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In Memory

Nancy Bridenstine (Wilhelm) - Class Of 1950

Nancy Wilhelm, age 89, of McCook, passed away Saturday, December 18, 2021 at the Good Samaritan Society in Oberlin, Kansas. Nancy Leila Bridenstine was born to Rhoby M. (Davison) Bridenstine, biological father, Harry Lester Bridenstine, on September 29, 1932, in Dalton, Nebraska. She and her mother embarked on an adventure together, moving first to Sidney, Nebraska and finally to McCook, Nebraska where Nancy would attend school. When Rhoby remarried, Nancy found her “pop” in W. R. “Bill” Coady, and he gained his oldest daughter. In her younger years, many of her vacations were spent with her grandparents, Jim and Flora Davison, where at her grandma’s side she learned to sew on the treadle sewing machine, embroider, tat, crochet and knit. Growing up in McCook, she learned to play the piano and became an accomplished pianist. She never found an interest she couldn’t master from wallpapering to laying ceramic tile floors. She made even the smallest of celebrations special for her family and friends. Nancy graduated from McCook High School in 1950 and moved with her parents to Denver, Colorado but the love of her life, Warren ”Harlow” Wilhelm, came to Denver after her and they were married there on January 8, 1951. Harlow, having enlisted in the Air Force, moved with his bride, living from California to Florida, returning to the family farm in McCook when his service ended where four children were born to them: Edward, Thomas, Barbara and Christopher. Even with her busy life as a farm wife, Nancy was also a businesswoman. Over the years she worked for Mousel Law and Dr. Graves as a secretary. Seeing an opportunity, she opened the Aquarius Waterbed Store building a successful business. Following that, she opened Aunt Alice’s with her sister and sister-in-law serving luncheons out of a Victorian house they renovated. Décor was a specialty of hers, but her true love was when she obtained her realtor’s license and spent her final working years helping clients find the home of their dreams. Most of those clients became her life-long friends. Nancy loved to travel, so travel she and Harlow did, seeing much of the world with their close-knit group of friends. When Harlow wasn’t available, Nancy did short trips with her mother, sister, cousins, aunts and friends. Her suitcase was always ready to go. Proceeding her in death was her daughter, Barbara (1963); her son, Edward and his wife Ann (1981); her parents, W.R. and Rhoby Coady; and her mother and father-in-law, Ethel and Frank Wilhelm. Left to say goodbye is her husband of 70 years, Harlow, her son, Thomas (Dee); her son, Christopher (Maria); four grandchildren: Zach (Andrea) Wilhelm, Kelly Wilhelm, Samantha (Gabe) Houston, and Brandon (fiancé Elizabeth Fitch) Wilhelm; her brother, Jim (Jean) Coady; and sister, Susan (Sid) Doak, as well as numerous friends, nieces, nephews and cousins. Our world has lost a classy lady! Funeral Services will be Friday, December 24th, at 2:00 PM at the Hermann-Jones Funeral Chapel in McCook. In keeping with Nancy’s wishes, the casket will remain closed for services. Burial will be at a later date in Memorial Park Cemetery. 

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https://www.herrmannfh.com/obituary/nancy-wilhelm