Funeral services for Rendel Dean Nightingale, 57, of Okeene, will be 10:30 AM, Monday, July 16, 2018 at the Church of God in Christ Mennonite, Fairview, Oklahoma. Burial will follow in Cedar Cemetery. Arrangements are by Fairview Funeral Home Inc.

Our loving Husband, Dad, and Papa, Rendel Nightingale passed away unexpectedly while working on the farm on July 11, 2018 at the age of 57. He was born to Alvin and Vera Nightingale on December 21, 1960 in Watonga Oklahoma.

Rendel lived all his life in Major County and completed his first 8 grades of education at Progressive School. He then finished his 12 ^th grade education through home school.

Rendel was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite on December 17, 1972 by George Nichols. His Christian life was important to him, he was sincere, confessed his failings, and wanted each of us to be faithful. He especially enjoyed going to Sunday school and remained faithful until the end.

He was married to me, Gayla Jantz on January 2, 1983. We had 35 years of wonderful married life. To this union were born two sons and two daughters.

He accepted each of his in-laws and loved them as his own. We children felt secure. He was Papa to his grandchildren whom he loved dearly, and they loved him in return. He was anticipating the arrival of two more this winter.

Rendel grew up with four siblings and told us stories of his happy childhood. He learned good work ethics while a child and passed it on to his children. His occupation was a dairy and grain farmer and his children helped from a young age on. His sons worked side by side with him on the farm. With his ingenuity, he made things work and made do with what he had.

He was a supporter and helper of Christian Disaster Relief, the Cedar Christian School Board, and the food committee. He filled his responsibilities in a quiet way.

Family vacations were important to him and we enjoyed many happy family trips. One especially special time was when we as a family went to The Ark and The Creation Museum a year ago. We as a couple also enjoyed traveling together after the children were gone from home. He was our anchor and we always looked to him for advice.

Those left to cherish fond memories include his wife, Gayla, Okeene, Oklahoma, children: Lyle and Janeen, Okeene, Oklahoma, Peggy and Wes Kurtz, Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, Colby and Dedra, Fairview, Oklahoma, Amber and Stan Jantz, Fairview, Oklahoma. Five grandchildren: Jana, Kenton, and Nate Nightingale, and Teresa and Lona Kurtz. Siblings: Dayton, Fairview, Oklahoma, Bev and Gilmer Toews, Hadashville, Manitoba, Darwin and Sandy, Jay, Oklahoma, and Darla and Wilbert Koehn, Fairview, Oklahoma. In-laws: Millie Jantz, Ringwood, Oklahoma, Heidi and Brenden Schmidt, Texline, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law, one brother-in-law, and one niece.