Nancylee Ziese

NANCYLEE HANSON ZIESE

Cedar Rapids

Nancylee Hanson Ziese, 78, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, at the Oldorf Hospice House in Hiawatha, Iowa.

Survivors include her husband of 39 years, Jerry, daughter, Graham, and grandson, Deegan, all of Cedar Rapids; and siblings, Nita Hanson of Florida, Steven Hanson of Los Angeles, Calif., and Vicki Ferguson of Ocala, Fla.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Gale and Juanita Graham Hanson.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, March 11, at 11 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 220 40th St. NE, Cedar Rapids.

Nancylee's education began at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, where she received her B.A. in sociology, followed by her master's in social work from the University of Iowa. Also at the university, she received an Aging Studies certificate and completed post-graduate work toward her Ph.D. in higher education administration. At the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn., she completed the Education for Ministry certification. She was a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church.

Nancylee spent the bulk of her professional career as an adoption specialist in Sioux City, Los Angeles, Des Moines and Cedar Rapids. Additionally, in Sioux City, she served as director of internships at Briar Cliff College and in Cedar Rapids as executive director of the Professional Women's Network, director of continuing education at Coe College and Adjunct Professor of Sociology at Kirkwood Community College.

Nancylee served on more than 40 boards of directors at local and state levels, including Friends of Iowa Public TV, Sioux City Board of Education, Boys and Girls Home and Family Service Center of Sioux City, League of Women Voters in Sioux City and Cedar Rapids, State Steering Committee of Iowa Women's Political Caucus, E.R.A. IOWA, Professional Women's Network, Iowa Women's Foundation, Young Parents Network, Iowa Department of Public Health Birth Defects Institute, Civil Rights Commission of Cedar Rapids, Iowa Breast Cancer Action Foundation, Child Advocacy Board of Iowa, American Association of University Women, Linn Co. Advocates, Heart of Iowa, ASAC, Goodwill of the Heartland, Enduring Families Program (Iowa National Guard), Episcopal Diocese of Iowa: Corporation Board, Standing Committee, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, Commission on Ministry and Deputy to General Convention, St. John's Episcopal Church Vestry and Christ Episcopal Church Interim Vestry. In Sioux City, she founded Jackson Street Manor Auxiliary board and worked with recovering women alcoholics. She founded First Step Small Group Dinners for racial reconciliation in Wellington Heights/Cedar Rapids.

She was a proud member of National Association of Social Workers, League of Women Voters, Cedar Rapids Downtown Rotary, PEO-IH, Kappa Kappa Gamma and the NAACP. She was a frequent presenter and writer on issues of social justice, breast cancer, adoption and children's need for safety/stability.

Nancylee was honored as Linn County Woman of the Year in 1995, Professional Women's Network Woman of the Year in 1996 and Child Advocate of the Year - Children's Voice in 2004. She received the Cedar Rapids Rotary Paul Harris Award in 2005.

She led a full and interesting life and was an inspiration to many. Each day of her life, she contributed to making the community and wider world a better place. She generously shared her time to educate, mentor and motivate the many individuals she connected with each day. She was admired, respected and loved, and she will be missed. She lived and modeled "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Sister of St. Francis of Dubuque; Christ Episcopal Church, Cedar Rapids; Young Parents Network, Cedar Rapids; and Friends of Iowa Public Television.

Online condolences may be left at www.iowacremation.com under Obituaries.