Esther Fern (Knapp) Beindorf

Esther Fern Beindorf, 89, of Defiance, passed away on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, peacefully at Kingsbury Place in Defiance, Ohio with her husband by her bedside.

Fern was born on July 18, 1935, in York Township in Fulton County to Adam and Martha Elizabeth (Knapp) Knapp. Esther was named after Mrs. Lucke, whom her mother, Elizabeth worked for prior to her marriage. Her middle name, Fern was after her mother's oldest sister, Mary Fern, who passed away when Elizabeth was about 13 years old. To begin, she was called Esther, but her grandmother said she thought it would be better if they called her Fern. 

She was a 1953 graduate of Liberty Center High School and received her Registered Nursing Degree from St. Joseph's School of Nursing, Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1956. While in Nurse's Training her cousin Carol, who lived with the family, set her up on a blind date with her future husband, Otto Charles Beindorf and they were married on August 3, 1957, in Zion's Lutheran Church in Defiance.

She was a faithful and longtime member of Zion's Lutheran Church and participated in LLS and WELCA and organized funeral dinners for 10 years and additionally served as part-time Church secretary.

She was a wonderful, loving mother and friend for her husband and sons, father Adam who lived with the family for many years in Defiance, as well as friends. She loved to cook and bake cookies and always attended her sons' school events.

Fern was an avid counted cross-stitcher for many years and loved to give gifts to friends and relatives. Later in her life she enjoyed word searches, watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy to while her time away. She always said "she was just a little ole country girl doing the best I can".

Fern is survived by her loving husband of 67 years Otto; sons, Robert (Daphne), Columbus, Ohio and Jeffrey, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; grandson, Ian Donahue, Berlin, Germany; granddaughter, Jessica Coats, Henderson, Texas; brother, Eugene (Peggy) Knapp, Hudson, Florida and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and son Todd Beindorf.

Visitation will be held at Schaffer Funeral Home, Inc., Defiance, Ohio on Thursday, September 26, 2024 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 27, 2024 at Zion's Lutheran Church at 11:00 am with one hour of visitation at the church prior. Burial will take place in the Riverside Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to Zion's Lutheran Church, Defiance, Ohio.

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