Nancy L. Zieman, Beaver Dam, passed away early Tuesday, November 14th at her home from cancer.
Nancy was born the daughter of Ralph and Barbara (Larson) Luedtke on Father’s Day, June 21, 1953 in Neenah, Wisconsin. She was a graduate of Winneconne High School and UW Stout majoring in clothing/textiles and journalism. She was married to Richard Zieman on January 29, 1977.
Proverbs 3: 5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and He will make straight your paths”,sustained Nancy through her life as a daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother as well as successful author, designer, businesswoman, TV producer, national sewing authority and host for 35 years of the show Sewing With Nancy. Nancy is founder of Nancy’s Notions in Beaver Dam and is a National Spokesperson for Baby Lock sewing machines.
The Wisconsin Women Entrepreneurs Association named Nancy the 1988 Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year. In 1991, Nancy received the National 4-H Alumni Award. Nancy was elected as the first member of the Sewing Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2013 the University of Wisconsin-Stout honored Nancy with the Distinguished Alumni Award. The University of Wisconsin-Extension 4-H Youth Development Program inducted Nancy, with honors, into the Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame in 2014.
Nancy is survived by her husband, Rich, and her two sons, Ted (Alison) of Green Bay, Tom (Katelyn) of Appleton and three grandchildren, 8 year old Avery, 6 year old Luella and 1 year old Adeline. She is further survived by her mother, Barbara (Warren) Eckstein of Zittau, WI, andthree siblings, John Luedtke of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Dean (Mary Ann) Luedtke of Larsen, WIand Gina (Jeff) Crispell of Wausau, WI. She was preceded in death by her father, Ralph Luedtke, her mother and father-in-law, Elaine and Earl Zieman and her sister-in-law Mary Jo Check.
A closed casket visitation will be held Friday, November 17th from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Peace Lutheran Church, 400 Hillcrest Drive in Beaver Dam. The funeral will be Saturday, November 18th at 10:30 AM at Peace Lutheran Church and immediately following the service there will be a fellowship/visitation dinner at Nancy’s Notions, 333 Beichl Avenue, Beaver Dam.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Nancy’s name may be directed to Hillside Hospice, 709 S. University Avenue, Beaver Dam, WI 53916 or to Wisconsin Public Television, 821 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706.
The Koepsell-Murray Funeral Home in Beaver Dam is serving the family.
