The Florence Rheinheimer-Harnish and David M. Harnish International Student Nursing Scholarship Fund

Florence Marie Rheinheimer-Harnish was born near Shipshewana, Indiana on January 15, 1930. She attended Goshen College from 1948-1953, and the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA from 1960-1961. Her graduation from Goshen College’s first nursing class rendered her a Bachelor of Science in Nursing; she received a Master of Nursing Education degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

In 1956 Florence and David M. Harnish were married at Forks Mennonite Church, near Middlebury, IN. David attended Eastern Mennonite College (now University) from 1951-1955, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree. He also attended Jefferson Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, from which he received both a medical degree, with a primary certification in surgery.

Florence and David, and their three children, Marie, David R., and Anne, volunteered for Mennonite Central Committee of Akron, PA, and lived and served at Ilembula Lutheran Hospital, in Tanzania from 1967 to 1970. Florence wrote a book about their experiences, entitled A Psalm of Joy and Lamentation, which was published in 2006.

Since their return stateside in 1970, they have lived and served in the Akron-Ephrata area of Pennsylvania. They are active members of Akron Mennonite Church, Akron, PA.

Florence has worked as a nursing instructor and in other nursing positions. She has also raised llamas for about fifteen years.

David worked as a surgeon at Ephrata Community Hospital for over 30 years.