WENTE, Nancy M. 1956-2009
WENTE, ANNEAR, THOMPSON, KALAINOFF
Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 6/20/2010 at 00:21:58
[Waterloo Courier, Tuesday, December 8, 2009]
Nancy Marie Wente, 53, of Urbandale, devoted mother, co-worker and friend, passed away Saturday evening at Mercy Hospice, Johnston, having lost a heroic two-year battle with inflammatory breast cancer.
Born in Waterloo on July 5, 1956, Nancy was the youngest of three children and daughter of Harold and Marilyn Wente. She and her two siblings grew up in Denver, Iowa, on the family's century farm.
Nancy graduated from high school in Denver and went on to the University of Northern Iowa, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in speech with a minor in English. She worked as a radio producer/announcer for KUNI in Cedar Falls and KLEU Radio in Waterloo from 1978-82. She married James Annear in 1979 and from that union came her only son, Jared Annear, born in 1983. She went on to a prominent career at the Living History Farms museum in Urbandale, where she remained for 23 years. At LHF, Nancy served as the volunteer coordinator, human resources director and was advanced to assistant director. At work, Nancy led the administrative team, published the internal newsletter, co-chaired committees and was a mainstay for the day-to-day operation.
Nancy met the love of her life and companion, Leonard Thompson, in 2000, who remained devoted and stayed with her throughout her battle. Nancy became a proxy grandmother when Leonard's daughter, Emily, had a son, Kadyn, in July 2008.
Nancy is survived by her son, Jared Annear of Ankeny; her parents, Marilyn and Harold of Denver; her sister, Susan (Paul) Kalainoff of Eldridge; and her brother, Larry (Janet) Wente of Whitehouse, Texas. She is preceded in death by her grandparents and her niece, Jennifer Wente.
Following her cremation, a memorial visitation will be held in Waterloo at Garden View Chapel on Thursday, Dec. 10, from 4 to 8 p.m. A Celebration of Life event will be held on Sunday, Dec. 13, at Living History Farms Church of the Land, Urbandale, from 4 to 5 p.m., followed by a buffet dinner.
In lieu of flowers, memorials given to the family will be directed to the IBC Research Foundation.
Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
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