Nightingale, Abram (1904-1976)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1976 Apr 30 p. 31

Birth date: 1904 May 04

text of obituary:

ABRAM NIGHTINGALE

The eldest son of Rev. Abraham P. and Maria (nee Warkentin) Nightingale, Abram Nightingale was born May 4,1904 in southern Russia. After the famine in 1922 he accepted the Lord during a revival in his village. With his parents he moved to Canada in 1924, helping them farm and later attending Tabor College, Hillsboro, Kansas.

In 1933 he married Olga Ellen Fast, and they settled in Winnipeg. Two sons were born to the couple. After a lengthy illness, Olga Ellen passed away in 1941. Mr. Nightingale remarried in April, 1942 to Anne Bespolka. He worked for Dominion Motors in Winnipeg from 1937 on, and was known as a good salesman. He was a man of compassion, always willing to help someone in need, and family members valued his counsel.

After cancer was diagnosed, he had to leave his job at Christmas, and entered the hospital for the last time on March 19. He accepted his illness and bore it patiently. In the presence of his wife and son, Harold, he passed away quietly on March 23. His youngest brother, Rev. David Nightingale, officiated at the funeral service, held March 25, and spoke from Psalm 90 and John 11.

He is predeceased by his parents, one brother and three brothers-in-law. Left to mourn are his beloved wife, Anne; two sons, Donald and Harold, and their wives, Marina and Ruth; five grandchildren; four brothers, John, Peter, Jack and David; seven sisters, Katie (Mrs. Jacob) Janzen, Mary (Mrs. John) Pauls, Olga (Mrs. Jacob) Boese, Elizabeth (Mrs. Henry) Friesen, Lydia (Mrs. John) Esau, Frieda (Mrs. Wenman) Langton, and Helen (Mrs. Jake) Dahl; and many relatives and friends.