Service Details
A celebration of her life will be held in the funeral home on July 9th at 1:00 p.m. Visitation will be held in the funeral home, that day, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service.
Memorial Suggestions
In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the family to establish a living memorial, at a later date OR to St. Judes Hospital.
Nanci Bogan, 70, passed away at her home surrounded by her loved ones on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, after losing her battle with cancer.
Nanci enjoyed every morsel of time she got to spend with her grandkids and granddog. They were her pride and joy. She loved baking them Birthday cakes and would often wake up and choose someone to bake cookies for to brighten their day. She enjoyed boating, going on vacation, knitting and crocheting scarves and blankets to give away. She loved playing cards with “the girls” and going out on weekends to meet her large circle of friends. She was so proud and excited to enjoy a vacation home in Florida with a whole new circle there of friends to love.
Nanci was a people person. She was not only the Matriarch of her family, she was the Matriarch of her social circle. She was the director of fun, vacations, and adventures. She loved hosting parties, including hosting her own Celebration of Life Party weeks before her untimely departure.
What everyone loved most about Nanci was her infectious smile and ability to make everyone feel welcomed, included and loved. She was everyone’s friend, taking a genuine interest in each person she would meet. She had a knack for remembering dates; she would know your Birthday, your kids Birthday and their kids Birthday, even if she met you one time. We called her “The Calendar Girl.”
Nanci is is survived by her loving husband and Best Friend of 53 years, Rick Bogan, her daughters Traci and Jennifer (Michael) Olkwitz. Her grandchildren Andrew, Tayler Basset and Savannah Olkwitz; two brothers, Tom (Roxanne) Robbins and Robin Robbins; sister-in-law, Carla Valdez, nieces, nephews, and her BBFs Leslie and Bob Mudge and Bonnie and Jr Leque and so many friends they can’t all be counted. In addition to her parents, Nanci was preceded in death by her sister, Sharon.
When the Matriarch of a family dies, her death heralds the end of an era, the gradual disappearance of a Legacy and a bond that can never be replaced.
It’s difficult to grasp how a vibrant human life can be reduced to some pictures on a board and a Eulogy sharing our most precious memories in just a few paragraphs; in hopes that one might understand the significance of what her life truly meant to us and gain a sense of who she was, who we are through her and appreciate the lineage she passed on of kindness and generosity to everyone she met as a true and trusted friend.
Mom was our family’s foundation and guiding light. She was our bright north star with an infectious smile that panned as wide as the skyline. She was never consumed with material things. She valued people most of all, especially her family. She had more energy and interest in people and life than anyone I’ve met and I doubt I will ever know anyone who embodies her generous spirit, infectious smile and sheer joy of making friends as much as she did. She just had a way of making everyone feel welcomed, included and loved.
She was a master budgeter, the Calendar Girl, the planner, the cook, the baker, the banker, the homemaker, the shopper, the fill in mom, the President of all things fun. She was always on time, never missed a Birthday or special occasion, never showed up empty handed, and was always available to lend a hand. She had three Best Friends, each over 50 years.
She was funny, even when talking about her impending death and how things should go.
She encouraged my dad to go out and date again… She said “but just not a week after I’m gone.” She wanted him to wait a hot minute!
She said he should use common sense on the road and find himself another co-pilot to be his eyes (and lately his ears) while driving, She said “but hopefully not one quite as good or as cute as I am.”
She scooted around the house with her walker singing the tune “They call me the wanderer, yeah the wanderer – I roam around around around – Oh well there’s Rick on my left and Traci on my right… I wonder what visitor I will get tonight…”
One day she said to the hospice nurse “I want to die around next week Tuesday because I have plans all this weekend and don’t want to miss them. The Nurse had to tell her that she was not there to kill her with the Morphine, just make her more comfortable. Mom said ““Well that’s dumb! I’m ready to die.” The nurse told her that was between her and God. Mom said “well then I guess I will start talking to him AFTER Sunday so there’s no mistakes with my weekend plans.”
As many of you know, mom was diagnosed with lung and brain cancer last December at age 69. Despite this diagnosis, her passion for life and her contagious curiosity did not wane. She continued to be an inspiration by living life to the fullest, while facing her mortality with such bravery and courage, with such dignity and grace.
I asked her several times if she was afraid to die and her answer was always “No. We are all born to die and I believe only my body will die. I lived 70 great years and had a world of fun. Look at all the kids over at St. Judes Hospital who are suffering and getting ripped off of their lives far sooner than me. I do feel like I was just getting started and I do wish I had more time to enjoy Florida, but I am proud and happy with the way I lived my life.”
