Meyersdale, PA-Etta Leora (Kreger) Nicklow, age 92, entered life with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on November 17, 2025.
Etta was born at her home in Markleton, PA on June 22, 1933, the eldest of four children born to Scott and Elsie Kreger who owned and ran a farm there. Etta and her beloved husband of 73 years, Howard Joseph Nicklow, raised five children. She viewed children as a gift from the Lord and invested in her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren by spending as much time as she could with them and by praying for them faithfully by name.
Etta remembered walking to school in her elementary years even through deep snow drifts in the winter. Etta met her one and only love, Howard, at a church outing, and some say it was love at first sight. She married Howard on June 3, 1951, in the middle of his army service, and soon after, he left for his assignment in Germany while Etta worked at Newberry's, a department store in Somerset, PA, until his return.
The couple later moved to Meyersdale, PA, and started a family. Etta chose to stay at home to raise her five children, and she used her home as a place of hospitality and ministry, inviting all kinds of people in for meals and rich conversation. Etta loved being a mother, telling a good story, winning at Scrabble, tending to her house plants and flower gardens, cooking great meals, baking delicious desserts, growing and harvesting vegetables, vacationing with her good friends Dean and Audrey Hillegas, taking time to sit and converse with family and friends, and spending time in prayer and Bible reading.
She loved Jesus and was an active member of Grace Brethren Church in Meyersdale. She hosted women's prayer groups and bible studies in her home over the years. One of the highlights of her life was teaching an adult Sunday school class at Old Bethel Church where she helped people understand more deeply the love of God. Another passion of Etta's was to see children come to know Christ, and she and Howard faithfully led Weekly Religious Education at Meyersdale Area Schools for many years.
Her great joy was raising her children in the love and grace of her Lord, and she had a strong spiritual influence on her grandchildren who she taught, through her example, to pray about everything. Etta's children remember that she even prayed before she entered the grocery store, that she would find good bargains and spend her money wisely. She had a strong faith that Jesus was with her in the ordinary and the extraordinary events of her life.
Even in Etta's last months as her health was declining, she developed close relationships with the residents and the nursing staff of Patriot Village where she resided and offered to pray for and with them. One of her nurses told the family that Etta helped her through a hard time in her life and prayed with her.
Etta was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband, Howard Joseph Nicklow, and her brother, Scott Kreger Jr. She is survived by brothers, Jack and Richard Kreger, a loving aunt and friend, Sarah Singo, as well as two loving sisters-in-law, Cora Lee (Nicklow) Tressler, and Shirley (Nicklow) Hoffman. Her children also survive her: Kaye Baker (husband David) of Garrett, PA; Jill Alexander (husband Kyle) of Lynchburg, VA; Perry Nicklow (wife Connie) of High Point, NC; Greta Ansell (husband John) of Irwin, PA; and Paula Cook (husband Aaron) of Harrisonburg, VA. Also surviving her are 16 grandchildren and 36 great grandchildren.
Etta's children would like to extend heartfelt thanks to all the wonderful caregivers and nurses who cared for Etta in her years and months and to her dear friend Sue Kotok who visited her most days at Patriot Village.
Friends will be received at Meyersdale Grace Brethren Church, 112 Beachley Street, in Meyersdale, PA on Monday, November 24 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Tuesday, November 25 at 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Funeral services and a luncheon will take place on Tuesday, November 25, at 11 a.m. Pastor Randy Haulk and Pastor Justin Putnam officiating, with interment to follow at Old Bethel Church Cemetery in Markleton, PA.
Flowers in memory of Etta can be sent to Meyersdale Grace Brethren Church, 112 Beachley Street, Meyersdale, PA 15552.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Etta can be made to either Grace Brethren Church or to Child Evangelism Fellowship, P.O. Box 327, 115 South Kimberly Avenue, Somerset, PA 15501.
Price Funeral Service, Inc., Meyersdale is honored to serve the Nicklow family. www.WilliamRowePrice.com