Donna M. (Fedderke) Nicely

God is faithful in His promises. Mrs. Donna M. Nicely was called home to the arms of her Lord and Savior September 5, 2023, 12:50 AM, at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center at the age of 85.

Donna was born to Donald and Regina (Panning) Fedderke on August 18, 1938 in Ridgeville Corners. She was baptized at St. Mark’s Lutheran, confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran in Napoleon, and graduated from Napoleon High School. She was married to the love of her life, Floyd J. Nicely and they had four beautiful daughters: Lou Ann, Tamara, Juli, and Kim.

She was a faithful and active member of St. John’s Lutheran in Defiance and later in life St. John’s Lutheran in Sherwood, Ohio. Donna was a hair stylist by trade, but later found her true calling as a beloved school bus driver for Tinora Schools.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband Floyd J. Nicely, by her parents Donald and Regina Fedderke, and by her brothers: Donald Fedderke Jr. and Marvin Fedderke.

Donna is survived by her sister Phyllis (Ted) Nicely of Defiance, her daughters: Lou Ann (Larry) Powell of Chapel Hill, TN and children Amanda (Jason) Rieger and Joseph & Danielle Powell; Tamara (Tim) Miller of Sherwood, OH and children Tyler & Briana Miller and Melissa (John) Coressel; Juli (John) Bowling of Sherwood, OH and sons Zachary & Kayla Bowling, Caleb & Katie Bowling, and Jake Bowling & Lindsay Zwiebel; Kim (Monte) Lipp of Chesapeake, VA and sons Craig Lipp and Corey & Imani Lipp. She has 13 wonderful great-grandchildren.

An obit is just a summary. By it’s nature it is really hard to get to know the person it describes, but for Donna we will try. Donna was a beautiful, feisty, strong woman. She was a perfect match for her beloved husband of over 50 years, Floyd Nicely. Both being strong willed, they didn’t clash so much as they were a team, “Floyd and Donna”. You could not know one without knowing the other. She loved helping with so many events at church, the UAW, the Retirees, and the VFW. She loved to garden with Floyd, camping with her family, traveling, and even hunting and fishing to be together. 

If you were her friend, she was a special friend. If you were her family member, you were blessed. She dearly loved her husband, parents, sister and brothers, and all of her family and friends. But her passion in life was her love for her girls. Donna raised them to be just as beautiful, feisty, and strong. Through her girls she blessed their children and their children's children as life goes on. 

The final things to remember about this wonderful woman are: We all love her so much!  But her legacy is: ”She loves us more!”

Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 7, 2023 from 2:00 to 8:00 pm at St. John Lutheran Church in Sherwood, Ohio. A funeral service to celebrate her life will be held on Friday, September 8, 2023 at 12:00 pm at the church, with Rev. Eric Moquin officiating. One hour of additional visitation will be held before the service. Burial will follow the service at St. John Lutheran Cemetery.

Schaffer Funeral Home in Defiance was honored to assist the family with arrangements.
  
Memorials are suggested to CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center or St John Lutheran Church of Sherwood, Ohio.