She wanted to die four months ago and asked me almost daily why her body wouldn’t die. I told her it was because of how incredibly well she took care of it. She exercised daily for years and had such incredible daily habits around taking good care of herself. I told her that her heart was healthy and strong, and her heart was so full of life and love that it would be the last organ to shut down. We will never forget the moment at 7:10pm on June 28th when her heart stopped beating, and ours hearts broke.
She never wanted to burden anyone with the feeling like they had to take care of her, especially on her more challenging days. Her selflessness didn’t just show up after her diagnosis – she has been this way her whole life, putting others first and wanting to be her family and friends’ rock.
Mom took care of every last detail of her funeral arrangements and cremation, making it so easy for us to navigate through this most difficult time of our lives. She was so detailed in her instructions to claim her Life Insurance Policy, she even wrote for us to press ZERO on the phone.
In her final weeks we wrote her obituary together, made videos and wrote letters for her family so they may always be reminded of how special they were to her.
She never liked to miss a good party, especially her own, so she even hosted her own Celebration of Life Party prior to her passing so she could enjoy a final luncheon with 200 of her closest friends and family. That’s just who she was.
My Mother was not only the Matriarch of our family, she was the Matriarch of her social circle. She was the social butterfly, party planner, and leader and director of fun, vacations, and adventures.
She was a reliable figure of what it means to be a “True Friend” to all who knew her, with her genuine interest in each person’s life and family of anyone she ever met. She always wanted to know if you were having fun.
I give thanks and reverence to the Mom – who so many of my friends called “Mom” and who was everybody’s friend for life. To know her was to love her and feel so loved right back.
She was the glue that kept us all bonded together and our bridge to buying a a vacation home in Florida and experiencing a whole new aspect of winter living.
I and so many of us will forever admire her courage and bravery navigating her life in health and in sickness, doing it her way, on her terms. She really lived and died doing it her way. She was a true warrior of courage and example for us all to learn from.
OUR BELOVED NANCI
We knew this time would come, another life meets its end
And though it’s never talked about, we can no longer pretend
The end of an era, is gone.
How do you describe 70 years of a life well lived in a short poem
And showcase the fun that was had, in the decades that have flown?
The Bohns, the Mudges, the Valdezes and all the Robbins Fam
The Leques, the Lesperances, The Supraks & The Water’s Edge Clan
In the afternoon of her life, she loved being out on the water boating
Pine Island Beach, rides with Dad in the T-bird & endless Grand-kid gloating
Volleyball parties in the backyard and day-drinking out at Lolly’s
Hawaii, Mexico, Florida and decades of memorable fun and follies
The Fireman’s Picnic, Freemont Hotel and Wo-Zha-Wa Days
The Bushwacker Boat, Cookouts and weekend Lake Poygan stays
The Dells, The Party Doll and bus rentals just to go bar-hopping
Kankakee Bowling parties, Disneyland and souvenir shopping
The old Salmon-A-Rama and the beer backpack at St. Martin’s Fair
The basement pool league and the Beatles blasting on road-trips up to Blair
First Fridays, Party on The Pavement and Walking Downtown
Singing “Johnny get Angry” to Dad and all the oldies from Motown
All the parties on KR and all the gatherings on the Lincoln Street porch
Mom’s annual Christmas Eve Parties, it will take big shoes to carry the torch
Seventy years of incredible memories that seemingly would never end
Mom was the glue that held us together, she was simply everybody’s friend
She loved coffee clutching, playing cards with “the girls” and baking
She loved dinners at Jen & Michaels and making choc-chip cookies for the taking
She loved head massages and soft tickles on her feet
Exploring small towns in Mexico and eating anything sweet
She enjoyed Wells Brothers pizza and eating Cookie Dough
Taking bus trips to the Casino and Popcorn at the Show
She loved to sit in the recliner and knit and crochet
She’d make blankets, hats, and scarfs just to give away
Her staple was Lifetime Movies and sipping Tea
And exercising 2 hours straight while watching TV
She loved going to Suds for Packer and Brewer games
And if she met you once she’d never forget your name
Andrew, Tayler, Savannah and Harper were the Apples of her eye
She spoiled them every chance she could with cookies, cake and pie
Sleepovers meant French toast for breakfast and a trip to the Beach
Making jokes in the kitchen with Tayler and new card games to teach
She’d do anything for her family because she loved us all so much
And let us know she was thinking of us with a “3 Tap” touch
(3 taps on the arm = I love you)
She had a special way of making us each feel so fancy
She will live on in our hearts forever, our beloved Nanci
I know she is not gone, her journey’s just begun
Life holds so many facets, this earth is only one
Our hearts are filled with memories, our eyes are full of tears
Our lives are filled with missing you, that will span throughout the years
Our Matriarch is gone but we have instructions by example, from the best
If we live with a fraction of the courage she had, we will each earn our rest
Mom, we will see you on the other side!
