Nancy was ahead of her time. She graduated from college, drove out to Colorado, lived a little, and then married the love of her life, Fred, at age 28.

She taught elementary school for 34 years and was an excellent mother and grandmother. Nancy loved quilting, knitting, reading, and occasionally basket weaving. Her greatest priority was her children and grandchildren—whenever one of them walked into the room, she would set aside whatever she was doing, look them in the eye, and listen to even the most random story as if it were the greatest thing she had ever heard.

Nancy loved spending time in the kitchen, where there was always a home-cooked meal and a baked good ready for anyone who walked through the door. She was fiercely independent, a trait that surely contributed to her living a full and vibrant 90 years.

Fred could never do anything without Nancy, so he couldn’t bear to be apart from her and he pulled her up to Heaven 23 days later.

Nancy is survived by her children: Mark Heideman, Lori Pelton, Fred Heideman, and Amy Desmond (Nick). She was the proud grandmother of eight grandchildren—Hailey (Bo), Morgan (Dillon), Philip (Aubrey), Collin, Markie (Andrew), Olivia (Derek), Jack (Maddie), and Max—and four great-grandchildren: Austyn, Wraith, Axl, and James.

She was very close with her siblings, Bill (Diane) and Tim (Michele) Soules who survive her and her sister, Mary Lou, who preceded her in death. She deeply loved all of her nieces and nephews: Mike, Dave, Kathy, Tom, Karen, Tim, Sean, Michael, Brian, Sara, Leah, and Billy.

A celebration of life will be held on March 7th at 2:00 p.m. at 196 N. Linwood Rd., Linwood, MI.

While visiting Nancy’s webpage at www.amsfuneralhomes.com please sign the guestbook and/or share a memory with the family.

The family is being assisted by the Avink, McCowen and Secord Funeral Homes and Cremation Society, 409 S. Main Street Vicksburg, MI 49097 (269-649-1697).