Nellie Marie Alger, 89, passed away peacefully on August 27, 2025 at VMRC in Harrisonburg.  A life-long resident of Broadway, Nell grew up on a dairy farm on the John Kline Homestead, where she especially enjoyed caring for her animals.  Her happiest moments in life were spent outdoors, whether hunting, fishing, horseback riding, or observing and photographing wildlife.  Her profound love of nature, animals, and the great outdoors was her constant and life-long passion.

Nell was born on July 14, 1936 to John Harvey and Anna Catherine (Hostetter) Alger in Broadway, VA.  After graduating from Eastern Mennonite School in 1954, Nell worked as a bookkeeper on Robin Roost Farms, in sales at Miles Music, as a veterinary assistant/secretary in the Harrisonburg Animal Hospital, at Friendship Industries, and finally as a care provider for an intellectually challenged adult in her home.  She was a member of Zion Mennonite Church since her youth.

Nell found great solace in her beloved Pinewood Acres in the wooded mountains west of Broadway.  With her dog and chainsaw in her pick-up, she would escape the noisy world of town to find calm refuge in her simple cabin:  feeding the deer, watching the bears, tidying her woods, and listening to the whippoorwills.  She enjoyed painting, sketching, and a variety of music.

Nell was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers John Paul Alger, Robert S. Alger, Ralph Alger, and Nelson Alger, and two sisters Catherine Lapp and Mildred Glick.  She is survived by her trusted niece and care-giver Marilyn Burkholder, seventeen additional nieces and nephews, many great-nieces and nephews, and by her miniature Schnauzer Alfie.

A memorial service will be held at 4 pm on September 19, 2025 at Zion Mennonite Church, Broadway.  Friends may visit beginning at 3 pm and at the meal following the service in the fellowship hall.  Her body has been donated to science as facilitated by Grandle Funeral Home in Broadway.  A livestream link for the service will be available at the very top of the church website at zmcva.org.