Nancy Stenzel

NANCY JEAN STENZEL

Marion

Nancy Jean Stenzel, 74, of Marion, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, at her home after a hard-fought eight-year battle with cancer. A Celebration of Life will be held from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, at the Cedar Memorial Family Center.

Nancy was born Dec. 13, 1944, the daughter of Richard and Hazel (Clemons) Norby, in Marengo, Iowa. Upon graduating from high school in 1963, she immediately started working at Rockwell Collins, retiring after 47 years in 2010. During her employment she worked in the white room, where she was a lead specialist over instrument assemblers and adjusters. On Feb. 7, 1997, she was married to Edwin Stenzel.

Nancy began sewing at just 12 years old and continued sewing throughout the rest of her days. She was an excellent seamstress. Nancy sewed numerous styles of doll clothes including Barbie, Cabbage Patch and American Girl Dolls. She also designed and sold tissue box sofas and other crafts. Nancy had been a member of the Creative Colony at the Amanas for the last 30 years. She was a board member and past president and worked on the calendar.

She greatly enjoyed working on jigsaw puzzles, garage sales and drinking her Happy Frappes.

Survivors include her three children, Mary (Mike) Grabe, Tom (Tammy) Benda and Paul (Sally) Benda; seven grandchildren, Haley (Andy) Warack, Hannah Supple, Heidi Supple, Eric (Holli) Benda, Matthew (Brittany) Benda, Brian Benda and Sommer Benda; five sisters, Susie (David) Upah, Cheri (Dave) Miner, Linda Norby, Jan Waddell and Melody (Carl) Leis; stepson, Tim Stenzel; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband and parents.

Memorials may be directed to the family to be given to a charitable cause in memory of Nancy.

The family would like to thank the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Staff, PCI Oncology Staff and UnityPoint Hospice for their excellent care of Nancy.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.iowacremation.com under Obituaries.