- Date Of Birth: April 4, 1949
- Date Of Death: June 17, 2021
- State: Iowa
Nancy Suzanne (Walrod) Wilson, 72, of Dallas Center, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, June 17, 2021, at MercyOne Johnston Hospice Care in Johnston, Iowa after an 18-month battle with cancer.
Nancy was born to Wyman and Phyllis Walrod (Julius) in Fort Dodge, Iowa on April 4, 1949. She was one of four children, siblings to older brother Ron, older sister Jude, and younger brother Bruce. She attended school at Cedar Valley Community Schools, where she met her future husband, Gary, in elementary school. Nancy earned an Associate’s Degree from Iowa Central Community College and also attended Buena Vista College and the University of Iowa. After marrying on July 10th, 1971, Gary and Nancy lived in Urbandale and shortly after moved to Dallas Center to return to a rural community as she had grown up. The couple eventually built a home east of Dallas Center in 1984.
Nancy and Gary had three children, Aaron, Ashley, and Amber. Nancy’s children brought so much joy to her life, and she was a devoted mom to them. She was tender and caring, often leaving special notes for them or placing smiley faces and hearts on everyday items for them to enjoy. She truly enjoyed watching her children compete in their musical performances and athletics as they grew up. As one of the “team moms” for the girls’ basketball ball team, she drove the team bus and kept the important “mom bag” stocked with essential items. She was also part of the “rowdy senior moms” for football and basketball games, known for her clappers and noisemakers in the stands.
Nancy worked at the Dallas Center law office, McDonald, Brown & Kimple (known currently as Brown, Fagen & Rouse) preparing tax documents for 32 tax seasons. She was a beloved member of the tax team, known for her attention to detail, her kind-hearted disposition, laughter, and her delicious sweet treats, especially her “Hy-Vee” sugar cookies. Her most inspirational professional achievement though was driving a school bus for 25 years in the Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District. She loved spending time with the school kids, teaching them about the importance of deodorant, fostering strong relationships with the children and their families, and celebrating the year-end with special treats on the last days of school. She also got a kick out of playing her infamous “Uh-oh, we’re out of fuel!” April Fool’s prank every few years on her bus riders.
Nancy loved spending time at her home in rural Dallas Center, thoroughly enjoying her yard full of birds and gardens of black and red raspberries, iris, asparagus, and rhubarb. She also loved to cook for family and friends, known for her delicious pies, jellies, killer brownies, and sugar cookies. She was a magician when it came to getting any and all stains out of her kids’ (and sometimes other kids’) clothes. No matter what the spot was, it was no match against Nancy and her arsenal of stain fighters and toothbrushes. Nancy was a woman of faith and was a long-time member of the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas Center, serving as an elder and clerk for 30+ years. She also played the organ for many years, hitting most of the right notes. Current members will no doubt find messages throughout the church signed “nsw”, noting inventories, instructions, and helpful hints for the care of items in the church. Nancy was an avid sports fan, particularly men’s and women’s NCAA basketball and collegiate football. A lover of angels, Nancy was known for her beautiful collection of angel pins, trinkets, and ornaments.
Her “good kids” Aaron (Sarah) and Ashley (Scott), gave her and Gary five grandchildren: Kate (12), Grant (10), Eli (10) Wilson and Maddie (10), and Will (8) Wilkinson. She loved her grands so much and was the best grandma to each of them. She always took time to attend their events, to play countless hours of games (even hide-and-seek when all other adults had grown weary), to give back scratches and endless snuggles, and to create special holiday treats and gifts for EVERY holiday (even being known to hand-deliver treats to the front door and run on May Day!).
Nancy is survived by her husband, Gary, of 50 years; children, Aaron (Sarah) Wilson of Grimes, Iowa and Ashley (Scott) Wilkinson of Westminister, CO; five grandchildren; sister Judith Walrod of Somers, Iowa; brother Bruce (Amy) Walrod of Moorland, Iowa; brother-in-law Roger (Rochelle) Wilson of Moville, Iowa; sister-in-law Gwen (Rex) Benham of Fayetteville, Arkansas; sister-in-law Renee Wilson of Farnhamville, Iowa; best friend Sue (Melvin) Beavers of Dallas Center; along with aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and countless friends.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Amber; her brother, Ron; sister-in-law, Rachel; her parents, Wyman and Phyllis Walrod; and in-laws, Floyd and Earlene Wilson.
