Menno Paul Gaeddert was born in Buhler, KS on February 21, 1928. His grandparents migrated from the Molotchna Colony of South Prussia, now Ukraine, and his parents, Gustav Gaeddert and Anna Ratzlaff were both born in Buhler, KS. He was born into a devout Mennonite family along with two brothers, Roland and Sam.
Influenza took his mother when he was thirteen. Due to her death and the Depression, Menno’s father moved the family to Reedley, CA to be next to Menno’s Uncle. Soon after high school graduation, Menno moved back to Kansas to attend Bethel College. He took a break from college to work with MCC in Washington, DC at a boys home as a guidance counselor. Immediately afterwards, he served two and a half years in Espelkamp, Germany with PAX, building homes for refugees from WWII. Upon his return, he completed his business degree at the University of Kansas and married Jessie Brown on August 25, 1952. Subsequently, he sold insurance for Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company (BMI). After starting in Newton, BMI asked him to start a new branch in Kansas City, KS and later in Denver, CO. In 1974, he started his own Christ centered business, Gaeddert Insurance Agency, in Denver. Although he downsized his business in his later years, he was still doing business when he was taken ill several weeks ago. He was 94 years young when he passed on January 27, 2023.
Menno and Jessie were active members of the Arvada Mennonite Church and participated in the Western District and General Conference of the Mennonite Church (now MC USA). He was active with global projects through Mennonite Central Committee, Mennonite Mission Network and Mennonite Economic Development Association, and prayed daily for missionaries. Menno helped start the Rainbow Mennonite Church in Kansas City in 1957. Also, Menno and Jessie served with MCC in Taiwan 1989-1991.
Menno and Jessie were passionate Gideons. Menno served God through the Gideons for 65 years. He helped place Bibles in motels and handed out Bibles to students. Daily prayer and Bible study were disciplines he loved and made habit. In addition to his roles at Arvada Mennonite Church, he was part of the Lutheran Church Thursday night Bible study group which was just a short walk from his house. He regularly attended Sunday morning services at both churches. Menno has a 30 gallon pin for blood donations, and as a last act of generosity, he donated his body for medical student education. Eventually, he will be cremated and inurned next to Jessie, his wife of 57 years.
Survivors include his three sons, Dwayne (Patti) Gaeddert in Golden, CO, Don (Marie) Gaeddert in Larned, KS, and Ken (Debra) Gaeddert in Hesston, KS. and son-in-law, Ray Wittwer in Jefferson City, CO; nine grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jessie, in 2010, and daughter, Diane Wittwer (Ray), in 2018.
The funeral will be held February 18, 11 am at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 2100 Wadsworth Blvd, Lakewood, CO. Faspa (a Mennonite gathering meal) will be held after the service. All are invited to the funeral and the meal. Memorial gifts may be given to the Gideons, Mennonite Christian Hospital in Hualian, Taiwan, and/or Mennonite Mission Network.
