Don Lee Nightingale

My dear husband, our daddy and grandpa, Don Lee Nightingale was born to Rueben and Tina (Smith) Nightingale on February 9, 1941, at Fairview, Oklahoma. God took him home in the early hours of January 20, 2015, at the age of 73, after a valiant battle with the disease ALS. 

Don grew up in Fairview, Oklahoma receiving his formal education at Progressive School. At the age of 15, he chose to give his heart to the Lord. He was baptized into the Church of God in Christ Mennonite on November 18, 1956, by his uncle, Minister George Nichols. 

On April 16, 1967, he was married to me, Jewel Wedel at Fairview, Oklahoma. Moving to western Kansas in 1968, we enjoyed life together, farming for 47 years. Our home was blessed with two children, our son Jay, who was tragically taken at the age of 19, and a daughter Lori. 

We have many special memories of Daddy. He always took time for us and his grandchildren and we‘ll miss his words of wisdom. After his diagnosis of ALS, he graciously accepted the changes it brought to his life-never complaining. He was respected in the community and will be remembered for his honesty and willingness to help others. Jacob Newdorf and his family, who worked for Don, became special friends. He also enjoyed his stepfamily, the Reimers, and the dimension of what it added to his life. His love for the Lord and desire to be saved was evident throughout his life. Some of his final words to the family were, “I’m trusting in the Lord; all is forgiven.” 

Those left to cherish fond memories are his loving wife Jewel; one daughter, Lori and husband Tim Boese and their 3 children, Kimbry, Courtney, and Brady of Vanceboro, North Carolina; one brother, Jerrell and wife Alfrieda Nightingale of Ulysses; one sister, Villa and husband, Alvin Schmidt of Deridder, Louisiana; special friends, Jeffrey and Peggy Unruh of Macon, Mississippi, and Max and Rose Koehn of Copeland; and many other friends and relatives too numerous to mention. Loved ones preceding him in death are his parents, one son and one sister. 

Funeral service will be held at Living Hope Mennonite Church, Ingalls on Friday, January 23, 2015 at 2:30 PM with Ministers James Koehn, Errol Wedel, and Stuart Jantzen presiding. Burial will follow at Salem Mennonite Church, Copeland. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel of Montezuma on Thursday, January 22, 2015 from Noon-5:00 PM. Memorials are suggested to Bethel Home in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.