Ernestine Marie Meister, 97, Bremen, passed away at 2:45 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016 in Signature Health Care of Bremen.

She was born Dec. 26, 1918 in Madison Township to Emil and Ernestine (Krauter) Meister. She grew up on a farm near Bremen with seven siblings. She attended Muncie School and then went to Bremen High School, where she graduated in 1936. She worked for various companies during her lifetime, including Shaeffer Gear in South Bend, where she retired after 25 years of service. After retirement, she continued to live on the Meister farm on 331 south of Bremen, along with her brother, Bill and sister, Mildred. As they grew older and frail, she became their loving caregiver. Ernestine was the last survivor of eight siblings.

She was preceded in death by Elmer, Bill, Harley, and Mildred, Bremen; Roy of Nappanee; Lester of West Lafayette; and Ezra of Crystal City, Texas. She was also preceded by nephews: Bob, Ken and Roger Meister; and niece, Tina Schutske.

Though Ernestine never married or had children, she loved and cared for her nieces and nephews as though they were her own.

She was deeply loved and respected by several generations of her family, and was a woman of great faith, having been a faithful servant and member of the Apostolic Christian Church in Bremen and South Bend since her teenage years.

She is survived by nephews: Arnold Meister of Koloa, Hawaii; Larry Meister of Bourbon; Harley Meister of Battle Creek, Mich.; Dick Meister of West Lafayette; Don Meister of Bremen; Jerry Meister of Bremen; Rick Meister of Knoxville, Tenn.; Eric Meister of Logansport; Ronald Meister of South Bend; Ned Meister of Valley Mills, Texas; and Bryan Meister of Marshall, Mich.; Also surviving are nieces: Lenora Meister of Newport Beach, Calif.; Mary Lawmaster of Bremen; Sharon Staffen of Angola; Shirley Conrad of Lakeville; Elaine Lockwood of Aransas Pass, Texas; and Terri Steffen of Charlotte, N.C.

Visitation will be held from 3-7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 26 in Mishler Funeral Home, 2030 St. Rd. 331, Bremen. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 27, in Apostolic Christian Church, 15961 Madison Rd., Mishawaka, IN 46544. Burial will follow in Bremen Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Whitlock, 515 S. Whitlock St., Bremen, IN 46506.