Evelyn (Mullett) Niswander

Evelyn Mullett Niswander, 102, North Manchester, Indiana, passed away June 15, 2020 at Timbercrest Healthcare Center, North Manchester. Evelyn was born in Mishawaka, Indiana, October 1, 1917, to Ezra and Anna Mullett.  They had one other daughter, Anna Ruth Mullett and a son, J. Lorrel Mullett.  Evelyn had many memories of going to County Fairs and of 4-H activities with her family and also loved to visit extended family.  She and her cousins would sometimes put together little plays or programs to perform for family entertainment. 

Evelyn graduated from Nappanee High School in 1935.  She went to Bluffton College, Bluffton, Ohio, (now known as Bluffton University) for 4 years and she worked all 4 of those years as a secretary to the President of the college to pay her college expenses.  She graduated with a BA Degree in Home Economics in 1939. 

It was when she was a Freshman in college that her roommate told her of a “neat” guy in her Biology class.  When Evelyn met Emerson Niswander, she agreed.  They were married June 8, 1941 and had two sons and two daughters. The two were wed for almost seventy years. When the family was still at home, they enjoyed tent camping each summer in many of the Indiana State Parks and in some states in the area.

After she graduated from college, Evelyn taught high school near Upper Sandusky, Ohio, for 2 years where Emerson was also teaching.  In 1941 Emerson was drafted and was in the South Pacific for 39 months.  During that time Evelyn lived in Bayonne, New Jersey, where she was a secretary to the C.E.O. of Bayonne Associates, who were building a navel dry dock.  In 1943 she moved to Greenwich Village in New York City with 2 girls whose husband and boyfriend were also overseas.  She worked at the Central Laboratory of General Foods Corp. in a test kitchen from 1943-1946. 

After the war and Emerson’s discharge, the couple went to Columbus, Ohio, for 4 years where Emerson taught at Ohio State University and earned his Master’s Degree and Ph.D.  It was in 1950 that the Niswanders came to North Manchester.  Emerson taught Biology at Manchester College and Evelyn worked in Food Service at the college.  At first, she worked with the Dietician and later as Director of Food Service at Oakwood Hall. In 1968 and until 1980, Evelyn worked for Timbercrest.  Originally, she was a secretary at the office for Timbercrest located downtown while Timbercrest was being constructed.  She became Director of Food Service soon after the residents from the Mexico Home were moved into Timbercrest.  Evelyn has been recognized for her 10 years of service to Timbercrest.

Evelyn belonged to the North Manchester Historical Society, Manchester Community Club, the Fine Arts Club and the Thimble Collectors International.  She enjoyed collecting antiques, especially sewing tools. In years past she had a booth at shows under the name of Old Orchard Antiques.  She also liked to sew and to read.  She was a lifetime member of the Timbercrest Auxiliary and a member of the Manchester Church of the Brethren.

The loving memory of Evelyn Mullett Niswander will be forever cherished by her sons, Ray Niswander Jr., Worthington, Ohio and Mark Niswander, Mahomet, Illinois; daughters, Sue (Clifford) Myers, Hershey, Pennsylvania and Jan (Phillip Wilt, Romeoville, Illinois; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, J. Lorrel Mullett; and sister, Anna Ruth Balmer.

A graveside service will be held at a later date.

For those who wish to honor the memory of Evelyn Mullett Niswander, memorial contributions may be made to Niswander Fund for Science at Manchester University, 604 East College Ave., North Manchester, Indiana 46962 or Manchester Church of the Brethren, 1306 North Beckley Street, North Manchester, Indiana 46962.

Arrangements are entrusted to McKee Mortuary.

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