Ervin J. Nafziger, 86, of Pettisville, passed away early Thursday morning, May 24, at Fairlawn Haven Nursing Home in Archbold where he had resided since Oct. 12, 2000. He was born July 5, 1914, near Pettisville, son of William H. and Ruth (Frey) Nafziger, and manied Majorie Aeschliman on March 3, 1936. A life-long resident of the Pettisville area, he was a retired farmer. In his retirement he worked with Mennonite Disaster Service and Volunteer Service. He was a charter member of the Zion Mennonite Church.

He is survived by his wife Majorie; four sons, Leon (Juanita) Nafziger of Goshen, Ind., P. Joe (Carol) Nafziger of Wauseon, Gilbert (Carol) Nafziger of Archbold, and George (Joyce) Nafziger of Wauseon; five daughters, Carolyn (Howard) Snyder of Pettisville, Tiye (Patrick) Calavan of Loma, Colo., Alene (Daniel) DeCoster of Belgium, Julia (Steve) Nafziger of Wauseon, and Angela (Jack) Short of Gridley, Ill.; 18 grandchildren; 10 step-grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; 17 step-great-grandchildren; three brothers, Lester (Majorie) Nafziger, Ivan (Lodema) Nafziger, and Glen (Doris) Nafziger, all of Archbold; two sisters, Helen (Roy) Kauffman of Tiskilwa, Ill., and Lois Nofziger of Archbold.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Stanley; two sisters, Beulah Nofziger, and Vesta Miller.

Memorial services were held on Monday at 3 p.m., at the Zion Mennonite Church with Pastors Ronakd Guengerich and Anne Stuckey officiating. Interment will precede in the Pettisville Cemetery. Short Funeral Home in Archbold was in charge of the arrangements.

Tillie, daughter of John and Fannie Sutter, was born July 2, 1887, in Bureau Co., Ill., died May 5, 1917, near Minier, Ill., aged 29 y. 10 m. 3 d. She was united in marriage to John Nafziger. In early life she united with the Amish Mennonite Church and remained faithful until death.

While she had a desire to be with her family a time longer, she was resigned to the will of God. She leaves to mourn her loss a husband, 1 son, father, mother, 3 brothers, 5 sisters, 1 aged grandmother, and a large number of relatives and friends.

"A loving one from us is gone,
A voice we loved is stilled;
A place is vacant in her home
Which never can be filled."

Funeral services were conducted at the Amish Mennonite Church by the brethrn (sic) John Birky and Simon Litwiller
from Isa. 35:10. The body was laid to rest in the Amish Mennonite Cemetery.

Nafziger. - Otilla (Stutter) Nafziger was born in Bureau Co., Ill., July 2, 1887; died at her home near Minier, Ill., May 5, 1917; aged 29 y. 10 m. 3 d. Early in life she accepted her Savior and united with the Amish Mennonite Church and faithfully kept her vow of loyalty until death. On April 12, 1908, she was united in marriage to John Nafziger. This union was blessed with 1 son, Vilas, 6 years of age. After a married life of 9 years, 23 days, the angel of death visited this home and the spirit of our dear sister was quietly borne away.  She had suffered from a complication of diseases for over a year, this being the cause of her death.

She leaves to mourn her departure a loing (sic-loving)husband, 1 son, father, mother, 5 sisters, 1 grandmother, and many other relatives and friends. One sister preceded her to the spirit world.

Our sister was a devoted Christian, a kind and loving wife and mother always ready to lend a helping hand whenever opportunity presented itself. She will be greatly missed in the home, church and community. Although longing to be well again, she resigned everything to her Savior and bore her trials and afflictions with patience to the end. The last days of her life here were spent in prayer and reading the Word of God. We feel that our loss is her eternal gain. So we need not mourn as those who have no hope.

On May 8 funeral services were conducted at the house by Bro. J. C. Birkey and at the church by Bro. Simon Litwiller in English and Bro. J. C. Birkey in German. Texts, I Thes. 4:13-15; Isa. 35:10. Interment in the Amish Cemetery

"Sister, thou wast mild and lovely,
Gentle as the summer breeze
Pleasant as the air of evening,
When it floats among the trees."
By a Sister.

Died, Mr. George Norton, at his residence, on Thursday evening, Sep. 29, 1887.  He was aged 71 1/2 years.
Mr. Norton was born in Yorkshire, Eng. but came to this country in early manhood. He was one of the earliest settlers
in this vicinity, and when this township was organized it was called Brawby, after his native village.
This name it retained until a few years ago when it was changed to correspond with that of the station and post office.
Mr. Norton was so throughly identified with all the interests of this place that he was known and respected far and wide.

His death had been anticipated for some time, but now that it has really occured, it is hard to realize that he has really gone.
The funeral services were held Sunday in the M. E. Church.  The floral decorations were elaborate and his accourtrement in the place of worship was draped in mourning.

The sermon was preached by the pastor, Rev. J A Northrop. The text was Psalm xv; and when the minister said this
scripture described the life of the desceased, everyone in the vast audience knew what he said was true.
The whole community unites with his widow and ten children in mourning his death.

Contributed  by Denise Parsons
 b. 1864 Ireland d. 1947 Spring Valley, Bureau, Illinois

SPRING VALLEY, Mrs. Catherine O'Byrne, 82, widow of Andrew O'Byrne, who died in 1906 succumbed
Sunday at 12:55 a.m. at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Dan Pohl, 226 1/2 E. St. Paul st.

Born Aug. 15, 1864 in Kilkenny Ireland, she was the daughter of the late James & Johanna Brown Carr.
She came to the US at the age of 14 and lived in LaSalle before moving to Spring Valley after her marriage in 1890.
She resided most of her life at 120 E. Devlin st. but for the past several years had been living with her daughter, Mrs. Pohl.

Those surviving are five daughters: Mrs. Josephine Mackiney, Mrs. Theodore Deserf, Mrs. Theresa Pohl,
Mrs. Abbie Corsolini and  Mrs. Catherine Pigatti. A brother, the Rev. M.J. Carr.