Nancy C. Walsh, age 85, long time resident of Merrill, passed away on Thursday, December 30, 2021, at the Weston Marshfield Medical Center. Nancy was born to the late Carl and Margaret (Batchelder) Henrichs in Merrill on October 2, 1936. She graduated from Merrill High School. In 1955 Nancy met Martin Walsh at the Badger Theater in Merrill after Martin’s friend set them up on a date. Marty and Nancy exchanged marriage vows on January 21, 1956, in Merrill. He survives.
Nancy was a very diverse and outgoing lady. She looked forward to playing cards with neighbors and friends as well as her annual trips with Loretta. Nancy worked at the Red Owl grocery store as a clerk and then at S&M as a receptionist in Merrill for 25 years. She was very skilled at refinishing antique furniture, liked collecting antiques and was an excellent seamstress. Nancy is remembered as having beautiful flower and vegetable gardens and would enjoy canning her harvest. She looked forward to going hunting with her husband, especially their trips out West, and fishing with him on the Wisconsin River and some smaller local lakes. She really loved ice fishing and would go whenever she was able. Nancy and her family also did a lot of camping and traveling together, memories that her family remembers fondly. She was a fabulous cook, great mother and wife and took very good care of her family. Nancy was also a meticulous housekeeper and liked things to be clean and neat…her family would often refer to her as “Fancy Nancy”! Nancy loved anything Judy Garland and The Wizard Of Oz. Nancy is remembered as a quiet and easy-going lady, but had a fun, witty sense of humor, all the way up to the end of her life. She was a member at St. Stephen’s United Church of Christ in Merrill and volunteered in the medical equipment ministry. Nancy will be sadly missed, but never forgotten.
Nancy is survived by her husband of nearly 66 years: Martin Walsh of Wausau, son: Greg (Dana Swindler) Walsh of Minneapolis, MN, and daughter: Chris (Donna Brickey) Walsh of Hendersonville, NC, daughter-in-law: Reghan Walsh, granddaughter: Erin, great grandchildren: Bronson, Chloe, and Collin, sister: Susan (Dennis Dengel) and sister-in-laws: Carol, Rose, and Susan, along with many nieces and nephews and long-time friends: Loretta and Floyd Smith and the entire Smith family. She was preceded in death by her parents, son: Steve, brothers: Duane, “Butch”, and Robert and sister: LuEllen (Jim)
A Celebration of Life for Nancy will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, family request that monetary donations be directed to St. Stephens United Church of Christ in Merrill or to the Alzheimer’s & Dementia Research Fund.
Waid Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Merrill is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences are encouraged and may be made at www.waidfuneral.com
Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There’s a land that I heard of once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow, Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream, really do come true…
Songwriters: Harburg E Y / Arlen Harold