Gloria E. Muselman, 76

Prominent Berne citizens, but also well-known in Wells County, Arthur K. Muselman, 77, and Gloria E. (Koeneman) Muselman, 76, died Thursday evening, August 30, 2007 of injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Reiiffsburg, south of Bluffton.

Art, a lifelong resident of Berne, was born on Feb. 1, 1930, to Christian and Edna (Sprunger) Muselman.

Gloria was born on March 11, 1931, to Arthur and Bertha (Heine) Koeneman of Decatur.

They were married October 21, 1961.

Survivors include a son, Roger (Naomi) Muselman of Berne; a daughter, Karen (Rev. David) Thomas of Lexington, Kentucky; Art's sister, Ruth (Clinton) Steury of Fort Wayne and sister-in-law, Marilyn Muselman of Berne; Gloria's brother Roger (Fay) Koenemann of Decatur; and six grandchildren. Art's brother, Carl H. Muselman, and two sisters, Carolyn Russett and Pauline Muselman, preceded them in death.

Art attended Taylor University and graduated from Indiana University in 1952 with a bachelor's degree in business. Art was a director emeritus for Dynamic Resource Group, the management company that oversees the publishing and fulfillment companies owned by the Muselman family.

Art began working at Economy Printing Concern, the family printing company, during his college years and then joined the business full time in 1952. His father, who came to the United States from Germany in 1910, founded the printing company in 1925. In 1959, Carl and his brother Art purchased the business from their father, and Art served there until his retirement in the mid-1990s. The brothers oversaw the printing company, now called EP Graphics, for 40 years.

Their other business interests included Smith Brothers Furniture in Berne, and the brothers purchased the local newspaper, the Berne Tri-Weekly News, in 1976.

Art and Gloria were charter members of Peace Lutheran Church, where each held numerous offices and positions of leadership. They were active proponents of the Swiss Village Retirement Community. Art served on the board of directors for many years, and Gloria initiated and led the volunteer program.

Art was named trustee emeritus of Taylor University after completing 20 years on its Board of Trustees, and Gloria received the 1998 Distinguished Friend award from the school.

Since 1958, Art was an active member and past president of the Berne Rotary Club. An avid and accomplished golfer, he served on the board of the Wabash Valley Golf Club. He was also on the boards of First State Bank of Decatur, Concordia Theological Seminary and the Christian radio station WBCL.

Gloria was a founding director of the Swiss Heritage Society and an active member of the Berne Mother's Club and South Adams Music Boosters. In the late 1950s, Gloria was a district president of Indiana Rural Youth and vice president of the American Farm Bureau Young People.

Calling hours at the Yager-Kirchhofer Funeral Home in Berne are from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday at the church.

Funeral services will be held at First Mennonite Church in Berne at 3 p.m. on Monday, with Dr. Jay Kesler officiating. Burial will follow in MRE Cemetery in Berne.

Preferred memorials are Swiss Village Retirement Community and Taylor University.