Mary A. Detweiler

Mary Alice Rogers Detweiler was born March 28, 1924 to Irving H. Rogers and Vivian Lois Burroughs Rogers.  She was third in the line-up of nine children.  Peoria, Illinois is where it all began and was her home until she left at the age of 18.  Prior to that she spent the lion’s share of a year canvassing the pedestrians traversing Chicago’s streets and house to house, selling magazines.  Subsequent to that she worked in a factory in Peoria before heading out West. 

She met Robert Detweiler in Texas and they were married March 31, 1945 in Laredo.  From Texas they moved to the Northwest, and through a sequence of transformative events, decided to take Bible studies from Pastor Carrol Aimes.  Mary’s renewed commitment and Bob’s newfound understanding led them both to choose to be rebaptized/baptized as Seventh-day Adventists.

Bob felt the call to pastoral ministry and followed suit by attending Walla Walla College from 1947 to 1949 and Emmanuel Missionary College from 1949 till he graduated in 1951.  Their first son, Curtis, was born in December of 1947 and a second, Stan, in August of 1949.  Mary spent most of her time taking care of the little ones while Bob was in school and worked when she could to help defray expenses. 

Their life of ministry together started in West Frankfort, Illinois, continuing 9 years in the Illinois Conference at various venues; a little over a year in the Ohio Conference at Willoughby; and finishing with 10 months in the West Virginia Conference where Bob was killed in an automobile accident. 

Since she had completed just an eighth grade education followed by 24 years of experience, she took her GED and moved up to Berrien Springs, Michigan, enrolling in Andrews University.  Mary graduated from college the same year her youngest son graduated from academy.  Following graduation she served 23 years as an elementary education teacher nurturing students on their academic and kingdom journeys.  She encouraged and fostered excellence, resulting in countless young people choosing to give and do their best. 

Following retirement in May of 1990, she settled in Gentry, Arkansas on the Ozark Academy campus and tutored students, primarily in math.  It was a volunteer position, but the students loved her so that they dedicated an annual to her at the end of one of her years of service.  After 14 or 15 years, she really retired, moved to Galien, Michigan and lived in an apartment in a house built by her youngest son and daughter-in-law.  She enjoyed activities that continued to stimulate her brain so spent a lot of time reading.  She also kept in touch with many friends through letters and eventually emails. 

After a fall resulting in a hip fracture, she declined physically and was eventually placed on hospice at home.  While on a respite leave at Royalton Manor, St. Joseph, Michigan, she fell asleep peacefully the afternoon of October 8, 2016.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert C. Detweiler; her eldest son, Curtis Mark Detweiler; and six of her siblings. 

She is survived by her twin brothers and their wives, Henry and Ruth Rogers of Edelstein, Illinois, and Harry and Ingrid Rogers of Berrien Springs; her youngest son, Stan and his wife, Martha; two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. 

She loved her Savior above all, and her family, as well as church family.  Could she, she would invite you to renew your commitment to or accept for the first time, Jesus Christ as your personal Savior.  Mary awaits the trumpet sound where she will be united with her Savior and family.  

Her memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, October 23, 2016 at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in La Porte, Indiana.

Memorial Service:
La Porte Seventh-day Adventist Church
1480 Boyd Blvd., La Porte, IN 46350