Lazarus
Project
An obituary project of MennObits.
Source of individual obituaries given with each record.
This file is named for the year the obituary was recorded here, not the
death year.
2026:
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Nisley, Laura M.
04/19/1929 - 11/05/2025
Laura M. Nisley, age 96, of Sarasota, Florida, passed away
peacefully in God's appointed time, at home at 3:56 pm on Wednesday,
November 5, 2025. She was born April 19, 1929, in Nappanee, Indiana,
to Menno and Malinda (Miller) Yoder. On March 10, 1955, she married
Ray C. Nisley. Ray passed away on December 17, 2016.
Laura is survived by 3 children: Linda (Paul) Yoder of Sarasota, Dave
(Grace) Nisley of Sarasota, and Mary Lou Fisher (Isaac, deceased) of
Coatesville, Pennsylvania; 14 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and 4
step great-grandchildren; one brother, Ervin Yoder of Shipshewana, Indiana;
brother-in-law Devon Fingerle of Sarasota,; and 3 sisters-in-law, Elnora
Yoder of Nappanee, IN, Leanna Yoder of Belle Center, Ohio, and Marie Yoder
of Sarasota.
Preceding Laura in death are her parents and 10 siblings: Alvin Yoder,
Lester Yoder, Levi Yoder, Emmon Yoder, Amos Yoder, Owen Yoder, Willie Yoder,
Lizzie Hochstetler, Gertie Yoder, and Sylvia Fingerle; grandsons John David
Fisher and Olen Ray Fisher.
Laura was a member of Tourist Mennonite Church. She was a house cleaner and
had worked at Yoder's Restaurant.
Friends are invited to a viewing on Saturday, November 8, 2025, from 5-8 pm
at Tourist Mennonite Church, 3340 Bahia Vista St, Sarasota, FL 34239.
The funeral will be held on Sunday, November 9, 2025, 10:30 am at Tourist
Mennonite Church, with viewing 9:30 to 10:30 am.
Burial will be at Sunnyside Mennonite Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Duke Duvall, at Light of the
World Ministries.
https://yourtraditionsfuneralhome.com/obit/laura-m-nisley
Accessed January 10, 2026 by Phil Kniss
Ramer, Cheryl Jean Miller
April 2, 1953 — January 5, 2026
Cheryl Jean Miller Ramer was born April 2, 1953 in Bedford
Heights, OH, the daughter of Paul and Edna (Guth) Miller, crediting them
with instilling values of faith and ethics. As the oldest of 5 siblings, she
was often depended on for child-care at a young age partly due to her
mother’s struggle with mental illness. During these years Cheryl developed
organizational skills along with taking responsibility that served her
(mostly!) well all through life.
She graduated from Central Christian High School in Kidron, Ohio, Hesston
College and Tabor College in Kansas. Cheryl accepted Jesus as her savior,
was baptized into the Mennonite Church and remained a lifelong member. On
December 27, 1975 Cheryl was united in marriage to Heber Ramer in Bedford
Heights, Ohio. Ten days before her death she was delighted to celebrate
their 50th wedding anniversary which had become a major goal in the last
months.
Cheryl was a social worker at Child Protective Services in Newton, Kansas,
at Halstead Hospital in Halstead, Kansas, and at Harry Hynes Hospice in
Wichita, Kansas. She was the consummate advocate for her clients, often
roping Heber into special after-hours projects in order to more fully meet
the needs of clients. She loved planning events and teaming up with friends
to host a fun time.
They lived in Hesston, Kansas and Harper, Kansas while raising their
children with persistent creativity and interest in their activities. About
4 years ago they moved to Iowa as her lifestyle required evolving
adaptations. Cheryl was a current member of West Union Mennonite Church and
was so comforted that they received her for “who she was deep down” and not
just “some old sick lady who can’t help with anything”.
She found great satisfaction in watching children learn and grow, reminding
her of the hope that was a significant part of her faith. Often when
situations seemed to require an impossible decision, she chose the option
that developed hope for the persons involved. She usually cheered for the
underdog.
Cheryl made relative peace with her mortality early on in the 8.5 years she
lived with the recurrence of cancer, but a growing list of ailments made
daily tasks increasingly difficult and near the end her ability to enjoy
activities was starting to wane.
As her health deteriorated, she focused on seizing opportunities for
celebrating God’s big and small mercies of life. Big ones included visiting
her 50th State (Hawaii!), hauling her walker up the Great Wall of China, and
numerous family gatherings. Small ones included things like volunteering at
Crowded Closet, while still able, and the countless smiles, birds, snacks,
and songs that filled her heart.
Cheryl passed away Monday, January 5, 2026 at her home in rural Parnell at
the age of 72 years. Left to live with her absence are her husband Heber,
daughter Rachelle of Fort Collins, Colorado, son, Nathan (Erin) of rural
Parnell, a brother Terry (Ann) Miller of Coshocton, Ohio, sisters, Julie
Cressman of Las Vegas Nevada and Patti (Bob) Wilson of Newark, Delaware,
brother-in-law, Dave Wiegand of Las Vegas and the many friends she was so
grateful for. Cheryl was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Karen
Weigand and brother-in-law, Don Cressman.
A Memorial Service will be held 11:00 am Saturday, January 17, 2026, at West
Union Mennonite Church rural Parnell, with lunch and sharing to follow.
Pastor John David Kenney will officiate. There will be no visitation.
A memorial fund has been established for Crooked Creek Christian Camp or
Mennonite Central Committee. Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in
Wellman is caring for Cheryl and her family. Messages and tributes may be
sent to the family at www.powellfuneralhomes.com
https://www.powellfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/cheryl-ramer
Accessed January 12, 2026 by Phil Kniss
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