Willis Nachtigal

Willis Nachtigal, age 78, of Aurora, passed away Sunday, November 7, 2010, at his home.

Funeral Services will be held 1:30 P.M., Wednesday, November 10th at the Evangelical Free Church in Aurora. Rev. Vance Christie will officiate. Interment will be in the Aurora Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 P.M. Tuesday at Higby-McQuiston Mortuary. Higby-McQuiston Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at www.higbymortuary.com. In lieu of flowers and in memory of Willie’s outlook on life the family suggests memorials may be made to Wycliffe Bible Translators, P.O. Box 628211, Orlando, FL 32862-8211.

OBITUARY: WILLIS ‘WILLIE’ NACHTIGAL

Willis Dale Nachtigal, the son of Jacob C. and Bertha (Ollenberger) Nachtigal, was born in rural Aurora, Nebraska on November 25, 1931 and passed away in Aurora, Nebraska on November 7, 2010, at the age of 78.

He grew up on a farm seven miles south of Aurora. Willis graduated from Aurora High School in 1949. Following his graduation he served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War where he was stationed in Germany from 1952-1954.

Willis graduated from Sterling College with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1960. He supported himself throughout college by doing custom harvesting.

On November 26, 1960 he was united in marriage to Joan White in Lincoln, Nebraska. Following their marriage they lived in Sterling, Kansas from 1960 to 1964. They lived in Aurora, Nebraska from 1964 to 1966, Abbyville, Kansas from 1966 to 1969, then back to Aurora in 1969 to present. During those years he farmed and established Nachtigal Custom Harvesting, Inc. and Nachtigal Trucking, Inc. where he worked until his retirement in 2002.

He was a member of the Aurora Evangelical Free Church where he served on various boards and committees.

Willis loved following the activities of his children and grandchildren, traveling, collecting coins and farm toys and doing woodwork for family members. He enjoyed attending Southern Gospel music concerts.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, Frank Rocco.

Those who remain to cherish his memory are his wife, Joan of Aurora; sons, Rick (Jolene) Nachtigal of Papua New Guinea and Robb (Karol) Nachtigal of Aurora; daughters, Lori (Bryan) Dick of Holdrege and Lisa (Brent) Widder of Washington, Illinois; 16 grandchildren, Tyler, Carmin, Jesse, Brianna, and Austin Nachtigal, Ashtyne, Brystol, Maya and Tate Nachtigal, Jaci, Kellen, Shelby and Trevan Dick and Connor, Hailey and Taylor Widder; brother, Junior (Janis) Nachtigal of Aurora; sisters, Inez (Delbert) Heinrichs of Henderson, Doris (Jerry) Classen of Kearney and Kathy (Dave) Clayton of Lushton; sister-in-law Joyce Rocco of Winona, Minnesota and many nieces and nephews.