Nancy Schulz, of Sobieski, Wisconsin, passed away tragically and unexpectedly on September 16, 2021. She was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on May 1st, 1958 into an Air Force family and spent her childhood hopscotching across the globe in Japan, Hawaii, Guam, Oklahoma, Virginia, Alabama, California, Pennsylvania, Kansas, and Illinois.

Nancy meant a lot of things to a lot of people but the through line of her life was a master class in how to be a nurturer as a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, coworker and friend, sprinkled with a generous dose of creativity. First, she was the big sister to her three siblings - one Christmas at age 11, she created a scavenger hunt for them that started at the Christmas tree and led them throughout the house and attic. She gave her little brothers haircuts and taught her little sister how to walk and continued to be their support system when they needed a lifeline.

She was beautiful inside and out, a generous soul who attracted others to her with her positive spirit. She was the head cheerleader and homecoming queen who would jump on the back of a friend's motorcycle after a football game to ride the hills of Guam with the wind in her hair.

After completing high school in Guam, she moved to Illinois with her family and graduated from McKendree College in Lebanon, IL in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science in Business. She then began her lifelong career in the insurance industry, culminating in her dream job as an insurance director with Acuity where she shined as a trainer and mentor.

She excelled at many things in life but most enjoyed being a mother and grandmother, harnessing her nurturing and creative spirit. She sewed 1st communion and homecoming dresses for her daughters, attended all the sporting events and baked all the cookies. She built a spooky Halloween experience on the front porch that was actually too successful, as it scared away the younger kids of the neighborhood (oops). She dedicated her life first to her kids (usually while managing a full-time career and household) and later to her grandchildren. She crisscrossed the country to visit them and loved them all to the moon and back. Nancy was an unapologetic, indulgent and adoring grandmother, known as either Nana or Nanny depending on which grandchild you asked.

Nancy didn't understand the definition of simplicity - if she was going to do something, it would be nothing short of awesome, earning her the proud nickname of Fancy Nancy. After agreeing to "help out" with a school fundraiser for a mini golf installation she designed, jig sawed and hand painted an intricate 20 foot mural. She knew her way around a hardware store and was generally regarded as Mrs. Fixit - she laid miles of tile floors, painted acres of walls and tiled too many backsplashes to count, inhabiting the essences of Bob Vila and Martha Stewart. She was also a legendary chef (though she would call herself a cook at best). There was no such thing as an easy dinner. Nancy could take simple ingredients and create culinary experiences such as chicken piccata and venison saltimbocca. She also called upon heirloom family recipes to perfect pure comfort food of breakfast casserole and cinnamon rolls. She insisted on the finer things, never allowing a generic brand to cross her threshold.

Nancy suffered no fools. One of her favorite quotes was "You can't fix stupid" which came up more often than was comfortable. Another favorite - unrelated but equally informative - was "You're killing me, Smalls."

She became a Wisconsin naturalist later in life and basked in the serenity of her oasis. She lovingly created a beautiful home in Sobieski with her husband Keith, surrounded by the wildlife and creatures of their forest.

She is survived by her best friend and husband Keith Schulz; her adoring children, Brenna (Mike) Burgiel, Michaela (Tony) Campagnolo, Kerry Read, Dillon (Tracie) Read, Brent Schulz, Amber Schulz; her loving granddaughters, Isabelle, Giada, Bianca, Phaedra, Calliope; and her siblings, John Atkinson, Susan (Chris) Lovering.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Air Force Colonel Gary Atkinson and Luanne Atkinson; and her brother, David Atkinson. With her passing, Nancy made the ultimate gift of life, as an organ donor.

A visitation will be held from 9 - 11:00 a.m. followed by a Celebration of Life and the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. on Thursday, September 23, 2021 at Saints Edward and Isidore Catholic Church, 3667 Flintville Road, Green Bay, WI 54313.  For those that cannot attend, you main join the Livestream of the funeral at, https://www.facebook.com/Ss-Edward-Isidore-Church-562136803967841.

Flowers are welcomed. Memorial donations can also be made to the United Way ( unitedway.org ) or your local animal humane society ( animalhumanesociety.org ).

"Love you forever and ever, my lovely wife and my best friend." -Keith.