Lothar Nonnenmacher

On Saturday, April 13, 2019, Lothar Nonnenmacher passed away at the age of 86 at the Meadville Medical Center, Meadville, PA.

He was born in Reutlingen, Germany, the son of Julius and Sofie Nonnenmacher. He was preceded in death by his wife, Gretel, and his brother, Helmut. He is survived by his two sons, Andreas and Tomas, his daughters-in-law, Amy Nonnenmacher and Shannan Mattiace, his grandchildren, Nicholas and Maxwell, his sister-in-law, Erika, his nephews, Bernd and Jurgen, and their families.

He attended school at the Friedrich List Gymnasium and the Johannes Keppler Oberschule in Reutlingen and apprenticed as a toolmaker at Stoll, a knitting-machine manufacturer, while attending trade school.

Growing up in Germany during World War II, he was deeply affected by war and its consequences. He never liked fireworks, for example, as they reminded him of the terrors of the bombings he experienced as a child. Even though potatoes were a primary source of sustenance for long periods during the war, he maintained a deep love for them. He always required there to be an adequate supply of potatoes in the house to make his favorite Kartoffelsalat.

After graduating from trade school, he emigrated to the United States, working for Knitting Machine Supply Company to install and service Stoll textile knitting machines, primarily for customers in New York City. He was hardworking and loyal to his business associates.

Through his friends in the immigrant community, Lothar met his wife, Gretel. She had fled from the violence of World War II as a child and eventually emigrated to this country. Lothar and Gretel were married in the Marienkirche in Reutlingen in 1962 and lived in Mountainside, NJ. They were devoted members of the Community Presbyterian Church in Mountainside, where he served many years on the session. As immigrants without family in the United States, the bond that Lothar and Gretel formed was unbreakable. She preceded him in death by 20 years, and he missed her every day that she was gone.

In 2014, amid growing challenges of maneuvering through the house in which he lived for nearly 50 years, he moved to the Wesbury Retirement Community in Meadville, PA to be close to his son, Tomas, and daughter-in-law, Shannan. In Meadville, he continued to live independently and was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church.

Lothar was a generous man who focused his life on his family and friends. He had a special gift for gratitude. He was grateful for his family, particularly for the opportunity to see his grandchildren. He was grateful to those who helped him or took the time to say a kind word. He constantly thanked his family and friends for their help and love. Hardly a conversation would end without him thanking the other person.

While he had declined physically over the past few years, he was still active. He had plans and dreams, many of which centered on upcoming visits from family. He lived his life well and he will be deeply missed.

Lothar will be interred at the Memorial Garden at the Community Presbyterian Church in Mountainside, NJ. Memorial service arrangements are still being made.

Donations can be made in his name to the Wesbury Retirement Community, 31 N. Park Ave., Meadville, PA 16335 or on line at https://wesbury.com/ways-to-give/make-a-donation/

Arrangements are under the direction of STEPHEN P. MIZNER FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, INC., 404 CHESTNUT ST., MEADVILLE.

Share a memory or condolence at www.miznerfuneralhome.com