Hertzler’s father, Truman Hertzler, who lives in Elverson, said his family is staying strong through faith and friends.

“Right now we’re doing OK,” Mr. Hertzler said Wednesday.

Though his family is facing a difficult time, Mr. Hertzler said they find comfort in reflecting on his son’s accomplishments.

“I’m very thankful for his work and testimony,” Mr. Hertzler said. “It was nice to see how faithful and diligent he was to his work.”

Hertzler’s mother, Virginia, said her son had tremendous love for the people of Thailand.

“That’s where he got his fervor, zeal and enthusiasm,” she said. “He just loved those people.”

Hertzler’s wife, Janelle, and their 1-year-old son, Micah, are expected to return to Elverson Friday. Truman said funeral services will be held next week at Hopewell Christian Fellowship Church in Elverson.

Skip Tobin, Eastern Mennonite Mission’s former country director for Thailand, said Hertzler’s death will create a void in the organization.

“It’s hard to measure the loss,” Tobin said. “I think he was coming into full stride. He was finally in a place where he was being fully functional.”

Hertzler, who began his service in Thailand in 2001, first taught English at a university in the town of Ubon Ratathani, where he met his future wife. Tobin said it didn’t take him long to realize that Hertzler’s intense devotion to God set him apart from other missionaries.

“He had a real heart to pray,” Tobin said. “He was not about building his own kingdom. He had earned his community’s trust and respect.”

Although Hertzler suffered from a lingering malaria-related disease, which made him tired almost all the time, Tobin said Hertzler still traveled regularly to church services to preach and worship with others.

Tobin’s wife, Carol, said it will be strange to return to Thailand without visiting Hertzler.

“It’s going to be hard to go back and not receive his encouragement,” she said. “He just sparkled with life and extended so much of himself.”

Mrs. Tobin learned about his death when Hertzler’s wife phoned her home in Harrisonburg, Va., Sunday night.

Hertzler was killed while riding a motorcycle on his way to join his wife and child at a church service. During the trip, Hertzler rounded a curve and was hit head-on by a truck that had entered his lane, Mrs. Tobin said the late missionary’s wife told him.

“She (Janelle) was rather blunt and numb,” Mrs. Tobin said. “She wasn’t overemotional, but was in shock, and we both knew it.”

Mrs. Tobin said the nightmare she has always dreaded now belongs to Janelle. “I just felt like so many times my husband had gone out on a motorcycle and was worried until he returned ... Now this is her story,” she said.

A memorial service for Hertzler is scheduled for today in Det Udom. Glenn Kauffman, an Eastern Mennonite Mission missionary in Asia, traveled to Thailand for the service.

Hertzler began working with Eastern Mennonite Missions in 1987 as a member of a Youth Evangelism Service team to Belize. He also served in Costa Rica and Honduras.

Hertzler earned a bachelor’s of science degree from Penn State and a master’s degree in education from the University of Pennsylvania.