Nancy Ann Kizewic

Service Details

Her celebration of life will be held on June 8, 2024, at the Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home and Crematory.

 

Visitation starts at 11:00 a.m.  and the service will be at 12:00 p.m.  It is her children’s wish for you to help celebrate, by wearing purple for Nancy. 

 

You are also invited to take the opportunity to stand and speak your memories of her during the service.

 

Following the service, please join the family for a luncheon.  Held at Racine Instinctive Bowmen, 14403 50^th Rd., Sturtevant.

Memorial Suggestions

 In lieu of flowers, Nancy would appreciate donations to,  “Nurses Foundation of Racine” with a memo to St. Luke’s Nursing School Scholarship Fund, PO Box 323, Franksville, WI 53216

Nancy Ann (Wangerin) Kizewic, age 94, formerly of Racine, passed away in her sleep on October 25, 2023, at her daughter’s home in Seymour, Indiana.

Nancy was born in Milwaukee, WI on January 9, 1929, to the late Chester and Eunice (Elkert) Wangerin.  She graduated from Whitefish Bay High School in 1947.  She also graduated from St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing and became a Registered Nurse upon graduation in 1952. Nancy was employed for a short time for the late Dr. Charles Dunham, and as a private duty nurse before becoming a full time mother and homemaker.

Nancy’s parents were both teachers, so she spent many summers camping, fishing, hiking, and enjoying nature.  There was no income during the summer, so their home was rented out for income, and they basically lived off the land.  Foraging, daily fishing, some gardening, running around barefoot all summer, was a fun adventure for her and her two brothers.  One day, Nancy was fishing, with her ‘string tied to a stick’ fishing pole, and caught a (good sized) fish.  This overly excited her little brother, who went running to tell Daddy to come quick – Nancy’s having trouble!!  Well, her Dad had to coach her to twirl the stick this way, and untwirl it that way, to play the fish to get tired.  This effort had good results – a HUGE fish!  The biggest ever, by far.  So impressive, that they froze it, and later became the only fish the Wangerin family had taxidermied! As a teenager, she enjoyed embroidering, pillow cases and handkerchiefs.  She kept some high school art work she had created.  She enjoyed crocheting and knew how to knit.  As a young newlywed, she started to “spool” crochet a long “rope”.  It kept her hands busy.  She intended to create this rope to become a rug.

In the late 40’s and early 50’s, while Nancy was in nursing school, her family was building a cabin just outside of the Boundary Waters area in northeastern Minnesota.  A friend of hers, also a nursing student, set her up on a blind date with the friend’s boyfriend’s brother.  This date was when she found the love of her life, David Kizewic, three dates later she accepted his proposal, and on June 20, 1953, they were married.  They honeymooned in the nearly finished cabin.  Well, understandably, her parents weren’t too thrilled at the rush of things, but accepted, even having a reception in their home after the wedding.  But years later, when the four of them would play bridge at the cabin, to pass the evening time, on many occasions her mother referred to David as “Moses in the bull rushes”.  He was just as clever in getting the win in bridge.  Nancy, Dave, and their children continued to spend every summer there with her parents. And her trophy fish now hangs proudly on the cabin wall.

Nancy was a devoted mother and homemaker.  Family meant everything to her.  When her children were little, they would all crawl in bed with her on weekend mornings, and she would read to them.  “Winnie The Pooh” was the favorite go to, and she would patiently read, and reread, the chapters, using different voices for different characters.

When her children were all in school, she would train CNA’s during the day.  Carin was enlisted to grade multiple choice and T/F answers on their tests.  She also taught basic first aid to Girl Scouts.  Nancy was a fan of Norman Rockwell, she collected spoons from places traveled to during summer vacations (almost every lower 48 states), and she loved bells of all kinds.  So much so, that she had everyone wear a bell necklace every Christmas!

After becoming an empty-nester, she found joy in selling Avon, and socializing with the customers.  Nancy was a representative for 25 years, receiving Presidential Awards for her sales.  When grandchildren came, they always had fun with her.  Even when the kids were enlisted to help deliver Avon book to doorways, she made it fun to do.  They looked forward to spending anytime with her.

Nancy remained an active member of the Wisconsin Nurses Association, and the Racine District Nurses Association.  She was a member of St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing Alumni, having held every office except treasurer.  Later in life, she enjoyed reading, word searches, and playing a two person solitare card game.  Her rule for this was “Let Gramma win” and “cheat if you have to”.  She learned not to go to the bathroom during play time, or dealing time, because the “cheat if you have to”  rule surely kicked in while she was gone!!  Memories of friends all have the same observations – a sympathetic ear, a kind, pleasant attitude, and a friendly smile that brought peace and a welcome to all who saw it.

Nancy leaves to cherish her memory, her husband of 70 years, David Stephen Kizewic; children Carin (Greg) Spalla of Indiana, Dale (Valli) Kizewic of Aledo, Texas, Julie (Robert) Wynstra of Racine; 7 grand children, 9 great grandchildren; her brother Clark Wangerin of Brookfield, WI, sisters-in-law Alice Kizewic of Sturtevant, WI, and Eunice Beach of LA, CA; and many nieces and nephews.  She was welcomed in Heaven by Jesus, and hugged by her parents, her brother Ronald Wangerin and his wife Judith (Koeppen) Wangerin and their son David, sister-in-law Kathy (Mittag) Wangerin, blind date conspirators Richard and Shirley (Chapek) Kizewic, brother and sister-in-law Steve and Darla (D’Aquisto) Kizewic, and a great grandchild.

Her celebration of life will be held on June 8, 2024, at the funeral home. Visitation starts at 11, service at 12.  It is her children’s wish for you to help celebrate, by wearing purple for Nancy.  You are also invited to take the opportunity to stand and speak your memories of her during the service.

In lieu of flowers, Nancy would appreciate donations to,  “Nurses Foundation of Racine” with a memo to St. Luke’s Nursing School Scholarship Fund, PO Box 323, Franksville, WI 53216

Following the service, please join the family for a luncheon.  Held at Racine Instinctive Bowmen, 14403 50^th Rd., Sturtevant.