Lodema M. (Wyse) Nafziger, age 96 years, of Pettisville, passed away on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at Fulton County Health Center in Wauseon, Ohio.
She was born March 21, 1922 in Archbold, Ohio to William M. Wyse and Dinah J. (Roth) Wyse. She married Ivan D. Nafziger on December 18, 1941. He preceded her in death in 2005.
She spent her youth in Archbold and graduated from Archbold High School. After marrying Ivan, she moved to a dairy farm just south of Pettisville. There she helped her husband farm, raised a vegetable garden and shared the produce. She was an accomplished seamstress and sewed for numerous people to earn money while in Meadville, PA when Ivan was in Civilian Public Service during WWII.
She and Ivan were charter members of Tedrow Mennonite Church. She served in many capacities; Sunday School teacher, Bible School teacher, women’s sewing and church secretary for many years. After her children were grown and out on their own she began working at Rupp Seeds, where she learned to love working with the computer.
She is survived by one son Richard (Brenda) Nafziger of Defiance, four daughters, Dianne (LaMar) Yoder of Pettisville, Peggy (Roger) Rupp of Archbold, Jeanne (David) Schrock of Archbold, Kathleen (William) Short of Pettisville, and a daughter-in-law Desi Nafziger of Delaware, Oh; 16 grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, 4 step-great grandchildren, 8 great great grandchildren, and 5 step-great great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ivan, son Edgar, daughter-in-law Joanne Nafziger, 1 granddaughter, 1 granddaughter-in-law, 1 great granddaughter, 1 step-great grandson; one brother Wilbur M. Wyse, and four sisters, Stella Crossgrove, Irene Britsch, Lucille Crossgrove, and Marjorie Nafziger.
Memorial services will be held on Thursday at 11 AM at the Tedrow Mennonite Church with Pastors Doug King and Ryan Nafziger officiating. Interment will precede in the Pettisville Cemetery. Friends may call at Short Funeral Home in Archbold from 2-8 PM on Wednesday. The family suggests that memorials be given to Mennonite Disaster Service, Tedrow Mennonite Church or the donor’s choice.