Love Your Daughter, Traci
Carolyn Johnson says
Nancy was a wonderful person and always fun to by around. I remember how helpful she was to me when we were going through the spread of cancer with my now deceased husband. Rick I am thinking of you and your girls that she spoke of so often. Carolyn Johnson
Charles and Glorious Hicks says
We send our sincere condolences to your Family in the loss of your loved one. Remember all of the good times and the sweet times. From our Family to yours.
Rich and Melody Gaastra says
Hey Rick,
We are both very sorry for your loss. I had learned of your wife being ill from Bob Zold and then again from Ricky Rogers. Something like this always comes as a shock. I last saw you down by Smoked on the water. You were telling us about the condo you and your wife just bought in Florida. Life can change in a hurry. I cannot imagine the pain you must be feeling. It sounds like you have a wonderful family for which you can lean on for support through this difficult time. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Paula Barrera says
I remember babysitting for Nancy. I loved their family! Nancy was always on the move and the best mom ever! I was heartbroken to learn she had passed. My sincere condolences to Rick, Traci and Jennifer……
Lynda Schutten says
Nancy you always were su h a sweet person with a great smile and laugh that could brighten anyone’s day. You will be missed by all that ever met you, my prayers go out to your family you leave a hole that can’t be replaced.
Bonnie Gardner Oliver says
Aww so sorry to hear about Nanci. She was always so fun to be around when I worked with her at Zayre. She was such a lovely lady. My condolences to Rick and the rest of the family 😔❤️
Nancy Harmann says
Rick so sorry for your loss, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Tom and Kathy Williams says
Rick I was shocked to see Nancy’s obituary! I had no idea she had cancer! I’m sorry we lost touch for so long. I was planning on calling and getting together again. I waited too long. Time goes so fast! Nancy was a beautiful person !You were blessed to be married to her for so long and her to you! You were the perfect couple. Our condolences to you and your family! We will pray that your hearts be consoled by your friends, relatives and memories. She will be greatly missed.
Pamela Mirabal says
To a beautiful soul, whose light touched many and will be remembered and missed. Much love and many blessings, Pam Mirabal
Bruce Itzenhuiser says
Hi Rick this is Bruce long time I love you two sorry for your loss be strong my friend
Julie Dresen says
Dear, Rick, Traci, and Jennifer,
I am sorry for the loss of your wife and mother, Some of my fondest memories of childhood are of spending time with your family and the Leques. You were a safe harbor when it was needed. I’m grateful to have been able to spend some time with Nanci before she passed.
Warmly,
Julie Dresen
Sandy DeRosia says
To the Bogan Family
I am so sorry for your loss. Nancy was my maid of honor in the 70s. I was glad to have her as a friend.
John 5:28,29
Gayle Casper-Reschke says
I could write a million word’s of everything that was so good, kind & loving about u Nanci. But it will take more than a million word’s to say how much ur going to be missed, by thousands of people who’s heart U’ve touched by ur Loving friendship. I Don’t how U managed such a AMAZING life, full time mother, GR-MA, devoted wife. I think in my longtime knowing U, I’ve only seen U once without Rick @ ur side, but Ur forever bestie, Leslie was… That was a normal in my life knowing U, if there Nanci, there was Leslie, Rick & Bob…no matter what the occasion was, U always let us know about ur daughters & GR-Children & than asked all about mine… Thank U for Ur loving friendship, I will keep it with me till we meet again🪶 Gayle
Eric K Eanes says
Traci , I can’t find the words to tell you how hurt, I am with you at this time. I am so glad I was able to see her one more time .
Seeing you and your family put me at peace.
Kim Arnold says
Dearest Traci & Bogan Family,
My heart is saddened by your loss. I didn’t have the privilege of knowing Nanci personally (just met her briefly at her benefit), I can tell by her obituary not knowing her was indeed a huge loss! She was the person, wife, mother, friend we should all aspire to be (living her life authentically and always giving of herself to others). What a beautiful, beautiful soul and a true earth angel! My heart goes out to you all! May all the precious memories you have shared bring you peace during this time of grief!