Carolyn K. Nafziger

Carolyn Kay Nafziger, of Minier, passed away on September 19, 2025, at the home of her son in Tremont.

She was born in Bloomington on December 25, 1936, to S. Thomas Swartzendruber and Elsie Pearl Mast. On November 23, 1963, she married Gene Nafziger in Hopedale, and he survives.

Also surviving are her children: Alan (Audry) Nafziger of Santa Barbara, CA; Thomas Nafziger of Buffalo Grove, IL; and Deryl (Sheri) Nafziger of Tremont, IL; 11 grandchildren: Aria, Ava, Rebecca (Jake), Benjamin (Vicky), Anna, Tyler (Kara), Braden (Elita), Morgan (Daniel), Macy (Cade), Brooke (fiancé Waylon), and Autumn; seven great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Edwin (Sharon) Swartzendruber of Goshen, IN, and Lynn (Sharon) Swartzendruber of Minier.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Carolyn attended Goshen College (Goshen, IN), where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. She began her career as a registered nurse in Washington, D.C., serving for one year before spending two years in voluntary service in Twillingate, Newfoundland. Upon returning to Illinois, she taught nursing at Mennonite Hospital in Normal. She later paused her career to raise her children, then returned to nursing at Apostolic Christian Restmor in Morton, where she worked for more than 20 years.

She was a member of Hopedale Mennonite Church, where she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. More recently, she attended Northfield Christian Fellowship in Tremont. Carolyn also volunteered in many church and community organizations.

Carolyn enjoyed genealogy and co-authored “The Descendants of Frederick Swartzendruber and Sarah Yoder” family book.  She also enjoyed gardening, sewing, quilting, and spending time with her grandchildren.

Her funeral will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 26, 2025, at Hopedale Mennonite Church in Hopedale, with Pastor Roger Springer officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 25, and one hour prior to the service, both at the church. Burial will follow in Hopedale Mennonite Cemetery. Davis-Oswald Funeral Home in Tremont is assisting with arrangements.

Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.

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