Surnames: Tucker, Spry, Sulflow, Kraus, Lehman, Heim, Vaneven Hoven, Anderson, Fields, Jaenicke, Ebert

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) October 22, 2008

Tucker, Nylva D. (1914 - 4 October 2008)

Nylva D. Tucker, 94, of Tropic Isles in Palmetto, FL, passed away peacefully Oct. 4, 2008, at Tidewell Hospice in Palmetto, FL.

She was born in Granton, Clark County, in 1914 to Ida and W. J. Spry. She was the beloved mother of C. Kay (Tucker) Sulflow of Sterling Heights, MI.

Survivors include five grandchildren, Mark, Jeanne, James, Eric and Timothy Kraus; nieces, Ruth Lehman of Fairfax, VA, Beverly Heim, Jan Vaneven Hoven, Appleton, Nancy Anderson, Stevens Point; and nephew, Donovan Spry, Chili.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Otis; son, James Kraus; daughter-in-law, Bonnie Fields Kraus; three brothers, Lloyd, Phelps and Dale Spry; and a sister, Norma Jaenicke.

Nylva and her husband built and operated several A & W drive-ins throughout Michigan. She moved to Florida in the 1950s, refereeing and playing shuffleboard for more than 40 years, thoroughly enjoying her travels across the state to play in shuffleboard tourneys. She was captain of the first Women’s Team USA at the First International Games in Traverse City, MI, in 1981. She was inducted as a member of the International Shuffleboard Hall of Fame and the Florida Shuffleboard Hall of Fame in 1985 and was the first president of the Tropic Isles Shuffleboard Club.

Nylva would best be described as "never knowing a stranger" and for her strong work ethic. She worked several years at Wendy’s in Palmetto and Ellenton, FL. She was a member of Ellenton United Methodist Church for 44 years and a member of Royal neighbors of America for 75 years.

Memorial services will be held Oct. 28, 2008, at 11 a.m. at the Ellenton United Methodist Church with Dr. Bruce Ebert officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Ellenton United Methodist Church, 3607 USH 301 Ellenton, FL 34222