Millersburg Resident and Community Matriarch Mary Schlabach Dies at 75

Mary S. Schlabach, aged 75, of Millersburg passed away peacefully at her residence on Sunday, December 21, 2025, after a short illness. A homemaker and member of the Old Order Amish Church, she had been legally blind since 1971 and over the years cultivated many friendships and connections with others who also lived with disabilities.

Born November 11, 1950, to the late Samuel and Verna Bowman, Mary married David A. Schlabach on September 20, 1973. He survives her. She is also survived by two daughters, Dena Marie Wengerd of Mt. Hope and Betty Kline of the home, along with eight grandchildren and an extended network of siblings and in law relatives who remain active in the county. The full list of surviving family members includes Leon Wengerd, Nikki Wengerd, Alexis Miller, Eli Miller, LeAnne Wengerd, Jonathan Kline, David Kline, Matthew Kline, Emily Kline, Maria Kline, Anna Miller, Clara Yoder, Harvey Bowman, Lizzie Ann Yoder, Reuben Bowman, Dena Troyer, Joseph Bowman, Melvin Bowman, and Verba Weaver. She was preceded in death by her parents and by two brothers, Samuel Bowman Jr. and William Bowman, and two brothers in law, Ben Yoder and Jonas Troyer.

Funeral services were held at the family home at 6671 CR 203 in Millersburg on Tuesday, December 23, at 9:00 a.m. Bishop James Hershberger officiated. Burial followed in the Troyer Stutzman Cemetery. Friends were able to call at the home after 2:00 p.m. on Sunday and at any time on Monday.

Schlabach's life illustrates the informal support structures that matter in Holmes County. Her willingness to accept her blindness and to build friendships with others facing similar challenges reflects a local pattern of mutual aid and neighborly care that residents depend on. For those who knew her through church, family gatherings, or community connections, her death closes a chapter in several overlapping social networks that sustain daily life in Millersburg and surrounding towns.