Nancy Jean Tometczak

Nancy Jean Tometczak
March 20, 1939—May 21, 2016
Nancy was born in Milwaukee, WI, to the late Alexander and Carrie (nee Schneider) Borger. She was baptized, confirmed, and later married at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church on 7th and Vliet Streets and also attended its grade school. In the spring of 1957 she graduated from the old Lutheran High School.
Nancy worked at Master Lock Co. and was introduced to her future husband, Joseph Tometczak, by Bernice, her good friend and Joe’s sister. After Joe and Nancy married in 1959, they moved to Racine where she joined Epiphany Church and worked at Western Printing for a few years. In 1963 they moved into a larger home in Caledonia to accommodate their growing family. Together they tended to the needs of the family as well as raising chickens, ducks, geese and a variety of garden vegetables. Trinity Ev. Lutheran in Caledonia became their new church home where she assisted with newsletters.
Nancy held some part-time jobs throughout the years (like the infamous paper route her daughters got to help with), but her primary role was making our house a loving home. She was blessed with a deep faith in her Savior and it reflected by taking her daughters to church and enrolling them in its grade school. One of her favorite hobbies was shopping, often purchasing decorations with a religious theme for the home as well as gifts for family members. Her often overlooked labors of love left many lasting memories–excellent home-cooked meals, crisply-ironed wardrobes and bed linens, and pressure cookers and canning jars sizzling into the wee hours of July and August evenings to name a few – beans, tomatoes, pickles, and more beans. In the fall and winter the house was filled with the delicious scents of homemade suppers, soups and German recipes handed down by her mother.
Nancy’s parents were an important part of her life. They often visited on weekends, especially during harvesting and butchering season. When Nancy’s mother suffered a stroke, she assumed responsibility for her care and later brought Grandpa Borger into their home as his health declined all the while keeping the household up and running and raising her family.
Nancy loved her children, and her pride and joy were her grandchildren. She loved watching them grow up, hearing about their newest adventures and achievements, and especially seeing all of them confirmed in their faith. She felt especially blessed when the great-grandsons arrived, and their visits perked her spirit.
When illness struck almost 18 years ago, Joe took an early retirement and became her primary caregiver; daughter Jill assumed responsibility for most of her health care needs. Joe managed both inside and outside household maintenance. Mom’s drink of choice was diet raspberry Snapple ice tea, and Dad faithfully brought her a new one whenever she needed another “soda.” When her health recently took a steady decline, her daughters felt privileged to share more closely in her personal care needs in order to honor her wish to remain in her home throughout the duration of her final illness. Mom’s strong spirit and trust in God’s promises endured through it all, and perhaps she was teaching us all one last important life lesson–“I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me.” (Phil. 4:13) We find comfort knowing she is now safely in her heavenly home by her Savior’s side where we will one day reunite.
She is survived by her husband Joe of almost 57 years; daughters Carrie (Art) Peavy, Jill (Jerry) Michel, Merry (Guy) DeCheck, Judy (Mike) Schantek, grandchildren Michael, Jerry Michel, Jamie (Micah) Milhans, Chris, Caleb Peavy, Toni, Emily, and Guy DeCheck, Alyssa and Mike Schantek; great-grandsons Noah, Mason, and Olyver Milhans; and many cousins and friends who already miss her deeply. Special thanks to Jill and Laura from Aurora at Home for helping to make her last week more comfortable, Pastor Wierschke for reminding us all we are part of God’s plan and distributing Lord’s Supper even in her final days, and Mark from Heritage Funeral Home for his guidance and patience in the planning of this celebration of Nancy’s life and transition to her final home – Heaven.