Nancy Sims Spencer died Friday, December 21, 2018, at the Ed and Joan Hemphill Hospice, St. Luke’s Hospital, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Funeral services will be held Friday, January 4, 2019, 11:00 AM, at Christ Episcopal Church on, 220 40th Street NE, Cedar Rapids, with luncheon to follow at the church. A visitation will be held Thursday, January 3, 2019, 4-7 PM, at Cedar Memorial, 4200 1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids.

 

Nancy was born on February 20, 1941 in Moline, Illinois, the daughter of Eugene and Annalee Danner Sims. On June 22, 1963, Nancy and James (Jim) L. Spencer married at the First Congregational Church in Moline, and established their home in Cedar Rapids where Jim was employed by then Collins Radio Company.

 

She graduated from the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1963, and taught private piano lessons in Cedar Rapids for 30 years. She was also a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. Nancy and Jim loved the Rocky Mountains, and returned annually to visit family in Allenspark, Colorado and Sheridan, Wyoming.

 

In addition to teaching, Nancy served as substitute organist at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church (now Christ Church) and was a past director of the hand bell choir. She joined the Beethoven Club in 1969 and held membership for 49 years, including serving as past president. Researching her family history, rubber stamping, and gardening were all interests for her.

 

She lived with multiple sclerosis for 37 years, residing in her beloved home with the support of wonderful caregivers, including Shawn Robinson, Della McMenomy, and many others and her nurse Melanie Nuendorf.

 

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband Jim, daughter Sarah (Nik Wilson) of St. Paul, MN, son Jeff of Tiverton, RI, two grandsons, Griffin and Beckett Spencer of Tiverton, and her brother, Steve Sims, of Johnson, NE. 

 

Memorials may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society or Christ Episcopal Church.