Berea A. Nigus, 101, of Maple Grove Apartments of Hiawatha, went to be with her Lord Thursday, January 25, 2018, at Hiawatha Community Hospital.

She was born October 6, 1916, at Leona, the daughter of Boyd and Grace Davis Gentzler and lived in the northeast Kansas area all of her life. Berea graduated from Leona, High School in 1934 and married Donald F. Nigus, October 24, 1936, in Leona.

Berea was a lifelong member of the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, and belonged to the Hiawatha Christian Church for the past 40 years, where she served as a Sunday School Teacher, and belonged to CWF of the church.

Berea held many positions throughout her lifetime. Some of them included lunchroom cook at Everest Grade School, clerk in Lynch Mercantile in Everest, and Everest Sundries. She was also a cook at the Hiawatha Infirmary, Horton Hospital, and Maple Leaf Restaurant in Hiawatha. However, her favorite position was Grandma.

Berea was preceded in death by her parents; siblings; Allen Gentzler, Beatrice(Gentzler) Fredrick, and Ben Gentzler; her husband Don F. Nigus; son David A. Nigus; daughters-in-law Nancy (Brunner) Nigus, Patricia (Koelliker) Nigus; son-in-law Roger Marquis; grandsons James Weiland, Gary Nigus and Ricky Nigus.

She is survived by a son Don L. Nigus of Hiawatha; daughter  Ann (Nigus) Marquis of Topeka; grandchildren; Phillip (Tammy) Nigus, Lisa (Terry) Weiland, Lynn Rupe, Lori (Gary) Snavely, Brenda Nigus (Jeff) Donley), Mike (Missy) Nigus, Scott (Andrea) Marquis, and Amy (Michael) Ellis; and granddaughters-in-law Cathy Nigus and Laurice Nigus, both of Hiawatha.  Grandma Berea has 26 great-grandchildren and 26 great-great grandchildren.

A Celebration of Berea’s life is planned for 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 31, at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hiawatha, where the family will meet one hour prior to services.  Shane Spangler will officiate.   Interment will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, north of Leona.