Nancy C. Widder

Nancy C. Widder was welcomed into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on November 23, 2023, in West Bend, WI, at the age of 90.

Nancy was the firstborn daughter of the late Edward and Rosa Newton, born on July 25, 1933, in Milwaukee. She grew up in the city and graduated from North Division High School in 1951. Following high school, she did clerical work at Northwestern Mutual Insurance and Hunter Tractor & Machinery, where she became the main secretary. Nancy met her husband, the late Richard A. Widder, at Garfield Avenue Baptist Church (now Spring Creek Church) in 1954, and the couple was married on August 25, 1956.

Over the next several years, Richard and Nancy moved from small apartment to duplex to their first house, built in Menomonee Falls, and they grew their family to six. In subsequent years, the Widders lived in Milwaukee, Germantown, Pewaukee, and West Bend, while their extended family grew to include three sons-in-law, one daughter-in-law, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. For most of her life, Nancy was a contented homemaker who enjoyed gardening, sewing, and baking, and she loved sharing all of these with anyone she could.

Nancy grew up at Spring Creek Church and was involved in numerous ministries over the years, most notably serving as the first director of the AWANA Chums program for young girls. She held that position for thirteen years, and even after she “retired” from AWANA, she outfitted several years’ worth of Garfield Baptist AWANA Olympic teams with matching “Stretch & Sew” T-shirts. In later years, Nancy was the face at the Spring Creek lobby kiosk, welcoming scores of churchgoers and visitors. She also was an active part of Heritage Christian Schools for many decades, making and donating hundreds of dolls, stuffed animals, and other crafts for fundraising purposes.

When Richard retired, the Widders relocated to Germantown, where Nancy finally had the yard she’d always wanted—for her flowers. She planted a “Friendship Garden” and invited friends to come take pieces of her perennials for their own gardens. In later years of retirement, life changed for Nancy when Richard suffered a massive stroke. The years that followed were shaped by his limitations, and her good humor and tenacity served them both well during that time.

Nancy loved to tell a good story—a gift she inherited from her dad—and throughout her life she displayed the Irish spunk she inherited from her mom. But she cared most about loving and serving her Savior, Jesus Christ, and she did so by devoting herself to Richard through better and worse, caring for her family, and selflessly sharing her gifts with others. With Richard, Nancy sacrificed willingly and gave generously with no desire for recognition. She will be missed.

Nancy is survived by her children, Bonnie Wisth, Kerry (Ruth), Suzanne (Peter) Krebs, and Wendy (Patrick) Huisken; her sister Shirley (the late Everett) Larsen; her grandchildren, Nicholas (Mary) Wisth, Allison Wisth, Rebecca (Ken) Prewett, Joshua Widder, Philip (Mayli) Krebs, Sarah Krebs, and Jonny Krebs; and her great-grandchildren, Maddie, Max, Tessa, and Genevieve. Nancy is preceded in death by Richard, her devoted husband of 63 years; her parents, Edward and Rosa Newton; her sister Beverly (Larry) Morris; and her brother, Richard.

The family gratefully thanks the many caregivers who took such good care of Nancy. The staff of the Waterford at West Bend has our deepest thanks for their commitment to her care these last several years. We are also indebted to the nurses from Preceptor Home Health and Hospice, who made her last year as comfortable as possible. She (and we) could not have done without you.

The family will be remembering Nancy and Richard (d. 4-6-2020) together on Friday, January 12, 2024, at Spring Creek Church, N35W22000 Capitol Drive, Pewaukee, Wisconsin. Visitation at 10:00 AM and service at 12:00 PM.

Memorials to Spring Creek Church in lieu of flowers.

• Watch Nancy’s video tribute here: https://youtu.be/n4lAVyKTQSI
• Watch Richard’s video tribute here: https://youtu.be/-BiMDLJQ8aY

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