Memorial
Our beloved, extraordinary wife, mother, and grandmother, Grace Virginia Nealey Nau passed on to her eternal home on December 6, 2016. She was a resident of the Methwick Community and had been recently living at the Woodlands. Funeral Service: 10:30 am Saturday, December 10, 2016 at First Congregational Church in Cedar Rapids. A visitation will take place from 4-7 pm Friday, December 9, 2016 at Cedar Memorial Chapel Stateroom. Officiating: Reverend Melanie Van Weelden. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.
Grace was born on September 24, 1928 in Danville, Iowa to Dwight and Gladys Kelly Nealey. She was the third of four children, including Burton Nealey, Sara Margaret Murrell, and Charles Nealey who each predeceased her. Grace was reared on the family farm and she exemplified Iowa values of hard work and determination along with graciousness. She graduated as a salutatorian from Danville High School. She earned state qualification in both Vocal Music and Speech. Grace was a beauty who was selected as Miss Des Moines County for its Centennial celebration.
Grace attended Cornell College until her marriage to her devoted husband Donald Nau on July 25, 1948 when she was nineteen years old. They both attended the University of Iowa following their wedding while Don finished earning his degrees. Don and Grace had three children and celebrated 68 happy years of marriage, living in Iowa City, Marion, West Liberty, Olin, and then Cedar Rapids for the past 59 years.
At age 40 Grace returned to college to finish her degree so that she could assist with her children’s college expenses. She graduated from Mt. Mercy College with her teaching certificate. Since she set such high academic expectations for the three of us, she decided she better earn A’s, too. She excelled as a teacher at Buchanan, Johnson, and Grant Wood Elementary Schools. She was devoted to her students and adept a drawing out their full potential. She had such a strong influence on her students that many of them returned to visit her even after college, and credited her for their success. She was a true mistress of her craft and thoroughly loved it. Grace remembered her students fondly until her last days.
Grace had a natural curiosity and a love of learning with which she imbued her children. She provided us so many opportunities to extend our knowledge. We made family camping vacations to National Parks, historical landmarks, and museums. She graciously accepted all sorts of animals into her home including dogs, ducks, turtles, parakeets, fish, hamsters, rescued birds and bunnies, and chicks from the school biology experiments. We made weekly trips to the library. We attended cultural events. She never missed one of our sports competitions or musical performances. She was her children’s strongest advocate and most faithful supporter.
Grace and Don loved to travel and they visited all fifty states, the Far East, Africa, and Europe including thirty foreign countries. Grace was also an accomplished seamstress. She would look at the latest fashions in magazines and then design her own pattern and create the dress or outfit for a fraction of the cost. She was an excellent cook and passed along these skills to her grandchildren.
Grace was a member of First Congregational Church where she served on committees and as a Sunday School teacher. She was also a member of PEO, the DAR, and numerous book clubs. She was a very intelligent person, an insatiable reader, and excellent bridge player.
Survivors include her husband Don, three children, Dr. Scott (Jackie) Nau, Dr. Bradley (Leona) Nau, Julie (David) Perez; eight grandchildren, Gretchen (Shawn) Price, Dr. Peter (Kayla) Nau, Benjamin (Jennifer) Nau, Emily Nau, Dr. Eric (Leigh Zisko) Nau, Jonathan (Danielle) Nau, Daniel (Jenna) Perez, Andrew (Rachel) Perez; nine great-grandchildren, Grace, Sophia, Jackson, Preston, Elise, Noah, Nathaniel, Madeline, and Lillian; sister-in-law, Mrs. Nola Nealey, Gail Nau, ten nieces and nephews, their children, and grandchildren.
If Grace had a fault, it was being overly proud of her family.
We were blessed to have this remarkable woman in our lives. She contributed most prominently to our development, education, our values, and happiness. We loved our mother tremendously and she will live on in our hearts forever.
We are so grateful to those who provided excellent care to her during her illness including Dr. Melanie Stahlberg, caregivers from Mercy Hospice, and the dedicated staff of the Woodlands, Stewart Community. Thank you so much for the kindness you extended to our mother, father, and our family.
Memorials may be directed to First Congregational Church, 361 17th St. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403.