Nancy Marie Nelson

Nancy Marie (Oas) Nelson

September 11, 1931 – September 6, 2025

Nancy Marie (Oas) Nelson, age 93 of Christmas, passed away in the early morning hours of September 6, 2025 at Mill Creek Memory Care Unit in Marquette. Nancy was born in Newberry to Edmund and Lila Oas on September 11, 1931. She spent her early years in Rosewood Park and attended Munising public schools. She graduated from William G. Mather High School in 1949. She was also a faithful member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

She and Robert Nelson started going together when they were in the 8th grade. Then, on November 4, 1950, they were married at Sacred Heart Church. Robert had enlisted in the United States Air Force. Consequently, they moved around frequently over the next four years. They lived in Denver Colorado, While Bob was enrolled at Hughes Aircraft School, Victorville, California and while stationed at McCord Airforce Base near Lakewood, Washington, Nancy gave birth to her first of four sons, William. He was born at Madigan Hospital at Fort Lewis, near Tacoma, Washington on February 16, 1952.

Nancy gave birth to their second son John on December, 29, 1953, while Bob was station at George Air Force Base in California. Bob was honorably discharged in January of 1955 and the family moved back to Munising.

Nancy gave birth to their third son Kenneth on October 12, 1958 at the old Munising Hospital, located on Maple St. at Jewell St. Then, on November 13, 1959, a fourth son Thomas was born at the old hospital.

Nancy was a member of the Catholic Lady Foresters. Once her four sons had grown, Nancy went to work for Sacred Heart in the rectory. She also volunteered at the St. Vincent DePaul store in Munising. Both Bob and Nancy served regularly as Eucharistic Ministers at Sacred Heart Church and Nancy taught religious education for years. Bob and Nancy were avid golfers and played in leagues at Pictured Rocks Golf Course.

In 1955, Bob and Nancy purchased a lot on Mirror Lake and built a camp there. The camp was built with lumber that was salvaged from the old Champine building, where Midtown Shell was later built. Nancy cared for her mother and father, as well as for Bob’s father. They moved to Christmas to care for Bob’s father and Nancy’s mother.

Following the passing of Bob’s father in 1998, they began spending winters in Panama City Beach, FL. They met and made many friends over the next twenty years. They were members of a golf league that golfed at Tindal AFB. They also participated with the Snow Birds, a group of residents who fled the snows of winter for warmer climates. For the past seven years, they have chosen to endure the winters of the Great White North.

Nancy is survived by her husband of nearly 75 years, Robert, sons: William (Sara) Nelson of Lansing, John (Mari) Nelson of Wyandotte, Kenneth (Lynn) Nelson of Oconomowoc, WI and Thomas (Lisa) Nelson of Munising, grandchildren: Karla (Spencer Holt) Nelson of Tampa FL, Eric (Gina DeMaggio) Nelson of Royal Oak, Jennifer Nelson of Wyandotte, Robert (Kelsey Carpenter) Nelson of Wyandotte, Sandra Lemerand near Louisville KY, Kenneth (Rut Jimenez) Nelson of Waukesha WI, Nancy (Justin Pyatt) Nelson of Menomonee Falls, WI, Jamie (Jonathan Fargo) Nelson of Mad River, CA, and Chantelle Nelson of Munising plus 11 great grandchildren. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, 4 brothers, Robert Oas, Jim Oas Richard Oas and William Oas and grandson Travis Olson.

Visitation will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. A parish vigil service where family and friends can share memories and stories will be held at 7:00 p.m. Nancy’s Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Sacred Heart Church on Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery and a luncheon will follow the burial at LaMothe Hall.

For those wishing to make a charitable contribution, in lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Sacred Heart Church or St. Vincent DePaul, both in Munising.