The Levi C. and Irene Hartzler Scholarship Fund for Education Majors

Levi and Irene (Mayercik) Hartzler met at the Chicago Home Mission. Irene’s family had emigrated from Czechoslovakia settling near the Mission. Irene became a member of the Mennonite church through the Sunday School work of the Home Mission. Levi went to Chicago to work and the Home Mission became his religious and social center.  After graduating from Goshen College, Levi returned to the Home Mission where he was pastor-superintendent until 1937 when he went to Spain to participate in a Spanish relief program. Irene was very active at the Mission, working with young children as their teacher and friend.

Levi and Irene were married in the fall of 1939 and soon moved to Goshen where Levi was an English professor and Dean of Men at Goshen College. They became active in the College Mennonite Church. Irene was an advocate for young children, starting a Sunday School class for young children. Levi was ordained deacon of CMC in 1943. In 1949 the family moved to Elkhart to begin Levi’s tenure with the Mennonite Board of Missions. He later became an English teacher at Elkhart High School. Irene was a homemaker and receptionist for a doctor’s practice. Levi and Irene had two children, Carol and Ron.

Education was very important to Levi and Irene. They encouraged their children and grandchildren to see the importance of education. Both Carol and Ron graduated from Goshen College, Carol in 1965 with a degree in elementary education and Ron in 1971 with a degree in religion. The fund was created by Dwight and Carol Grieser in honor of Levi and Irene Hartzler as a way of continuing their desire to help others with their education at Goshen College.