Wanda June Litwiller

Wanda June Nichols Litwiller was born to Franklin and Lela Nightingale Nichols on September 25, 1930, at the home place near Greensburg, Kansas. Very peacefully she slipped from this life on November 21, 2024, reaching the age of 94 years.

Mom grew up in western Kansas, the oldest in a family of six children. Her girlhood memories included the hardships of the Depression in the middle of the Dust Bowl era. She received an eighth-grade education at the Lone Star District 33 School, walking there with her siblings and the neighbor children.

Mom answered the Lord’s call and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, on December 17, 1944. As a young lady she met our father, Richard Litwiller, when he went to Kansas to help with wheat harvest. They were married on April 18, 1954, by her Uncle Lincoln Jantz in a double wedding ceremony with Verle and Marian Litwiller. Their first home was in Northville, Michigan, while Dad completed his 1-W service. Although she moved many miles to make her home in Michigan, she did not forget her native state of Kansas.

Our mother truly was a keeper at home. A contented person, she found happiness in simple things. She was a patient mother, living her life in a quiet faithful way. Grandma enjoyed time spent in her flower garden, often sharing bouquets of her roses with us. Many delicious meals were eaten at her table.

Dad was ordained into the ministry on February 15, 1965. Mom supported Dad in his ministry, which included keeping the home fires burning many times while Dad was away for revival meetings in the wintertime.

Mom moved with Dad around the corner to the Maple View Assisted Living home in November of 2017. She continued living there after Dad’s passing on February 8, 2019. She enjoyed the country setting and the care she received and always appreciated visits from her children and grandchildren. Mom was ready to go home to Heaven. We are thankful for the beautiful example she left us and want to meet her there.

Her survivors include her three children: Michael and Marianne Litwiller, Karen and Kim Buerge, and Bruce and Candace Litwiller, all of Ithaca, Michigan; twelve grandchildren and thirty-seven great-grandchildren; one brother: Galen and Shirley Nichols of Greensburg, KS, and one sister: Mrs. Shirley Nichols of Gentry, AR; sisters-in-law: Glenda Nichols and Donna Wiebe; brother-in-law: Verle Litwiller, and many nieces and nephews.

Those gone before are her husband Richard, parents, sisters Neoma and Lavada, brother Ronald, and a number of in-laws.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 25, 2024, at 10:30 A.M. at the Newark Mennonite Church with Darin Litwiller, Doug Salsbury, and Keith Litwiller officiating. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 2 P.M. to 4 P.M. at the Maple View Retirement Community and from 6 P.M. to 8 P.M. at the Newark Mennonite Church. Burial will take place at Hayes Road Cemetery.

Those desiring may make contributions in Wanda's memory to Maple View Retirement Community 4396 S. Luce Road, Ithaca, MI 48847.