IN MEMORIAM
EXPANDED EULOGIES
Twylah Nightengale
Services for Twylah Nightengale, 84, who passed away peacefully April 18, 2022, while surrounded by her family, were 10 a.m. Saturday, April 23, 2022, at Salem United Methodist Church, Newton. Burial followed at Burns Cemetery, Burns.
Family members greeted friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 22, 2022, at Yazel-Megli Funeral Home, Marion.
Twylah was born Feb. 17, 1938, in Goessel to John and Susie (Buller) Schmidt. She attended Summit School and then Burns High School in Burns.
She was active in high school as a baton twirler with the band and in home economics. She enjoyed cheerleading, as well. Her junior year, she felt honored to be named football queen.
Twylah married Don Nightengale on Sept. 20, 1955, at First Mennonite Church of Burns. In September 2015, they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.
Twylah loved music and could play the piano beautifully by ear.
She was a very hard worker and always was involved in daily operations of the family farm she helped run with her husband.
She also drove a school bus for the Cedar Point school district and worked for 22 years at Autumn Manor Health Care in Florence, where she served as certified food service supervisor.
When she wasn’t hard at work, Twylah could be found playing cards, attending her daughters’ sporting events, and collecting Indian pottery and her beloved brown tea pots. She also loved going with Don and their girls to see an occasional Royals game.
When the girls were grown, Twylah often could be found at sporting events for her grandchildren.
Twylah loved to sew and made seven wedding dresses, including one for each daughter, along with at least 40 dresses for the Florence centennial.
She also enjoyed trips to the Chicago area and to Colorado Springs to see daughters Peggy and Carol.
Both church and family were extremely important to Twylah. At age 14, she was baptized into the Mennonite faith and accepted Jesus Christ into her heart. The love of Jesus and knowing him personally carried her through many a turmoil during her lifetime.
Twylah grew up with daily devotions read from the Bible by her father, and the whole family would gather to hear God’s word.
Their family was tight knit, and all worked together on the family farm and taking care of each other.
Twylah would carry on many of these traditions as she raised her three girls, whom she loved deeply.
The Schmidt / Nightengale family continues to hold strong family. Twylah left quite the legacy.
Her family includes daughters Peggy Leitzen (and husband Doug) of Marengo, Illinois; Janet Turner (and husband Bud) of Eureka, and Carol Nightengale of Topeka; grandchildren Jeremy Leitzen (and wife Abby), Amanda Pointer (and husband Alex), Rusty Turner (and wife Jacqueline), Adam Turner, and Luke Turner (and wife Angela); 25 great-grandchildren; siblings Julie Stucky (and husband Leland), Emmy Midkiff, John Schmidt (and wife Carol), Fern Goodwin (and husband Ron), Berneda Jewell (and husband Rex), Calvin Schmidt (and wife Dawna), and Dennis Schmidt (and wife Sherry); brother-in-law Jim Gehring; and many nieces and nephews.
Twylah is now in the presence of her Lord and Savior and reunited with husband Don, parents John and Susie Schmidt, twin sister Beulah Gehring, brother-in-law Frank Midkiff, nephew John Schrock, and great-nephew Deacon Claassen.
Memorial contributions in Twylah’s name may be directed to Burns Historical Society or Salem United Methodist Church in care of Yazel-Megli Funeral Home, Marion.
Please sign her online guest book and leave a memory of Twylah at www.yazelmeglifh.com.