Obituary: Nancy “Nan” Rowley, 90

WHITEWATER – Nan Rowley died on April 15, 2026, at the age of 90. She was born on September 4, 1935, in a little house on the prairie in the Town of Johnstown, Wisconsin, the daughter of Wayne L. Wilbur and Florence (McQuillen) Wilbur. Nan attended primary schools in the towns of Johnstown and Richmond and in the City of Whitewater. Nan graduated with honors from Whitewater City High School.

On June 19, 1954, Nancy and Ken Rowley were united in marriage in Whitewater and went to live on the Rowley family farm in Richmond. Over the years, Nan served her family as wife, mother, and wage earner. She was a very capable, take-charge person and served her church and community as well. Nan was a Sunday School teacher at the Methodist Church, as well as a Trustee and Lay Speaker. She worked for her community as a Red Cross Volunteer, Civil Defense Survey Taker, Town Clerk, and Town Treasurer. Nan was a voracious reader and credited the Irish in her ancestry for her wry sense of humor.

The light of Nan’s path through life was faith and her staff was laughter. Now she has followed the path home to God her Father.

Nancy is survived by her two sons, Kenneth (Debbie Parenteau) Rowley of W. Suffield, CT and Curtis (Sally Aldrich) Rowley of Whitewater, five grandchildren, Christopher Parenteau, Joseph (Whitney Beussink) Rowley, Lynn Parenteau, Sean Parenteau and Nathan (Loren Stevens) Rowley and 8 great-grandchildren.  

She was predeceased by her husband, Kenneth H. Rowley, her parents, two sons, Russell and Richard, three sisters, Florence (Morris) Hansen, Helen (Vernon) McQuillen, Doris (Robert) Kroening, and sister-in-law Laurene (Bill) Keech.

Services celebrating her life will be held at Nitardy Funeral Home, 550 N. Newcomb St., Whitewater on Monday, April 27, 2026. Visitation will be from 10 am to 11 am, Service at 11 am with interment at the Richmond Cemetery assisted by the Nitardy Funeral Home.

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