Doris Marie Nafziger

Doris Marie Nafziger, 98, a long-time resident of Greencroft Goshen, peacefully left her earthly home on June 25, 2020, and was welcomed into her eternal home in heaven by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Doris was born on October 29, 1921, to Harvey and Carrie (Rupp) King, Archbold, Ohio. At age 13 she accepted Jesus as her personal Savior and was baptized at Central Mennonite Church near Archbold.

Doris is remembered as a virtuous woman by all who knew and loved her. She loved God’s Word and was a woman of prayer; her heart’s concern was that her children and grandchildren come to a relationship with Jesus and serve God with their whole hearts. Numerous family members described her as being more like Jesus than anyone they knew.

On July 23, 1944, Doris married Chester Joel Nafziger. They lived in Pettisville, Ohio, until 1956 when they moved to a farm near Tedrow, Ohio, and joined Tedrow Mennonite Church. Chester tragically died in a truck accident on January 17, 1969. Their union was blessed with six children, all of whom survive: Ruth Ann (Vic) Hildebrand, Westfield, Indiana; Rachel Marie Hartzler and Marilyn Moe, Goshen; Chester Leroy “Lee” Nafziger, Russell’s Point, Ohio; Leonard (Margaret) Nafziger, Bryan, Ohio; and Mark (Stephanie) Nafziger, Rochester, Indiana. She is also survived by 29 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren, eight great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Glen King, Sarasota, Florida; and many nieces, nephews, and “foster” children and grandchildren.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents and her husband; a daughter-in-law JoAnn (Shively) Nafziger; a son-in-law Harold E. Hartzler; a grandson Chris Moe; two Hildebrand great-granddaughters; siblings: Ilva (Leland) Wyse, Ella (Dennis) Nofziger, Mildred (Everett) Smith, Beulah (Truman) Grieser, and Ralph (Clela) King; sisters-in-law, Margaret King and Dorris Stoll King; and brothers-in-law and their wives: Clifford (Mary) Nafziger, Freeman (Marian) Nafziger, and Maurice (Dorothy) Nafziger.

Doris excelled in school, graduating third in her class at Archbold High School in 1939. (One of her nephews thought of her as a “walking encyclopedia.”) She worked at Erie Sauder’s factory for a while, but she didn't like using a hammer and electric sander, so she found a job she enjoyed— working as a salesperson at Archbold Dry Goods store on Main Street in Archbold. This likely helped to prepare her for a lifetime of sewing, making clothing for herself and her daughters, mending everything from jeans to undergarments, quilting, and making many gifts, particularly sock monkeys and ABC bags.

Following high school Doris went with some girlfriends to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, for a six-week Bible School course. In her early twenties she taught Sunday School and Bible School and was involved in the Literary Society (young people’s group) of the Central Mennonite Church—which is where she learned to know Chester, her future husband.

Doris was a stay-at-home mother until her six children were all in school. She then began doing domestic work in homes and businesses, including as a custodian at Pettisville School in Ohio and at Zion Chapel in Goshen.

Doris and her two youngest sons moved to Elkhart County in 1972, and she became a member of Zion Chapel (now Harvest Community Church) in Goshen. She became a spiritual mother to many, including Mary (Miller) Borntrager, Jackie Diehl, and Tanneken Fros. In 1997 she was honored at a Zion Chapel Ladies’ meeting as “Woman of the Year.”

Doris was very much a family woman. She faithfully loved and honored her husband during the 24 years of their marriage. After being widowed at age 47, Doris had opportunities to pursue another marriage, but she made a deliberate choice to remain single, freeing herself to be deeply involved in the lives of her children, grandchildren, and other friends—in the church and beyond. The decision to move to the Goshen area in 1972 was motivated by her desire to spend more time with her adult children and grandchildren. Over the years, Doris spent many weeks in the daily care of grandchildren, especially during times of serious illness and tragedy. She delighted in her grandchildren! She read to them, played games with them, and made treats, especially birthday cakes in creative shapes such as animals, cars, trains, and rocket ships!

Hospitality was an important way that Doris expressed faith and love. She was a good cook and gracious hostess. Her children remember meals around her table in all the homes where she lived for over seventy years—the apartment in Pettisville above the shop, the farm house near Tedrow where the dining room table was often extended, her home in Pettisville close to the school, her home in Dunlap where she lived for a few years, her home on Wilson Avenue along the canal in Goshen, and her two different apartments at Greencroft in Goshen—one in Manor II and one in Manor III. In addition to serving meals to her family, she served neighbors and church friends. When there were more guests than would fit around her table in her apartment, she would host groups in the Oak Court Social Room, up to fifty at a time!

Doris had moved to Greencroft in 1989 and nearly set a record, residing there over 30 years. For many years she volunteered once or twice a week in the gift shop beside the Sideboard. She also frequently assisted in the healthcare dining rooms.

Doris enjoyed traveling with her children, within the U.S., to Canada, and beyond. She went to Switzerland and Germany with Ruth Ann’s family, to the Bahamas with Leonard’s family, and to Little Eden Camp with Rachel’s family. Most exciting were trips to Florida in a plane that Mark was piloting.

Doris kept in touch with her family near and far. She wrote countless letters, including to her grandchildren when they were in college. Those letters contained a dollar bill and a stick of gum. Until about a year before her death, she sent birthday greetings to her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and their spouses. For many years she gave her grandchildren and great-grandchildren two-dollar bills for birthday and Christmas gifts. In fact, she gave two-dollar bills to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren who were present at a family gathering in her honor on December 26, 2019.

Doris loved to sing. She sang on car trips, as she worked around her home, and in her healthcare room, including in the days leading up to her death. She sang scripture songs and praise songs and hymns from long ago, especially hymns about heaven and the hymn “Trust and Obey,” her mother’s favorite. She often tapped her toes as she sang!

Doris was an avid reader and spent countless hours reading to her children and grandchildren. Her home library was always small, but she regularly accessed the church library and the public library. She also loved to play games, particularly table games and group games at family gatherings. Most of her grandchildren remember her getting the word “slinky” when playing charades at about eighty years of age. Her pantomiming a slinky walking down steps was unforgettable! She laughed and her laugh was contagious!

In her later years, Doris spent many hours putting together puzzles and playing Rummikub. She enjoyed Rummikub so much that she sometimes played by herself. In fact, she played a simplified version of Rummikub with Marilyn two days before she died.

Known as “Gram” to her grandchildren, Doris was loved, cherished, and respected. Her legacy will live on through the countless lives she touched. She fought the good fight, finished the race, kept the faith, and has now entered into the joy of her Lord.

Visitation will be at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, 1911 South Main St., Goshen, on Tuesday, July 7, 2 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m. Burial will be on Wednesday, July 8, at 11:30 a.m. in Pettisville, Ohio. A celebration of life memorial service will on Wednesday, July 8, at 6:30 p.m. at Harvest Community Church, 17285 County Rd 34, Goshen. The family will receive friends before the service between 4:30 and 6 p.m.