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In Memoriam: Jennie Lee Peters (Jan. 19, 1936 – Sept. 13, 2021)

Jennie Lee Peters was born to John and Irma Schmidt on Jan. 19, 1936 in Goessel, Kansas. She died suddenly at home from an apparent heart attack on Sept. 13, 2021. 

Jennie was the second of four children and grew up on a farm near Newton, Kansas. This was during the Depression which made things difficult, but she never lacked food or love. She loved the farm and farm animals. She had her own beloved horse for many years. 

After high school, she attended Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas to earn an AA degree and become a teacher. She taught in a one-room school, where she had to start her own fire in a wood stove, for two years. While at Bethel, she met her future husband. She married Virgil Peters on May 27, 1957.

Jennie accompanied her husband through medical school in Kansas City and two years of medical training in Wichita, Kansas. The couple then moved to Taiwan with their three young children (Tim, Jerilee, and Mark) for three years of medical mission work. Upon the family’s return to the United States, Virgil began medical practice in Mount Angel, Oregon. Through it all, Jennie was a faithful supporter of her husband and family, and she went on to teach release-time Bible classes in Mount Angel for 20 years.

Survivors include her husband of 64 years, Virgil, and children: Tim (Sarah), Jerilee (Michael) Avery, Mark (Barbara), Dawna, and Janna; and grandchildren: Faith, Jonathan, and Benjamin Avery, Matthew, Rachel, Isaac and Katie Peters. She is also survived by her sister Donna (Irwin) Koehn, her brother Stan (Mildred) Schmidt, and her brother-in-law Homer Andres. She was preceded in death by her parents John and Irma Schmidt, her sister Betty (Schmidt) Andres, and her grandson Luke Peters.

Visitation was held at Unger Funeral Home in Mount Angel on Sept. 24. Her burial was at Zion Mennonite Church in Hubbard, Oregon on Sept. 25.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to: Mennonite Central Committee, P.O. Box 500, Akron, Pennsylvania 117501-9989. Assisting the family is Unger Funeral Chapel – Mount Angel.