The Rev. James Edward Nuhfer, 78, died at home at 9:35 a.m. on Sunday, March 28, 2010.

James was born in Woodville, OH on December 30, 1931 to Clarence and Emma (Avers) Nuhfer.  On September 14, 1952 Jim married Garnet Lucille Miller in Woodville, OH.

Jim is survived by:

Daughter, Kimberly (Patrick) Thomas of Kenton, OH

Son, Kris (Laura) Nuhfer of Pemberville, OH

Daughter, Jan (Rick) Cruz of Gibsonburg, OH

Sister, Helen Diekman of Fremont, OH

Sister, Kathryn (James) Humburg of Fremont, OH

Brother, Charles Nuhfer of Gibsonburg, OH

Brother, Tom Nuhfer of Willard, OH

3 grandchildren:  Ben Harruff of Sidney, OH; Krista Nuhfer of Dublin, OH and Erik Nuhfer of Pembereville, OH

3 step-grandchildren

5 step-great grandchildren

3 step great-great grandchildren

He was preceded in death by a sister, Florence Nuhfer and two brothers: Richard and Art Nuhfer.

Jim grew up on a dairy farm in Woodville and graduated from Woodville High School in 1949.  After high school he worked for Portage Farms showing prize Hereford cattle.  He was drafted into the U.S. Army where he spent time in Korea and Austria.

Jim graduated from Otterbein College in Westerville, OH in 1959 and received his Masters of Divinity Degree from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton in 1964.

The Nuhfers served 13 churches throughout Ohio.  After retirement in 1996, he went on to serve at Grace United Methodist Church in St.Marys, OH until 2004.  He completed 45 continuous years of Christian Ministry.

Jim spent 27 years serving church camps in the West Ohio Conference.  In his last 12 years of camping, he developed camps at Camp St.Marys for persons with mental, physical and emotional handicaps.  He served on the YMCA Board of Directors, FEMA Board and was active in Kiwanis for 30 years being named Distinguished Kiwanis President in Fremont, OH in 1987 and he received the Kiwanis Outstanding Leadership Award in 1988.  He was a life member of the St.Marys American Legion Post 323 and the St.Marys VFW Post 9289 where he served both as Chaplain.  He was Vice President of SOURCES, Community Network Services and volunteered at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital in St.Marys.  He received the St.Marys Chamber of Commerce Bridge Builders Award.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 1, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church in St.Marys, with visitation at the church from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.  A memorial service will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church in Fremont, OH on April 10 at 10:00 a.m.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Otterbein Retirement Living Communities, Grand Lake Hospice or the charity of your choice.