church, Fredericktown. In 2018, they moved to Orrvilla retirement home in Orrville, Ohio.
Elmer was known for his kind and gentle ways, his contagious sense of humor and easy-going smile. He loved telling jokes but would always start laughing before the punch line and could hardly finish the joke! Both Elmer and Mildred took their faith seriously helping neighbors and opening their home to others many times for meals, babysitting, chores or helping out in times of need.
In addition to his parents, Elmer was preceded in death by his wife Mildred, daughter Kathy Ashcraft, brothers Clyde and Milton Stauffer , half-sister Linda Stauffer and brother-in-law Art Kandel.
He is survived by his children, Russ (Rose) Stauffer, Ken (Lois) Stauffer, Rosie (Bill) Hochstetler, Marj (Jeff) Weller and Stan (Beth) Stauffer and son-in-law Wayne Ashcraft. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. In addition, he is survived by his brother Pete Stauffer and sister Mary Kandel and half-siblings Rudy Stauffer and Lois Ramer.
Snyder Funeral Homes in Mt. Gilead Ohio will serve the family. Memorial Contributions can be made to Ohio Hospice LifeCare, 1900 Akron Rd., Wooster, OH 44691.
A memorial service for both Elmer and Mildred will be held at a later date.
Funeral Home: Snyder Craven Funeral Home – Mt. Gilead Ohio
Website: https://www.snyderfuneralhomes.com/contact-us/mount-gilead-ohio-craven-chapel