James Edward Nuhfer, 78, St. Marys, died at 9:35 a.m. March 28, 2010, at his home in St. Marys.

He was born in Woodville on Dec. 30, 1931, to Clarence and Emma Avers Nuhfer. On Sept. 14, 1952, he married Garnet Lucille Miller, who survives.

Also surviving are three children, Kimberly (Patrick) Thomas, Kenton, Kris (Laura) Nuhfer, Pemberville, and Jan (Rick) Cruz, Gibsonburg; two sisters, Helen Diekman and Kate (James) Humburg, both of Fremont; two brothers, Charles Nuhfer, Gibsonburg, and Tom Nuhfer, Willard; three grandchildren; three step grandchildren; five step great-grandchildren, and three step great-great-grandchildren.

Deceased is a sister, Florence Nuhfer, and two brothers, Richard Nuhfer and Art Nuhfer.

He served for 13 different churches throughout Ohio before retiring in 1996. After retiring, he worked for Grace United Methodist Church in St. Marys until 2004. He spent 45 years in Christian ministry and 27 years serving church camps in the West Ohio Conference.

Nuhfer served on the YMCA board of directors, FEMA board and was active in Kiwanis. He was a member of the St. Marys American Legion Post 323 and the St. Marys Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9289. He was vice president of SOURCES Community Network Services and a volunteer for Joint Township District Memorial Hospital in St. Marys. He graduated from Woodville High School in 1949 and served in Korea and Austria with the U.S. Army. He graduated from Otterbein College in Westerville in 1959 and received his master's of divinity degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton in 1964.

Services are 3 p.m. Thursday at Grace United Methodist Church in St. Marys. Services also are 10 a.m. April 10 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Fremont.

Calling is noon-3 p.m. Thursday at the St. Marys church.

Contributions can be made to Otterbein Retirement Living Communities and Grand Lake Hospice.

Arrangements are being handled by Miller Funeral Home in St. Marys.

Condolences can be left at www.millerfuneralhome.net.