Nancy J. Renshaw

Nancy Jean Renshaw, 86, beloved aunt, sister, and friend, joined her family in Heaven on September 5, 2026. Born in Coldwater, Michigan on May 4, 1940 to Fred and Gladys Renshaw, she was the youngest of five children. After graduating from Coldwater High School in 1958, she attended and graduated from Adrian College. Nancy spent her career teaching kindergarten at Post Elementary School in Battle Creek until her retirement in 1991.

A favorite with her nieces and nephews, Nancy took time to listen to and play with them. They enjoyed spending time with her at her mother's house, the Renshaw farm, Camp Wakeshma, or multiple lakes. Nancy was known for her generosity and love of bears. She was always willing to help, including serving on numerous mission trips, participating in the Civic Theater, helping with the World's Longest Breakfast Table and the Balloon Festival, singing in the church choir, delivering tapes of church services to shut-ins, volunteering in the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen, and teaching bear-making and crocheting at the Marian E. Burch Adult Day Care Center. Most of the bears she made were given as gifts to each new baby at church, Toys for Tots, church bazaars, and even to balloonists from other countries at the Balloon Festival. When her hands weren't busy making bears, they were often occupied by cross-stitching or crocheting rugs, lap blankets, hats, or scarves.

Traveling was something else Nancy enjoyed. She participated in several elderhostels and church trips. Many other trips were taken with friends, including walking the Mackinac Bridge on Labor Day weekend in 1995. Two regular annual excursions were to the Grand Rapids Art Prize and the Lansing Folk Festival. A favorite pastime was to write poems about each trip and give them as a gifts. For 20 years, she was a regular at the Senior Center, where she swam and socialized with friends.

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Gladys Renshaw, brother David (Vera) Renshaw, and sisters Rosemary (Marion) Davidson and Virginia (Fred) Snell. She is survived by her sister, Carol (Charles) Graske, close friend Emily Weingartz, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, 157 Chapel Hill Dr., Battle Creek, Michigan 49015 on Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, you may send donations to Chapel Hill United Methodist Church or Coldwater United Methodist Church. Arrangements by the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.