Remembering Winifred Saner

Published: June 11, 2026

Jan. 15, 1940 – May 17, 2026 

Winifred Saner of Elkhart, Indiana, a frequent volunteer at AMBS, passed away on May 17, 2026, at age 86. She served as Assistant Housing Director for AMBS on an as-needed basis (1995–2007) while her husband, Leroy Saner, worked in AMBS’s Development Office (1994–2010), first as Associate Director of Development and later as Director of Development. 

Winifred is remembered for her warm, positive and vibrant presence; her strong and consistent support of AMBS; and her hospitality in hosting seminary guests over the years. In her work of furnishing apartments and preparing them for students, she formed relationships with many students — international students in particular. She regularly volunteered to help host seminary events, with her last one being AMBS’s Commencement Service reception on May 2, 2026.

“Winifred was a faithful and gracious volunteer, helping wherever she was needed — always with a smile,” said Gay Kauffman, AMBS Volunteer Coordinator. “In addition to frequently helping in the kitchen on campus, she often invited students for meals at her home. She will be missed!”

Tara Swartzendruber-Landis, AMBS Caterer in Residence, reflected, “In the year I was able to work with Winifred, I always enjoyed talking with her about what things she was preserving out of her garden, as well as the great food she would prepare when she was hosting guests at her house. She was always willing to help with any kitchen task I asked her to work on, and her years of knowledge about past events helped me immensely. Her willingness to volunteer whenever I needed help make the workload easier to manage in my first few months at AMBS.”

A memorial service will be held at Hively Avenue Mennonite Church, Elkhart, Indiana, on July 1, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. ET.

— Annette Brill Bergstresser, AMBS

Obituary

Winifred Ann Saner
Jan. 15, 1940 – May 17, 2026 

Winifred Ann (Kaufman) Saner, age 86, passed away unexpectedly but peacefully in her home on Sunday, May 17, 2026.

Winifred was born on Jan. 15, 1940, to Wesley and Alice (Graber) Kaufman on their family farm near Marion, South Dakota. Her younger sister, Flora Jane, arrived two years later. Winifred’s family was actively involved in Salem Mennonite Church of Freeman, South Dakota, where she was later baptized and became a member. The loss of her sister to polio at a young age was difficult for her, but with close cousins and an independent spirit, she enjoyed her childhood on the farm.

Winifred attended country school near their farm, graduated high school at Freeman Academy in 1958, and completed an Associate in Arts degree at Freeman Junior College. She taught first and second grades for two years at Scotland, South Dakota, after which she went to Bethel College in Newton, Kansas, to complete her Bachelor of Arts in elementary education. In 1964, she was recruited to teach fourth grade in Markham, Illinois, and she spent three years working at the school and supporting the mission of Markham Mennonite Church. Moving overseas to Germany, she volunteered for a year at a Mennonite Children’s Home, followed by two more years working at the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) office in Frankfurt.

On returning home to South Dakota, Winifred accepted a position as bookkeeper at Freeman Junior College. It was there that she met her future spouse, Leroy Saner, who was teaching at the college. They were married on Aug. 11, 1971. They had two sons: Lelyn Duane on Feb. 14, 1973, and Kerry Alan on April 27, 1975. 

While raising her children, Winifred served as treasurer and bookkeeper for the Northern District Conference of the General Conference Mennonite Church. This evolved into long-term employment and she helped open a conference office with the conference ministers. During these years, she was also instrumental in establishing an MCC Self Help Crafts and Thrift store in Freeman. She organized off-site sales of the crafts around the region and was later one of the leads for planning and construction of a new building that would house both the thriving store and the conference office under one roof. Throughout this time, she and her husband were active members of the Salem-Zion Mennonite Church of Freeman.

Winifred stayed involved in all of these endeavors until 1994, when Leroy accepted a position in the Development Office of Associated (now Anabaptist) Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana. They soon found a new church family at nearby Hively Avenue Mennonite Church. Winifred worked for Mennonite Board of Missions for a time before accepting the job of Administrative Secretary at Hively Church, where she worked for almost 20 years. Both before and after retirement, she continued volunteering for MCC — serving on the boards of both The Depot (the local craft and thrift store) and the annual Michiana Mennonite Relief Sale, as well as in numerous other activities.

Winifred will be remembered for her lifelong dedication to service and for her warm hospitality. She thrived on being outdoors and socializing with people. She took great joy from working in her flower and vegetable gardens, preparing food in her kitchen, and sharing meals and fellowship with others around her dining room table. She loved sewing and crafting quilts — an art she learned from her mother and grandmother — and making music was an important part of her life. 

Winifred’s family and heritage were also very dear to her. She spent many hours scrapbooking, collecting and keeping genealogical records, and networking with extended family during travels. She and Leroy enjoyed traveling globally together, visiting the home countries of friends they met through the seminary, places their children lived and worked, and many scenic destinations.

Winifred was preceded in death by her sister and her parents. She celebrated nearly 55 years of loving partnership with her husband, Leroy Saner. She cherished spending time with her sons, Lelyn Saner (Silver Spring, Maryland) and Kerry Saner-Harvey; daughter-in-law Jennifer Saner-Harvey; and grandchildren Idonea and Halid Saner-Harvey (all from Winnipeg, Manitoba). She also leaves one brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Stanley and Karen Saner, and their family from Kansas, as well as many friends. All who knew her continue to celebrate her life with love and many fond memories.

A memorial service will be held at Hively Avenue Mennonite Church, Elkhart, Indiana, on July 1, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. Donations can be made in honor of Winifred to Mennonite Central Committee (mcc.org) or a charity of your choice. Interment will be at Salem-Zion Mennonite Church in Freeman, South Dakota, on July 19, 2026.

Located in Elkhart, Indiana, on ancestral land of the Potawatomi and Miami peoples, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary is a learning community with an Anabaptist vision, offering theological education for learners both on campus and at a distance as well as a wide array of lifelong learning programs — all with the goal of educating followers of Jesus Christ to be leaders for God’s reconciling mission in the world. ambs.edu

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