Roy Swartzentruber

Roy Levi Swartzentruber, 33, beloved husband of Jana Kaye (Hostetler), was born Feb. 24, 1983, to Truman and Nellie (Kempf) Swartzentruber at Bolivar. He passed away on Nov. 17, 2016, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. He was holding a flashlight for Torry White while he was welding the fuel tank of his truck, which exploded, directly hitting Roy, and bursting into flames. He was severely burned, covering 75% of his body with third-degree burns.

He accepted Christ and was baptized in his youth and was a faithful member of the Cedar Springs A.M. Church at the time of his death.

He and his family lived in Buffalo until August 2013, when they moved to Cedar Springs, where a new branch of their home church was started.

On July 27, 2003, he was united in marriage to Jana Kay Hostetler, daughter of Donnie and Susie Hostetler, at Pleasant View A.M. Church in Buffalo. They shared the joys and sorrows of life together for over 13 years. To their union were born six children, four sons and two daughters – Tyson Layke, 12, Makenzi Dawn, 10, Rocky Jordan, 8, Dexter Brant, 6, Karter Jackson, 3, and Angel Baby Kalli Brooke, born May 7, 2015.

Also surviving are his parents, Truman and Nellie Swartzentruber; mother-in-law, Susie Hostetler; three brothers – Ronnie and wife, Celesta – Buffalo, Jason and wife, Edith – El Dorado Springs and Marlin and wife, Tara – El Dorado Springs; four sisters – Grace and husband, Vaughn Miller – Halfway, Elsie and husband, Leland Hostetler – Buffalo, Emily and special friend, Mark Shrock – Halfway, Estella and husband, Marvin Swartzentruber – Halfway, Monte’s girlfriend, Chelsea Hosteteler – El Dorado Springs; 11 nieces and nephews; maternal grandmother, Joy Kempf; 13 uncles, five aunts, and a host of cousins and friends.

Preceding Roy in death were one infant daughter, Kalli Brooke, who died from CDH, at 11 days old; two brothers, Jesse David, who passed away June 11, 2009, age 21, and Monte Joe, who passed away July 4, 2016, age 23; father-in-law, Donnie Hostetler, who died 1 month and 2 days before Roy’s passing, from pneumonia following heart surgeries; paternal grandparents Olan and Dorothy Ellen Swartzentruber; maternal grandparents Eldon and Rachel Kempf; three uncles – Marvin and Calvin Swartzentruber and Earl Levi Kempf; two aunts, Grace Katherine and Minnie Irene Kempf; and six cousins.

Roy was a very caring husband, Pop, and son. He spent hours working and playing with Jana and the children. His family was very important to him, and he had a deep concern for his young family’s spiritual welfare, praying for each child by name in his daily prayer. It was a special treat for the boys and Makenzi to ride with him on the truck, hauling gravel. Dexter and Karter rode with him all day on the day of the accident. Very recently he took Tyson and Rocky hunting in the woods close to their home.

A special thank you to Tobe and Grant and the others who helped put out the fire and tryed to save his life.

The family expresses a heartfelt thank you to all for their help, prayers and sympathy during our loved one’s death.

Services were held Sunday, Nov; 20, at Cedar Springs Amish Mennonite School. Local arrangements were under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home.