Ishpeming – Nancy J. Nelson, age 80, of 135 N. Marigold St., Ishpeming Twp., passed away on Sunday May 21, 2017 at the Marquette Co. Medical Care Facility where she had been a resident since March 30 ^th of this year.  Nancy had been under the loving care of her family, the staff at the Marquette Co. Medical Care Facility and the Upper Peninsula Home Health and Hospice, with a special thanks to Nurse Paula.

Nancy was born October 3, 1936 in Negaunee the daughter of the late Henry and Mary (Robare) Kuisti.  Nancy spent most of her childhood in Ishpeming and was a graduate of the Ishpeming High School, class of 1954.  She went on to attend Northern Michigan University where she received a bachelor degree in education in 1958.  Nancy married Kenneth E. Nelson on August 16, 1958 at the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Ishpeming.

Nancy's teaching career began in Flint for 1 year prior to moving back to Ishpeming and teaching for 4 years in Gwinn.  She then taught for 25 years at the Ishpeming Public Schools mainly as a first grade teacher at the Birchview School.  She especially loved teaching her students the art of reading.  Nancy also enjoyed flower gardening, reading and crafts along with golfing and playing cards at the Wawonowin Country Club.  She was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Nancy is survived by her husband Ken of Ishpeming, son Mike (Mary) Nelson of Ishpeming, and twin daughters – Kathy (Chris) Tipsword of Grand Blanc and Karen (Walt) Reini of Croswell, brother John "Jack" (Dorothy) Kuisti of Tucson, AZ, 5 grandchildren – Andrew and Brandon Reini and Meghan, Jordyn and Joshua Tipsword, along with 2 nieces and 2 nephews, and special friends Pat Watters and Marilyn Ostlund.  She was preceded in death by a sister-in-law Ruth Kuisti.

A celebration of Nancy's life will be held from 1:00pm until 3:00pm on Sunday August 6, 2017 at the Wawonowin Country Club where a luncheon will be held.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Upper Peninsula Home Health and Hospice at 510 Mather Ave., Ishpeming, MI 49849 or uphomehealth.org or UPAWS at 84 Snowfield Rd., Negaunee, MI 49866 or upaws.org

Nancy's obituary may also be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.