Carol Ann Nafziger (Sauder) passed from this life on September 21st, 2018 after a long illness at her home in Archbold, Ohio. She was 76 years of age.
Visitation will be held at Archbold Evangelical Church on Monday, September 24 from 2:00 pm until 8:00 pm. On Tuesday, September 25 there will be a private, family burial at Johnson Cemetery in Elmira, Ohio followed by a memorial service at Archbold Evangelical Church at 11:00 am with Jesse Kahler officiating. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Grisier Funeral Home in Archbold.
Carol, the daughter of Orval and Jennie Sauder was born in Wauseon, Ohio on March 6, 1942. She attended Archbold Public Schools and graduated from high school in 1960.
She continued her education at Manchester College in North Manchester, Indiana and received her Bachelors degree in Education at Defiance College. She later received her Masters degree from Marygrove. Carol was an elementary school teacher in Swanton, Toledo, and Archbold for nearly twenty years enriching the lives of generations of kindergarteners and second-graders.
In July of 1959 Carol had a job cleaning the recreation room at the Sauder Manufacturing Company. A young man named Thomas Nolan Stahl sometimes came to help his grandfather work the night shift. Tom would frequently visit the recreation room for a soda. They had their first date on September 15, 1959 and were married on November 3, 1962. Their marriage and home was blessed with three daughters and two sons. They were married for 27 years until Tom passed away on March 7, 1989.
After losing Tom, Carol focused on her faith, family and teaching. After several years, Gilbert Nafziger, someone she had known since childhood, reappeared in her life.
She and Gil started dating and on August 7, 1994 they married, adding six step-children to the family. They continued to reside in Archbold, wintering in Estero, Florida.
Carol’s life centered around her children and grandchildren. Family gatherings at Christmas in Archbold and at their summer cottage in Michigan around the 4thof July were a highlight for Carol. She was at her most fulfilled and happiest when surrounded by her kids and grandkids.
Faith was a central force in Carol’s life. She was raised in Central Mennonite Church and baptized as a teenager. She was active for many years in the Fayette Church of the Nazarene as a Sunday School and Bible School teacher. More recently she attended the Archbold Evangelical Church.
In addition to Tom, Carol was preceded in death by her father and mother, Orval and Jennie Sauder, and step mother Ilva Sauder; an aunt, Lela Sauder, and an uncle Loren Sauder. Two uncles, Wilbur and William Sauder died in infancy.
Surviving are her loving husband Gilbert Nafziger; two sons, Troy (Rhonda) Stahl, Fishers, IN; Matthew (Alison) Stahl, Fishers, IN; and three daughters, Stacy Meyers (Jack Schreur), Brooklyn, NY; Kelly Stahl, Archbold and April Stahl Heggestad (Eric), Charlotte, NC as well as 6 step children, Chris (April) Nafziger, Jill (Kurt) Everson, Lane (Beth) Roth, Gail (Kirk) Yoder, Wynn (Karla) Roth, Reed (Lisa) Roth.
Also surviving are her grandchildren Katelyn, Michelle and Tyler Stahl; Alec, Michaela and Emma Zaborniak; Erin, Jay and Kendall Schreur; and Jackson, Jenna and Jamie Stahl. Surviving step grandchildren include Devin, Cameron and Ryan Nafziger; Brayton, Andrew and Simon Roth; Rebecca Altman; Hannah, Daniel and Lydia Everson; Emily, Madalyn and Natalie Roth; Hunter, Ethan and Isabel Roth. There is one surviving step great-grandchild, James Altman.
Carol is also survived by sisters Mrs. Jeanette (Donald) Cripe, Mrs. Linda (A.J.) Rupp and Judy Yoder, and one brother Jeffrey (Tana) Sauder; Aunts Doris Yoder and Mrs. Valetta (Alfred) Bonilla, and one uncle Edgar (Bonnie) Sauder; also one brother in law Timothy (Barb) Stahl. Several brothers and sister in laws, cousins and nieces and nephews survive.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be designated to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Operation Smile, or the Mennonite Disaster Services. Memorial contributions may be mailed to the Grisier Funeral Home, 303 Stryker St., Archbold, OH 43502. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.grisierfh.com.