Willard "Bill" Nitzsche
Obituary
Willard 'Bill" Nitzsche, 91, died
Monday (Sept. 24, 2018) at Newton Medical Center following a stroke.
Willard was born Sept. 10, 1927, in Cuming County, Nebraska, to
Albert and Katie Roth Nitzsche. He attended school in Amenia, North
Dakota, and Hesston Bible Academy.
On June 5, 1949, Willard married Irene
Schmidt at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, Goessel. Following their
marriage, the Nitzsches farmed in North Dakota until 1955. They left
farming to move to Hesston, where Willard worked as a plumber in
Newton and Hesston. He finished his career as the operator of the
Hesston wastewater treatment plant. Willard retired in 1995.
Willard was a life-long gardener, and
was frequently found working on puzzles in the library at the Hesston
Wellness Center.
Willard is survived by his wife, Irene,
of Hesston; son, Larry (Julie) of North Mankato, Minnesota;
daughters, Bonnie Ruzich (Greg Piron) of Kansas City , Kansas, and
Lori Nitzsche (Sam Snyder) of Phoenix; son-in-law, Peter Schaaf of
New York; sisters, Opal Ripley of Hesston and Mae Mumaw of Medina,
Ohio; six grandchildren; 12 nieces and nephews; and the Keith
O'Halloran family of Hesston.
He was preceded in death by his
parents; daughter, Judith Schaaf; brother, Dale; and sister, Lois
Selzer.
A memorial service will be held at 11
a.m. Oct. 20, 2018, at Whitestone Mennonite Church. Private family
inurnment will take place at Hesston Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests
donations to the Dyck Arboretum of the Plains or the Mennonite
Economic Development Association (MEDA).
