Nila Rae Laisure, age 78, of Greenville, passed away early Sunday morning, January 25, 2015 at Spectrum Health-United Hospital in Greenville. The daughter of Howard & Mae (Fisher) Kronewitter, she was born on September 23, 1936 in Mishawaka, Indiana.

Nila retired from the former Gibson Refrigerator Company where she had been a member of UAW Local 137. She enjoyed crocheting and tending her plants, but after her family her greatest joy came from raising tropical birds.

On May 1, 1954, in Newaygo, she married Dennis Henry Laisure, Sr. and together they raised four children and enjoyed almost 43 years of marriage until Dennis passed away on April 8, 1997. She was also preceded in death by two sisters, Jean Nelson, and Ann Moyer; a brother, Joe Kronewitter; a daughter, Marian Smith; and a granddaughter, Naomi Brainard.

Surviving are three children, Dennis H. & Joyce Laisure II, John Laisure, and Edith Laisure, all of Greenville; sixteen grandchildren, Terry Laisure, Denise Laisure, Dennis Laisure III, Michele Laisure, Misty Laisure, Martin Laisure, Tonya Jones, Heather Smith, Carrie Carmichael, Christy Kirkendale, Jessica Laisure, Joann Laisure, John Laisure II, Joshua Brainard, Elisabeth David, and Cassia Sidor; eighteen great grandchildren; two sisters, Sharon Kiester and Cora Hendrix, both of Fremont; a brother, Harry Kronewitter of Saranac; a sister-in-law, Rev. Lynne Kronewitter of Maston Lake; a brother-in-law, Emmet Moyer of Greenville; and many nieces and nephews.

Honoring Nila’s wishes, no services will be held and burial will take place privately at Rest Haven Memory Gardens, Belding. Instead of flowers, she would have appreciated contributions in her memory to the Friends of the Michigan Veterans Homes, P.O. Box 805, Grandville, MI 49468-0805

To send a message of sympathy to the family, sign Nila’s online guest book, or to share a favorite memory, please visit: www.ChristiansenCares.com Arrangements were entrusted to Christiansen Cremation & Funeral Care, Greenville.