Nancy K. Henely

WINCHENDON - Nancy Koepke Henely, 84 years old, passed away peacefully from pancreatic cancer with her family at her side.  She lived a full and diverse life. She resided in Winchendon, MA.  Nancy was born in Wisconsin in 1936, she counted more than twenty places as home, including long sojourns in Massachusetts and Florida. Despite being a native of the upper Midwest, she constantly berated the ‘snowbirds’ who moved south and didn’t know how to drive.

Nancy worked her entire life and was proud of her independence. She also was very involved with Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon. She helped build chapters in Florida, attending meetings, helping at fundraisers and aiding at halfway houses. She assisted in starting the first chapters for a diverse number of people and the first institutional chapter (in a local hospital). She served as an Al-Anon officer for the entire state of Florida. She attended many conventions and even gave presentations, despite her fervent fear of public speaking. She lived her life faithful to the biblical ideal of considering others before yourself.  She gave of herself and her time sacrificially for those in need, especially the sick and suffering.  She expressed love for others by sitting with friends and neighbors as they lost mobility and health, always willing to be a person to care for them.

A graduate of Edgewater High School in Orlando, she was an avid book reader, spending much time in the Orlando library with her children. She liked the Florida-based Travis McGee series, author Carl Hiaasen and biographies of entertainment stars. She was a big fan of Johnny Cash, Bob Hope, and Burt Reynolds. She enjoyed cheering on the Packers, Seahawks and the Crimson Tide.

She is predeceased by her Father Donald Koepke of Granville Wisconsin and her step mother Nettie Koepke of Florida.  Nancy’s mother Selma Anna Krause passed away when Nancy was a teenager.

She is survived by her brothers Lee Koepke and wife, Doreen, James Koepke and wife, Linda, Son Greg Stroud and wife Emily, Daughter Shannon Clinkscale and husband Tom, step daughter Beth Kraft and husband Terry, grandchildren: Corban Clinkscale and wife Carli, Cayla Clinkscale, Calvin Clinkscale, Connor Clinkscale and wife Olivia, cousins, nephews and nieces.

Memorial donations may be made to the The Antioch School Scholarship Fund at Bethany Bible Chapel 727 Spring Street Winchendon, MA 01475.

Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon is directing arrangements.

www.stone-ladeau.com