Nancy Wheeler

Nancy Kay Wheeler was born in South Bend, Indiana, on July 24, 1942, the only child of Alfred and June (Wolfe) Ranschaert. Her life’s path took her from her early years as a shy girl to an outgoing woman who became a gifted teacher of college and high school students.

Nancy graduated from Riley High School in South Bend where she fell under the spell of a wonderful teacher of classics and Latin, whose enthusiasm for her subject inspired Nancy to begin her studies in the same field. “Utterly delightful” was a favorite phrase of this teacher, who often applied it to her students and their work, including a mythology notebook that required research, planning, and writing by each student.

After high school, Nancy went to Indiana University in Bloomington, where she received her B.A. and M.A. in classical languages and literature, was a member of the honor society Phi Beta Kappa, and worked as a graduate teaching fellow. From Indiana she traveled north to Ann Arbor, Michigan where she gained a second master’s degree in classics and met the love of her life, Brooks Wheeler of Massachusetts, in a graduate school Greek seminar.

The attraction? She said, “I thought he was so very nice and he looked good in a turtleneck shirt, too! He was the nicest guy I had ever dated; he was kind and compassionate then, and all through his life.” Two years after they met, Nancy and Brooks were married in Ann Arbor on April 13, 1968, over the objections of her father, Al, who thought Brooks was a “hippie.” Later in life, Al thought of Brooks as his best friend. The wedding was memorable for Brooks’s loud laugh when the minister said, “for richer, for poorer”--because we were already poor, Nancy said. In fact, they spent part of their honeymoon cleaning dorm rooms to earn money.

After they left Ann Arbor, Nancy and Brooks joined the faculty of Hope College in Holland, where Nancy taught Latin, mythology, early English literature, and world literature at various times from 1968 to 1978. She then became a teacher at Zeeland High School for 19 years until her retirement for health reasons in 1998. At Zeeland, Nancy taught Latin and English, served a term as department chair, and worked on the building committee for the new Zeeland East High School.

“I loved teaching,” she said. “I loved the students’ youth and enthusiasm for so many things. It was fun.” She spent many extra hours helping students and said she could often hear her mother’s admonitions in her mind: “Remember, someone once had to put up with you,” and “Remember that the children you like the least need your love the most.”

Beyond her professional career, Nancy used her skills as secretary of the local University of Michigan Club and as a recruiter for the university, and served as president of the Idlewood Neighborhood Association, where she lived. With Brooks she was a lector at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church and devoted many hours to the church’s stewardship campaigns.

Classical music was a lifelong interest of Nancy’s, and she found a kindred spirit in Brooks. They held season tickets for the Grand Rapids, West Shore, and Holland symphonies and the Grand Rapids Ballet and had their radio tuned to NPR and the Blue Lake and Interlochen music programs. Nancy loved to read, especially poetry; Virgil’s Aeneid was one of her favorites. Michigan and Notre Dame football and Indiana basketball were high on her list of fun things to watch. And no story about Nancy would be complete without including the three dogs that shared equally in the Wheelers’ life—Tully, a cockapoo, and two Westies, Duffy I and Duffy II.

If you met Nancy as an adult, you would never guess at her early shyness. She was an outgoing, welcoming hostess and an excellent cook. “Besides finding new recipes, I liked to read cookbooks just for fun,” she said. Her chocolate cakes, brownies, and Three Cups of Blueberries pies were hits whenever she made them. Vegetables and roasted meats, particularly the corned beef at the Wheelers’ annual St. Patrick’s Day party, were dishes she enjoyed preparing. Hosting parties for the neighborhood, the U-M club, and friends was a big part of the couple’s life together.

Except for St. Patrick’s Day, Nancy often wore something red, her favorite color from childhood. “I never get tired of red,” she said, and the Wheelers’ home decor reflected this, too. Red is a vibrant color, associated with warmth, strength, and excitement, all qualities that Nancy had in abundance. She was a thoughtful, articulate, and very intelligent person, with a great sense of humor and sensitivity toward others.

Nancy had to call on all her strength in 1991, when she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Seven years’ later, as her symptoms progressed, she retired from her teaching job. Nancy and Brooks, with Duffy, continued to travel in the United States when Brooks was working for the IRS in a variety of locations. They also took a memorable trip to Ireland—marked by their driving up what they thought was a road that unfortunately became a narrow path! Somehow, Brooks got the car turned around and they descended carefully, to the amusement of Irish walkers who graciously let the Americans pass by.

Though she of course mourned the deaths of her parents, particularly her mother, June, who lived in Holland for several years and was an integral part of the Wheeler household, Nancy’s biggest loss was the death of her beloved Brooks in December 2008 just weeks after his retirement.

His death brought many significant changes to Nancy’s life. She moved first to Freedom Village and then to an apartment at Oak Crest/Beachside. The home she and Brooks built, renovated, and enjoyed so much in Idlewood was sold. She had to give up driving, and Duffy II went to live at the home of the Wheelers’ dear friend and companion, Marie.

Through all of this, Nancy’s courage and resourcefulness were evident to all who knew and admired her. She continued to be in touch with family and friends, she maintained her dignity as she coped with her disease in many different ways. She stayed intellectually involved in the world through newspapers, television, radio, and conversations with people. She thoroughly enjoyed a good joke and a good laugh. She attended symphony concerts; she went to mass; she watched the colorful birds that came to feeders at Beachside; and she kept her beloved Westie in the forefront in decorations throughout her apartment. Nancy lived her life and managed her condition with thoughtful realism, and she always expressed her appreciation for those who gave her a helping hand.

Without hesitation, her friends and family say that Nancy Wheeler was an inspiration and a role model for many--in her professional life, her personal interests, her marriage, and her character.

Nancy was predeceased by her parents, Al and June Ranschaert, and her husband, Brooks. She is survived by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Pete and Shirley Peterson of Massachusetts; a nephew, Eric Peterson and his family, of Indiana; a niece, Dr. Linnea Linderman and her family, of New York; her long-time companion, Marie Huevel, and many friends.

Deep appreciation is expressed to the staff at Oak Crest/Beachside and to the Parish Nurse at Our Lady of the Lake for their compassionate and faithful care of Nancy.

Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated 11 am Tuesday at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, 480 N. 152nd Ave, with Fr. Charles Hall officiating.

Burial will be in the Lakewood Cemetery.

Visitation will be 6-8 pm Monday at the Dykstra Funeral Homes-Northwood Chapel, 295 Douglas Ave. and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the U of M Club Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area, WVGR (U of M radio Station in Grand Rapids, MI, 104.1), or Our Lady of the Lake Parish Nurse fund.