Nelda Buller

Nelda May Buller, 94, of Tremont, IL died November 2, 2023.  She was born January 20, 1929, the oldest child of Joseph R. and Malinda (Culp) Litwiller.  She had 2 siblings, Robert, who died in infancy and Arlene Litwiller Kauffman, who died in 1982.  She graduated in 1950 from Mennonite Hospital School of Nursing and completed post graduate studies in obstetrical nursing at Margaret Hague Maternity Hospital in New Jersey.  She also worked at Elkhart General Hospital in Indiana and was clinical instructor for Goshen College’s first class of bachelor’s degree nursing students.  During her professional career, Nelda worked at Denver General Hospital, Hopedale Medical Complex and Tremont Medical Clinic.

Nelda moved to Denver, CO in 1953 where she met her husband, Eldo Benjamin Buller.  They were married November 18, 1954; Eldo died in 2014.  The couple had three children, Sarah (Curt Fenton), Joel (Angela Peck) and Mary (Richard Gilliom).  They enjoyed 5 grandchildren, Joseph Fenton, Mark Fenton (Kathryn Hamilton), Ben Gilliom (Amanda Fleener), Hana Gilliom and Noah Gilliom (Stefanie Hannah).  In later years, Nelda enjoyed 6 great grandchildren, Lucas, Benjamin and Autumn Fenton, Mira and Mason Gilliom and Graham Gilliom.  Nelda was also close to her sister’s daughters, Brenda Kauffman, Cheryl Kauffman Outland, Karen Kauffman McCormick and Susan Kauffman Winn.  She also enjoyed her extended Buller family, visiting and receiving visitors as frequently as possible.

During retirement, Nelda and Eldo enjoyed traveling with family and friends to Alaska, Hawaii and the Southeastern and Southwestern states, as well as Canada. They also enjoyed short-term assignments with the Mennonite Church's Service Opportunities for Older People, working in San Antonio, Texas, and Puerto Rico.

Nelda was a faithful member of Hopedale Mennonite Church, regularly reading the Bible and studying Sunday School lessons.  She supported many church programs including Mennonite Central Committee, Et Cetera Thrift Shop in Eureka, IL, the Illinois Mennonite Relief Sale and Hopedale Mennonite Church’s Mennonite Women.  She made many comforters for MCC.  She also made comforters and quilts for her children and grandchildren.  Her passions were her family, cooking, and sewing and quilting, which she enjoyed   She was an excellent cook, seamstress and quilter, passing her skills on to her descendants.  She enjoyed spending time supporting her children and grandchildren with school and 4-H projects.  She supported Eldo with farming activities in addition to working part time as a registered nurse.

Private burial was in Mennonite Cemetery in Hopedale. A memorial service will be held on Friday, November 24, at 10:30 AM at Hopedale Mennonite Church, 5192 Hopedale Road, Hopedale, Ill.  The service will be available by Zoom. Davis-Oswald Funeral Home in Tremont is handling the arrangements.

If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Mennonite Central Committee or Hopedale Mennonite Church Mennonite Women.

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