I was born and raised in the small culturally Germanic town of Bird-in-Hand, PA in the heart of Lancaster County’s Amish Country. Both sets of grandparents were raised Old Order Amish, as were my parents until they came of age – no electricity, no cars, plain dress, simple lifestyle, 8th-grade education, conscientious objectors of war, and little connection with the secular outside world. My parents eventually left the Amish Church and joined the Mennonites, which made my life a whole lot easier. Although I grew up with electricity, cars and modern conveniences, we still were not connected much with the world beyond our own community, which was very white and very God-centered. Because of several tragedies early on (my father died when I was three, then five years later my mother married a widower with six children), my family was very poor. After the family merger, I became the 6th child of nine – five sisters and three brothers.
By the time we reached twelve years of age, each of us had to find work to help support the family. I started as a farmhand and worked for my uncle at a farmers market selling meats and cheese. I also delivered newspapers on my bicycle. Work and responsibilities at home were a way of life.
Although sheltered during my growing up years, I knew there was a world waiting for me to discover. I loved studying geography and culture in school. National Geographic was my favorite periodical. After graduating from the local Mennonite high school in 1971, I left home, joined two high school friends and flew to Europe with 50 dollars in my pocket and $100 in traveler’s cheques. We hitch-hiked all over Europe, met lots of other young travelers, went to the October Fest in Munich where I drank my first beer, and worked on a farm in Switzerland. That experience whetted my appetite to travel. After returning to the States, I moved to Virginia in early 1972 where I was employed by a small construction company until joining the Oceanics in the fall.
My older brother happened to meet a guy in Amsterdam in March, 1972 who told him about the Oceanics program. He immediately sent me the information and office address in NYC. I set up an interview with Stephanie, traveled there one weekend, and the rest is history.
After Oceanics I found myself in a state of directional confusion. I could no longer relate to my home community as before, and I was barely savvy enough or wealthy enough to strike out on my own. In fact, I was broke. The Mennonite Church has always been good at sending financial aid and service workers around the world to disaster sites and impoverished communities. Volunteering wasn’t a new concept for me. So, I packed my bags and flew to San Pedro Sula, Honduras where I volunteered with Mennonite Disaster Service building houses after Hurricane Fifi devastated that country. I also spent time in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Guatemala as spontaneity and service quickly become a lifestyle.
Finally, convinced that I should go back to school, I applied and was accepted at Goshen College, a liberal arts school in Indiana. But I still had no career plans. Two weeks before classes began, however, I met and fell in love with Trina, the love of my life – or so I thought. College was put on hold and my life took a dramatic turn. I entered the business world, first in hospitality as a hotel manager in the village of Intercourse PA, then my partnership acquired a campground/RV park, and I eventually bought a deli in Allentown PA.
Trina and I married and raised three wonderful children; Ty presently works for the state of Montana as a wildlife biologist, Jessica is finding her way as a musician/song writer living in PA, and Jonathan is a political activist/organizer also presently living in PA. During our 30 years together, we travelled extensively, sometimes with purpose, sometimes for pleasure; Japan, Thailand, Nepal, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Scandinavia, Spain, the Caribbean and more. We also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity as a family, building homes in south Texas and south Florida over a span of 15 years. After becoming empty nesters, my wife and I moved to Tucson AZ for health reasons, where sadly, our 30-year marriage ended abruptly, spiraling me into the most difficult chapter of my life. Oceanics had prepared me for many of life’s challenges, but not this one.
Suddenly single at 52, I began climbing mountains and doing serious hiking in Colorado, Arizona, northern PA, and South America with little concern for anyone or anything, including myself. For a period, I joined my son in the Ecuadorian Andes for a wildlife project involving black bear census. Over the years, international travel has brought me lots of joy, excitement, and emotional comfort. I suppose after my divorce I was trying to find that comfort again. I made several high energy trips to Ukraine, Czech Republic, Poland, Turkey, Germany, and Mexico during the next several years. I finally returned to Lancaster County, PA, unfulfilled and lost, bought a house, reconnected with a female friend at church (from Dominican Republic) and started over. Damaris and I got married in July of 2012.
I am not retired – still enjoying my work and my employees at the deli more than ever. Twenty of us survived Covid together at the workplace and developed a bond that continues to bring me unexplainable joy. I have seven grandchildren who I absolutely adore, with another on the way. Damaris and I continue to volunteer locally. We are involved in our church community and the local mission where we mentor folks who haven’t had the privileges we’ve had. Relationships continue to be important to me. I love people, and I still love to travel. We visit family in the Dominican Republic most every year. This summer I spent time in Jordon, Germany, and Switzerland. There are so many more places and cultures I hope to experience if God allows. But I realize full well that I’m living on borrowed time. Every day is a gift and I do my best to treat it as such.
~ Marlie Smucker
Marlie & Damaris at the 2023 Oceanics reunion
Statsraad Lehmkuhl Oceanics 1972-73 
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