Wilson, Nancy Ann (Mrs. Mike) 1962-2025

WILSON, HULST, HEEREN

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/22/2026 at 19:54:52

Nancy Ann (Hulst) Wilson, longtime employee of HyVee in Ankeny and Spencer, passed away December 7, 2025 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD, with her husband Mike and son Nathan at her bedside. Nancy had recently turned 63. Nancy battled her ovarian cancer for over two years with an upbeat and positive attitude that was noticed by everyone around her.

A Celebration of Life will take place at 12 (noon) on Saturday, May 30th, 2026, at Hope Church (919 Grand Ave) in Spencer, Iowa. Guests are welcome to arrive early and greet family. A lunch will follow the service, catered by Hyvee of Spencer, Iowa. All are welcome.

Nancy was born on November 29, 1962 in Orange City, Iowa to her parents BettyJane Alice (Heeren) and Nick H. Hulst.

During the early years, children Nancy and her brother Jeff went to their mother Betty’s mother’s farm outside Kingsley, Iowa for two weeks every summer. Their Aunt Mary and Uncle Harold also lived on the farm with their three children Debbie, Butch and Amy. All the kids played and bonded together. Nancy often mentioned those times as a highlight of her summers. Nancy, her folks and brother really enjoyed eating at the Dixie Drive-In on Highway 60 which was only blocks from their Hospers home.

Nancy grew up in Hospers, Iowa and attended the Newkirk Church with her family. She went to elementary school in Hospers, junior high at Newkirk Public School, and graduated high school at Floyd Valley High School in Orange City, Iowa in 1981.

Nancy met her future husband Michael Wilson in Sheldon, Iowa on the night of July 30, 1981. Back then, many teenagers would descend on Sheldon every Sunday night. While Nancy and her good friends Mary and Renae were relaxing in a Main Street parking lot, Mike and his good friends Mike S., Jeff V.R., and Rick W. came into the lot and started to toss a football around. Sparks flew and a lifelong adventure began! Nancy and Mike were married June 30, 1982 in Newkirk Iowa. Nancy’s maid of honor was her future sister in law Laura (Wilson) Steigelman, while Mike’s best man was his good friend David Van Roekel. Nancy’s father, Nick, did not want to let her go as his cufflink caught on the sleeve of her wedding dress when he was supposed to let her join Mike at the front. Nancy and Mike’s son, Nathan, was born in 1986 in Elizabeth City, NC, while they were stationed at USCG Group Cape Hatteras in Buxton, NC. Nathan and his daughter, Lillian, reside in Hillsboro, Oregon.

In January of 1983, Mike joined the United States Coast Guard. While Mike went to boot camp in Cape May, NJ Nancy and their black lab Snoopy stayed with Nancy’s folks in Hospers. During Mike’s twenty three years on active duty, they lived in Manteo and Buxton, North Carolina, Kodiak, Alaska, Patterson, Louisiana, Huntington Beach, California, Palm Harbor, Florida, Ketchikan, Alaska and Mobile, Alabama. Military service is a great way to see the Country. After retirement in 2006, they moved back to their Palm Harbor home. In the summer of 2009, they decided to move back to their native Iowa settling in Ankeny. In 2014, they purchased an acreage outside Ruthven, Iowa and built their home there in 2015 - getting it finished just before Thanksgiving.

During high school Nancy waitressed at two different Hospers restaurants, including the Main Street Cafe on and off. Her last job before leaving Hospers was working for the Ben Franklin store in Sheldon, Iowa.

Nancy held a wide variety of jobs as Mike transferred around the country. Waitressed at seafood restaurants in Manteo and Buxton, NC. Babysat and then managed a bookstore in Kodiak, Alaska. Worked at an eye care office in Morgan City, Louisiana and then worked at Hobby Lobby. In Huntington Beach she babysat three children as Mike was often gone on his ship and Nathan was in elementary school. In Palm Harbor she worked at a Sweetbay grocery store as a cashier very near their house. Up next was Ketchikan, Alaska where she again worked in an eye care office. In Mobile, Alabama Nancy again worked at Hobby Lobby. Back in Palm Harbor she again worked for the Sweetbay grocery store. In Ankeny she cashiered at a HyVee grocery store. In NW Iowa she continued her HyVee career and worked until the cancer wouldn’t let her anymore. She often went into HyVee to grocery shop after having lunch with her coworkers. She really bonded with her coworkers and customers. If she ran into regular customers about town, they would often call her The HyVee Girl.

Nancy was well known for her deep love and feelings towards her friends, family and coworkers and received the same in return. She loved her multiple gardens and could often be found happily digging in the dirt and weeding, fertilizing and watering. She enjoyed shopping at the Spencer and Okoboji used stores. If she had a friend along, that was even better. She would pour over her grocery list with her weekly meal plan in mind while looking at the HyVee specials online. After work she would get her groceries for the week. Once a year or so she liked to visit a casino with friends and family. Nancy and her sister in law, Sandi, would usually go when they visited over Christmas a number of years. She also went with coworkers, and they had so much fun. Nancy and Sandi often went on girls trips with the Pella Tulip Festival as one highlight.

Nancy was always positive and cheerful and a joy to spend time with. Her husband would often tell her she is a "glass half-full" person and she would call him a "half-empty."

During their travels together, the family enjoyed visiting numerous zoos, including the San Diego Zoo, New Orleans Zoo and the Tampa Zoo. She once rode a camel at the New Orleans Zoo with her granddaughter Lily. They also enjoyed Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Morgan City, Louisiana and Mobile, Alabama. They drove through part of Canada after departing Ketchikan and really enjoyed the scenery and people.

Nancy was an excellent cook and really enjoyed it. She loved to barbecue as well and usually got the firepit fire going. She enjoyed hotdogs over the fire and s’mores.

Nancy was a special lady and will be greatly missed by her husband, son, granddaughter, friends and family! She was lovingly supported by all during her over two years of battling her ovarian cancer. Her family greatly appreciated all the love she was given over this difficult time.

Survivors include her partner of 44 years, Michael. Son, Nathan: and granddaughter, Lillian of Hillsboro, Oregon. Brother Jeff and his wife Sandi of Gladbrook, Iowa, and their children and grandchildren. Sister in law Laura, and her family of St Augustine Florida. Sister in Law Diane of Port Richey Florida, and her family. Brother in Law Richard, and family of Big Lake Alaska. Sister in Law Patty of St. Augustine Florida, and her family. Brother in Law Jim in Largo Florida, and his family. And her Sister in Law Cathy in Ohio, and her family.

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, Nick and Betty Hulst of Hospers, Iowa, and Brother in Law, Tracy, in Florida.

Nancy absolutely adored the family dogs and cats. She helped rescue, care for, and found loving homes for the many stray cats that found their way to the acreage while some stayed as new family members. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Nancy’s memory to the Spencer pet shelter - People for Pets, 2312 Hwy Blvd, Spencer, Iowa 51301. God bless Nancy and all who loved and cared for her!!
Miller Funeral Home.