Leola Marie Ginder (91) of Newton

Leola Marie Ginder, age 91, of Newton, Illinois, passed away at 2:05 PM Wednesday, December 16, 2020, at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham, Illinois.

Funeral services celebrating Leola’s life will be held at 11:00 AM Monday, December 21, 2020, at Central Christian Church in Newton, Illinois, with Mike Knepper officiating. Burial will be in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Newton, Illinois. Visitation will be held from 10:00-11:00 AM Monday, December 21, 2020 at the church. In loving memory of Leola, memorials may be made to St. Thomas Catholic School. Funeral arrangements are in the care of Meyer Funeral Home in Newton, Illinois. The obituary can be viewed and condolences left by clicking here. 

Leola Marie was born on July 8, 1929, in Fox Township, Jasper County, Illinois, the daughter of Eugene and Lula Vica (Weiler) Ritz. She attended Newton Community High School graduating with the class of 1947. She married Denis A. Ginder on July 2, 1953, at St. Mary of Assumption Catholic Church in Sainte Marie, Illinois, and he preceded her in death on January 7, 2005. Leola was a member of Central Christian Church and a former member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church. She was also a longtime member of the Vanderhoof Home Extension.

Leola was a farmer’s wife, mother, and grandmother but above all, she was a strong Christian woman. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, crafting, gardening, tending to her flowers, listening to music and camping. Her greatest joy was her love for Jesus and her family.

Leola is survived by: 3 Children - Carolyn (Paul) Kibler of Newton, Illinois; Marilyn (Dan) McKillip of Lerna, Illinois and Dale (Nancy) Ginder of Newton, Illinois; 6 Grandchildren - Amanda (Aaron) Urfer of West Liberty, Illinois; Derek (Ashley) Ginder, Dominic (Clarissa) Ginder, Sarah (Kyle) Bergbower, Michelle Kibler and April (Brian) Holkenbrink all of Newton, Illinois; 14 Great Grandchildren - Chlora, Vica, Emma and Magdalena Bergbower, Avery Geier, Abbie, Audrey, Deagan and Allie Ginder, Alaina, Austun, Ashlyn and Adeline Urfer and Rylee Holkenbrink; Sister - Melvina Bahl of West Liberty, Illinois.

Leola was preceded in death by her parents, husband, infant grandson, brother Melburn Ritz and his wife Alice Ritz, and a brother-in-law Marion Bahl.