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Nancy Senneff
Nancy Senneff
Iowa City
Nancy Senneff, 91, of Iowa City, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at Oaknoll Retirement Residence.
Nancy Senneff was born December 16, 1933, in Iowa City to George T. and Dorothy Withington Bresnahan. She graduated from City High School in 1952, where she was president of the Girl’s Athletic Association. In 1956, she graduated from the University of Iowa College of Nursing and was a student representative to the College Admissions Board. She was a member of the Delta Gamma Sorority and was active in their alumni group for many years. She was employed as a registered nurse at UIHC, Mercy in Mason City, Bon Secour Hospital in Grosse Pointe, MI, and taught Pediatric Nursing at NIACC in Mason City.
On June 16, 1956, Nancy was united in marriage to Thomas C. Senneff at St. Thomas More Church in Iowa City.
Nancy’s family consists of daughters Cynthia (Bill) Beaumont, Martha (Dean) Stewart, daughter-in-law Sarah Senneff, and the late Mary Senneff. Her sons are Thomas Senneff Jr. and the late Joseph Senneff. Along with her children, Nancy is survived by twelve grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She is predeceased by her husband Thomas, daughter Mary, son Joseph, three great-grandchildren, sister Joan Meyer, and brother Michael Bresnahan.
Nancy was a longtime volunteer for the Iowa City Schools and St. Paul of the Lake School in Grosse Pointe, MI. She also volunteered for the Red Cross, the Iowa City Senior Center, and the Johnson County Courthouse. She and her husband Tom started a wrestling club for Junior High students in Iowa City and ran it for 7 years. She was known as the “cookie lady” for the Health Center at Oaknoll, where she and Tom resided for many years. Nancy was also an enthusiastic member of the Red Hat Society and enjoyed the friends she made there.
In the 1970’s, Nancy and Tom were instrumental in helping many Vietnamese refugees resettle in Iowa City through St. Thomas More Church. These families were always welcome at the dinner table, and she greatly enjoyed learning about different cultures.
Nancy was a woman of great faith and performed many kindnesses for others. She preferred to keep it anonymous, because “only God needs to know” and we are sure He does!
The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the wonderful staff at Oaknoll, the magnificent angels at Hospice, the medical staff at UIHC, and to all who stopped to visit, send cards, offered prayers, and well wishes.
In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made to Iowa City Hospice, the Oaknoll Foundation, or a charity of your choice. Visitation will be held at 9:00 am on October 1 at St. Mary’s in Iowa City. Funeral Mass will follow at 10:00 am.
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