Opal E. (Pence) Nees, 91, North Manchester, died at 9 p.m. Thursday, June 23, 2016, in Timbercrest Healthcare Center, North Manchester. She was born Dec. 14, 1924, in South Whitley, to Chester and Jessie (Bolinger) Pence. On Dec. 26, 1964, she married John W. Nees. He died May 31, 1974.

Opal attended Salem School and Chester High School, where she graduated in 1943. She then attended Fort Wayne Bible College for almost three years and then graduated from Manchester College in 1950. Opal was licensed to the ministry by the Middle District of Indiana, Pleasant View Church of the Brethren in 1945. She was ordained to the ministry by the Northern Indiana District, Blissville Church of the Brethren in 1956 (Annual Conference in Grand Rapids, Mich.) Her first two pastorates were at Auburn, and the Blissville Church of the Brethren near Plymouth. For two years she was Christian Education Director at the First Church of the Brethren (Miami Street) when it became the new Crest Manor Church in South Bend. For 12 years she was on the Student Personnel staff and Director of Conferences at Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, Pa.

In 1976, Opal returned to North Manchester to begin serving a 12.5 year pastorate at the Liberty Mills Church of the Brethren. In 1989, Opal began a series of 15 interim pastorates in Churches of the Brethren in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana. After her permanent return to North Manchester in 2003, she moved to the Timbercrest Senior Living Community. Opal was a member of Liberty Mills Church of the Brethren, Liberty Mills.

She is survived by two foster nephews: Douglas Bay; and David Bay, both of Fort Wayne. She was preceded in death by one foster brother.

Family and friends may call from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Thursday, June 30, at Timbercrest Chapel, North Manchester. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, June 30, at Timbercrest Chapel, North Manchester. Pastor Kelly Beutler, Pastor Carroll Petry and Pastor Joan Deeter will officiate. Burial will be in South Whitley Cemetery, South Whitley.

For those who wish to honor the memory of Opal E. Nees, memorial contributions may be made to Timbercrest Senior Living Community, North Manchester, or Wabash County Cancer Society, North Manchester.

Arrangements are entrusted to McKee Mortuary, North Manchester.