A service to celebrate Nila’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 4, 2015, at Dawson & Wikoff West Wood Street Funeral Home. The family will receive friends for a time of visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. until service time. A memorial service will also be held in Orange Park, Fl at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be made to her beloved grandchildren Nate and Noah Degelmann Education Fund c/o Prairie State Bank and Trust. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.dawsonwikoff.com.
Nila was born December 26, 1951, in Decatur, IL the daughter of John R. and Velma (Lahniers) Ware. She graduated from Eisenhower High School where she was a varsity cheerleader, later moving to Orange Park FL, where she started a career in the education field. She retired 34 years later as the coordinator of purchasing and accounts payable for the Clay County School District in Green Cove Springs, FL. Nila had a degree in Interior Design and also sidelined as a Real Estate Appraiser. After retiring she returned home to Illinois to be closer to her family and start a new chapter in her life. Nila had many interests, including a love for history, she was an avid tennis player, she enjoyed boating, watching movies and sports. She played piano, quilted, loved tending to flowers in her yard, and traveling.
Surviving is her daughter: Tara Degelmann and her husband Brian of Elizabeth, CO; fiancé; Bill Thurn of Springfield, IL; mother and step-father: Velma Ware Sheridan and her husband Robert of Decatur; brothers: Lyle Ware and his wife Shirley of Memphis, TN; Norm Ware and his wife Lisa of Oreana, IL; sister: Judy Smith and her husband Frank of Oreana, IL; grandsons: Nathan and Noah Degelmann; and many nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.
She was preceded in death by her father.
Nila had a love for life that was infectious, and wanted everyone around her to enjoy life as much as she did. She never met a stranger, and had a way of making you feel like you had been friends forever. Her warmth and caring way was a calming force in everyone’s life she touched. Those who knew and loved Nila will forever miss her.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Gupta, Jen, Britney, Tammy and Michelle from the Springfield Clinic, as well as Dr. Salti, Gina and all of the nurses at Edward Hospital in Naperville, Il.
Obituary written by family members.
