12/8/2021
Nathan graduated from Eastern Mennonite College in 1949 and from Syracuse University with a Master’s degree in Journalism in 1963.
On May 1, 1951 he married Arlene Emma Landis. They had four children.
Along with his wife, Nathan served as a missionary in Ethiopia from 1950 to 1974 as a teacher and in production of Christian literature in the Amharic language.
He later worked at Eastern Mennonite Missions, Salunga, PA, in Church Relations until his retirement. He also served as Associate Pastor of Willow Street Mennonite Church and, for eight years, as Bishop of the Willow Street-Strasburg district of Lancaster Mennonite Conference. In 1998 he authored Beyond Our Prayers, a 50-year history of the Meserete Kristos Church in Ethiopia.
He is survived by his daughter, Beth Ann Bonk (Matthew) of Lancaster and a son, Harold Wharton-Hege (Pat) of Delran, NJ; a daughter-in-law Sylvia Hege of Johns Island, SC; sisters, Barbara Risser and Dorothy Groff (Marvin); a brother, David Hege (Arlene); brother-in-law John Brenneman; sister-in-law Almeda Groff Landis; grandchildren, Peter, David, Mark, and Joshlind Hege, Crystal Ginyard, Lania Clark, Andrea Claroni and Gabriel Hege and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife Arlene E. Landis Hege who died November 15, 2020, two sons, John Allen and Peter Nathan Hege; sisters, Lois Brenneman and Martha Kreider; brother-in-law, Edwin Landis and sister-in-law, Alta Landis.
A private graveside service will be held on Monday December 13, 2021 at Willow Street Mennonite Cemetery. A Memorial Service will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to: Eastern Mennonite Missions, Salunga, PA 17538, or by visiting www.emm.org.