NORTH MANCHESTER – Dr. R. Emerson Niswander, 97, of North Manchester, died at 12:50 p.m. Aug. 10, 2011, in Timbercrest Healthcare Center, North Manchester.
He was born April 2, 1914, in Bluffton, Ohio, to Noah and Kate Stetler Niswander. On June 8, 1941, he married Evelyn Mullett, who survives.
He was a professor of biology at Manchester College from 1950-82. Prior to teaching at Manchester College, he taught at Eden Central High School, Upper Sandusky, Ohio. He served in the U.S. Army from 1941-45 and was a member of Manchester Church of the Brethren, North Manchester. He graduated from Bluffton (Ohio) High School in 1932 and from Bluffton (Ohio) University in 1938 and received his master’s degree and Ph.D. from Ohio State University. He was recognized with a citation from Indiana Family Practice Physicians for the education of medical students and received a citation for Responsible Philanthropy from Manchester College. He was a member of the North Manchester Historical Society and Indiana Academy of Science and Ohio Academy of Science. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Center for History, North Manchester. He served on the Wabash County Hospital Board and was a member of Wabash County Economic Development Committee, the Entomology Society of America and the Sigma Zi Fraternity at Ohio State University. He co-owned Old Orchard Antiques. With a recent endowment received, Manchester College dedicated the Dr. R. Emerson & Evelyn Niswander Biology Department.
Surviving are two sons, Ray Niswander Jr., Worthington, Ohio, and Mark Niswander, Mahomet, Ill.; two daughters, Sue (and spouse Clifford) Myers, Hershey, Pa., and Jan (and spouse Phillip) Wilt, Romeoville, Ill.; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers and a sister.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Aug. 27, 2011, in Manchester Church of the Brethren, 1306 N. Beckley St., North Manchester, with Pastors Kurt Borgmann and Karen Eberly officiating.
Calling will follow the services Aug. 27 at the church.
McKee Mortuary, North Manchester, is in charge of arrangements.
***** Memorials may be made to Manchester College, 604 E. College Ave., North Manchester, IN 46962; Manchester Church of the Brethren, 1306 N. Beckley St., North Manchester, IN; or Timbercrest Senior Living Community, P.O. Box 501, North Manchester, IN 46962.
