Leola May Naftzger, age 98, of Morrison, IL, died Thursday, January 17, 2019, at Pleasant View Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, Morrison, surrounded by her family.
Leola was born December 30, 1920, in rural Albany, Whiteside County, IL, the daughter of Jesse D. and Mabel (Shook) Naftzger. Leola was a member of Albany United Methodist Church. Leola was extremely proud to be a direct descendant of John Hart, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. She attended Slocumb Street School, Newton Township, and she was a graduate of Erie High School. She attended Augustana Education College, Greeley, CO, and Northern Illinois State Teachers College, DeKalb, IL. Leola received her teaching degree from Mount Saint Clare in Clinton, IA. Leola taught school at four one-room country school houses: Cottle in Newton Township; Dublin in Albany, IL; Spring Creek and Stone Street Schools both in Garden Plain, IL. She also taught at the Newton, Tampico, and Albany Grade Schools. As a teacher, she either walked several miles to school or rode her Arabian horse, “Lucky.” Leola was an independent woman with close family relations. She loved teaching, enjoyed nature, gardening, walking in the family timber, and she was an accomplished pianist. She aided her elderly parents, assisted with the Hereford cattle, horses, animals, and family farm while on the Albany Erie Blacktop. On her recent 98th birthday, she gracefully sat at the piano and played songs for her family. She spent quality time with her nieces and nephews by introducing them to music, the piano, and hiking the family wooded land.
Survivors include her brother Wesley (Judy) Naftzger of Albany; sister-in-law Margaret (Harlan) Naftzger; an abundance of nieces and nephews; great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Lois Foster and Beulah Milnes; four brothers, Warren Naftzger, Harlan Naftzger, Russell Naftzger, and Lyle Naftzger.
Her funeral service is at 11:00 a.m., Monday, January 21, 2019, at the Albany United Methodist Church, preceded by a visitation from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service.
Pastor Toni Lucas will officiate.
McDonald Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Interment will be in Lusk Memorial Cemetery in Albany, IL.
In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established