Nancy J. (Kreider) Hoke

Nancy was born in Campbelltown, PA and  grew up on the farm.  Her parents were Herbert and Emma Krieder, and her stepmother was Ruth, all deceased. Her brother is Dale Krieder (Joan). Her sisters are Barbara Nissley (Gene), Kathy Kreider (deceased), and one stepsister, Linda Hetrick.

Her extended family had many people who had sensed the call of God to go as missionaries to Africa.  These people often visited their home and told their stories.  From early years she too wanted to be a missionary.  She prepared through High School and College to be a teacher graduating in 1952. She taught in a one room school until January of 1954 when she left for Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe.

Her teaching career there took place first at the school at Matopo, where she carried a full teaching load and coached four small singing groups.  In 1956 she was called to become the head of the Matopo Teacher Training Institute.  Nancy relocated in 1957 when this program was moved to the Mtshabezi Mission. Following a year in the United States she returned to an assignment in secondary teaching back at Matopo (1961-66). She then returned to the United States for a year and in 1968 went back to Mtshabezi and her first love of teacher education, remaining there until 1979.

During her work in Zimbabwe, she was forced to leave the rural part of the country, and then the country, because of political unrest.  The final move was made regrettably without being able to say goodbye.

On returning to the United States, she took a job at Messiah College as part of the support staff in the Library, retiring in April 1995.  During this time, she also went to Penn State Capital Campus and received her reading specialist certification.

On June 3, 1995, she married William R. Hoke, a retired missionary from India, and began a brand-new life for both.  She learned to love her new family of three children, nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren, and now two great great-grandchildren. Bill and she enjoyed traveling to Zimbabwe, Europe, England, South America, and of course, India and the United States.

She writes, “God has been very good to me throughout my life. Serving Him has been my greatest joy.”

Memorial services will be held Saturday, March 9, 2024, at 11:00 am in the Grantham Brethren in Christ Church, 421 Grantham Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055. A visitation will be held from 10-11 am prior to the service. Private burial will be held in the Pequea Church Cemetery, Lancaster, PA.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Brethren in Christ U.S.