Dorothy J. Nighswonger

Dorothy J. Nighswonger, 96, of Lacon Illinois, died on October 15, 2022 at Heritage Healthcare in Chillicothe. Born in Lacon on March 18, 1926 to the late David and Mary (Humphrey) Hankins, she married Paul Nighswonger Sr. on June 20 1944 in Sparland. Paul died on September 2, 2006

Dorothy is survived by daughter Lois Fechter of Hopewell; sons Paul Nighswonger Jr. of Chillicothe, Asa (Patricia) Nighswonger of Sparland; sister Ida Dalrymple of Henry: grandchildren Lisa (Eric) Scheffert of Dunlap, Lila (Troy) Schmick of Dunlap, Asalynn (late George) Wright of Lafayette KY, Lennie (Susan) Strong of Sparland, Chris (Casey) Nighswonger of Spring Bay; and 11 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter Mary June Simms, Mary’s husband Howard Simms, and three brothers Glenn & Virgil Hankins and Lewis Greene.

Dorothy loved gardening, camping, puzzles, reading, country music, bingo, and was an avid Cubs fan. She enjoyed spending time with her family especially her grandkids and great grandchildren.

As a young girl she nannied for the Spar family of Sparland. Later she worked with her stepfather Louis Greene cutting ice from the Illinois River for home delivery. She graduated from Sparland High School in 1944 and rarely missed an alumni banquet. Dorothy was a member of the Sparland Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school for many years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Sparland at the time of her death.

Services for Dorothy will be held on October 20 at Lenz Memorial Home in Lacon at 11 AM with visitation held one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in the Lacon Cemetery immediately following. Memorials can be made to the Nighswonger Family Cemetery and online condolences can be left at lenzmemorialhome.com