Ivy Vanetta Seiler

Ivy Vanetta Litwiller Seiler was born to Earl and Betty Litwiller on July 9, 1933, in Gratiot County, Michigan. Ivy grew up as the middle child of 9 siblings and often commented on having a sibling 10 years older and one 10 years younger than herself. She received her basic education at the Smith Allen School. Ivy was converted and baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite on February 29, 1948, by Min. Reno Hibner, her brother-in-law. She remained faithful to her vows to the end. As a youth girl she was hired out, sometimes for a week at a time at various house helping jobs. On November 8, 1953, she was married to me, Bob Seiler, of Archbold, Ohio. We spent our first year at the Pettisville, Ohio, congregation. We then spent our 1W service in Baltimore, MD, making lasting friendships before settling in Gratiot County, Michigan, on the family farm. We were blessed with 5 children. Mom was a devoted wife and mother. We remember she was always by Dad’s side. She was a peacemaker and the glue that held us together. We always worked together as a family and felt a great loss when our son and brother, Den, drowned in Brazil while visiting family on February 19, 1977. Throughout Mom’s busy life she always enjoyed flowers and later birdwatching. After almost 68 years of marriage mom peacefully slipped away in the early morning hours of July 5, 2021, after a brief illness, just 4 days shy of her 88th birthday. She was at home with her family by her side. Left with precious memories are her husband, Bob; children: Connie of Ithaca, Marlene and LeeRoy Toews of Hardin, Montana, Mona and Adam Reiff of Muir, and Mervin and Teresa of Ithaca; 20 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; sisters: Erla and Alvin Schneider, Kathy and Joe Krezan, all of Michigan; brothers: Ardis Litwiller, JB and Susan Litwiller, Galen and Evie Litwiller, all of Michigan, Melvin and Joan Litwiller of Hillsboro, Kansas; sisters-in-law: Betty Seiler and Darlene Seiler of Michigan, Wanda and Tim Unruh of Othello, Washington. Brothers-in-law: Merle and Tootie Seiler of Archbold, Ohio, Frank Seiler, Mick and Cynthia Seiler of Michigan. Also, special friends of the family are Kristi and Keith Davenport and girls, Lydia and Ivy. She was preceded in death by her parents, parents-in-law, one son, Dennis, one grandson, 3 sisters, 3 brothers-in-law, and 2 sisters-in-law. Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 9, 2021, at 10:30 A.M. at the Newark Mennonite Church with Ministers Michael Litwiller, Keith Litwiller, and Deacon Terrill Schneider officiating. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 2 P.M. to 4 P.M. and 6 P.M. to 8 P.M. at the church. Burial will take place at the Hayes Road Cemetery. Those desiring, may make contributions in Ivy’s memory to Maple View Retirement Community, 4396 S. Luce Road, Ithaca, MI 48847.