Eldora Hartzler

Eldora Dolena Zook Hartzler, 1926-2021, went home to be with her Lord on April 30, 2021, at the age of 94. Born in Alberta, Canada, she and her family moved to Kansas when she was 9 years old. Eldora worked as a registered nurse in Kansas City, Kansas, and also in Oregon. At the age of 31 she married Marion Hartzler, a widower with 2 young children, Sanford and Sandra. To this marriage were added 2 girls, Barbara and Debbie.

Eldora stopped her nursing career to raise her family. She re-entered the nursing field in 1975. It was her joy to become a hospital volunteer in her 90’s.

As a 7 year old girl, Eldora realized that she was a sinner, repented of her sins, and trusted Christ as her Savior at a revival service, along with 2 other siblings, Luke and Elvera. She was raised in the Mennonite church, became a member of Shawnee Bible Church in 1969, and changed her membership to Calvary Baptist Bible Church after her move to Osceola, Iowa, in 2014. She has been faithful to attend all church services until her final year when she was limited at times due to her health. Even when unable to attend church, Eldora spent that time listening to her pastor on her computer. She was a very faithful prayer warrior, praying much for her church and family. One of her greatest prayer concerns was that her descendants would know God and walk with Him.

Preceding her in death are her parents, Roy A. and Selina Miller Zook, 9 siblings, her husband of nearly 49 years Marion W. Hartzler, one son-in-law Jerry Kazorm, and great-granddaughter Galina Sargent.

Left to honor her name and follow in her footsteps are her children: Sanford (Mary Taylor) Hartzler of Merriam, Kansas; Sandra Kazorm of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; Barbara (Paul) Stalcup of Osceola, Iowa; and Debbie (Robert) Schneeberger of Oswego, Kansas. She leaves also 22 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild. A verse she cherished was 3 John 4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

Eldora also leaves a host of friends with whom she shared the gospel, by her life and by her words. “I have had a wonderful life. I have had a lot of joy and peace. This is the result of having Christ in the journey of my life. I accepted Christ in my childhood, and He has been with me in each step of my journey. There have been times of struggles, when I decided to do things my way, but when I got my focus back on Christ, He helped me to see His way is best … The Lord has been my anchor. He has never failed me!” ~ Eldora