List of notable Mennonites
This page includes a list of notable Mennonites.
Canadian politicians connected to the Mennonites
Note: Several Canadian political figures have a Mennonite background. This might be more common in Canada than in most nations. This is perhaps most true in the case of Manitoba, though Saskatchewan and British Columbia also have significant Mennonites in politics. As this more concerns "connected to" this may include people who are ethnic Mennonites and not necessarily members of Mennonite churches.
People of Mennonite ancestry or background
This is mostly people whose Mennonite ancestry or upbringing is important to them, but who are not currently Mennonite. In some cases names listed here include people whose current status as Mennonites is undetermined.
- Sandra Birdsell, Canadian poet[45]
- Di Brandt, Canadian poet[46]
- Greg Brenneman, former CEO of Burger King[47]
- John Denver, folk singer-songwriter[48][49]
- Dwight D. Eisenhower, thirty-fourth President of the United States (1953–1961). Eisenhower's direct ancestor, Hans Nicol Eisenhauer, was a Mennonite who settled in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1741.[50]
- Katherine Esau, American botanist[51]
- Patrick Friesen, Canadian poet[52]
- Anna German, Polish singer[53]
- Philip D. Gingerich, paleontologist[54]: 137
- Malcolm Gladwell, English-Canadian journalist, bestselling author, and speaker who has made a return to religion though not of a specific church at the moment.[55]
- Jon Gnagy, American art instructor on television[56]
- Matt Groening, American cartoonist, creator of The Simpsons. His father, Homer Groening, was born and raised in a Plautdietsch-speaking Mennonite family from Saskatchewan.[57]
- Joey Kelly, former member of The Kelly Family[58]
- James L. Kraft, founder of Kraft Foods[59]
- Milton Hershey, founder of The Hershey Company[60]
- Robyn Regehr, hockey player[61]
- Adolph Rupp, college basketball coach[62]
- Marlin Stutzman, politician who was raised Mennonitem but is now Baptist.[63]
- Hermann Sudermann, German dramatist and novelist[64]
- Dick Winters, U.S. Army Major and World War II commander of Band of Brothers' Easy Company[65]