Gracemary Nilges

Gracemary Nilges, 87, of Iola, Kansas, died Monday, Feb. 8, 2016, at Windsor Place in Iola. Gracemary was born May 30, 1928, in Pierz, Minnesota, the daughter of Henry and Crescence "Grace" (Meyer) Kruschek. She graduated from Melrose High School in Melrose, Minnesota. On June 1, 1950, Gracemary married Mark Nilges at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Garnett. They made their home on a farm at Selma then north of Lone Elm until they semi-retired and moved to LaHarpe. They moved into Iola in 2007. She has worked at Gates and Haldex in Iola. Mark preceded her in death April 7, 2008. She was a member of St. John''s Catholic Church in Iola. Survivors include 4 children: Charlene Miller and husband, James of Broken Arrow, OK, Roy Nilges and wife, Linda of Colony, KS, Leo Nilges and wife, Julie of Marion, ND and Joyce Lickteig and husband, Roy of Gas, KS; 12 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her son Stephen Nilges, 3 babies, Joseph, Mark and Connie, grandson Luke Lickteig, great grandson Joseph Langhorst and 12 siblings. The parish rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m. Thurs., Feb. 11, 2016, at St. John''s Catholic Church in Iola. Visitation will follow in St. John''s Parish Hall. The funeral mass will be 10:00 a.m., Fri., Feb. 12, 2016, at St. John''s Catholic Church in Iola, with burial to follow in Holy Angels Cemetery in Garnett. Memorials are suggested to St. Jude''s Childrens Research Hospital and may be left with the Waugh-Yokum and Friskel Memorial Chapel of Iola, which is in charge of arrangements. To leave a condolence, go to www.iolafuneral.com .