Obituary of Nadine Nighbert Pfister

Nadine (Nighbert) Pfister, 84, Iowa City, was called to Heaven on Monday, June 16th, surrounded by her loving family. She will be missed by the many that loved her. A memorial service celebrating Nadine's life will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, June 21st at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Iowa City with visitation from 4-7 p.m., Friday, also at the church. Memorials in Nadine's memory can be made to the Nadine Pfister Memorial Fund. Nadine was born December 28, 1929, in rural Cedar County; daughter of Earl and Clara (Dauber) Nighbert. Don and Nadine were joined in marriage on December 31, 1977. Nadine was a loving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a genuine and faithful friend. Caring, kind, generous, and hardworking describe her best. Nature, flowers, gardening, camping, being outdoors, her comforting cat, Roxie, as well as traveling with her best friend and husband, Don, are things she enjoyed. They traveled to every state west of the Mississippi, and to Vancouver, and Canada and...with their favorite trip being Alaska! She loved quilting at church with her friends as well as spending time with her Red Hat ladies...they had a lot of fun. Playing cards and dominos with her wonderful sissy, Marilyn, and husband, Larry, as well as with special neighbors and friends, were also something she greatly enjoyed. She and Don have been very blessed to have many exceptional neighborhood friends that have become like a second family to them. Nadine's children would like to thank their stepdad, Don, and let him know how very much they appreciate the great, special, and relentless care he gave their mother. Had it not been for his devotion to her, she would not have been able to stay at home, until almost the very end. The last four and a half years have been especially challenging, as more strokes changed her. We know it was not easy and was very demanding. We also know how very, very much she appreciated him doing whatever it took to keep her from having to live elsewhere...she did not want to be away from him or their home. Again, we are extremely grateful for all Don has done for her. The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation and thanks to all their great staff, who took care of Nadine, at Mercy Hospital, UIHC, Cedar Manor Nursing Home at Tipton, Crestview Nursing and Rehab Center in West Branch, as well as Hospice, and her doctors for their great care. We feel truly blessed! Survived by her husband, Don; children, Reggie (Sue) Swartzendruber, Amana, Vicki (Jerry) Wear, Iowa City, Randy (Joy) Swartzendruber, Kaufman, Texas, Kevin (Candas) Swartzendruber, Iowa City, Melanie Justice, Iowa City. Step-children, Kevin (Dana) Pfister, West Liberty, Lorie Stransky, Springdale, Arkansas, Mike (Stacy) Pfister, Oxford. Sisters, Marilyn (Larry) Sexton, Downey, Carol (Bill) Small, El Dorado, Arkansas, and many wonderful grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Clara Nighbert, sister and brother-in-law, Helen and Mel Sissel, brother, DeWayne Nighbert, and son, Darin Swartzendruber.