Nancy Jean Batz

Nancy Jean Batz was born Nancy Jean Hunter on July 21, 1936 to Arline Urban & WK Hunter in Mason City, Iowa on one of the hottest days in Iowa history. She was raised in Lake View, Iowa with her sister Peg by their mother who was a teacher and former opera singer, and father WK Hunter, who ran a funeral home and later edited and printed the local newspaper. Learning from their mother the power of music, and working with her father to print, fold and deliver papers instilled in Nancy a passion for teaching and a dedicated work ethic that would guide all the days of her life. Upon graduationg from Lake View High School in 1954, Nancy attended Grinnell College where she met lifelong friends, traveled the country and abroad, and graduated in 1958 to embark on a music teaching career. She taught students in all grades K-12 over her career in Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Nancy married her husband and dance partner of 50 years Ronald A. Batz, whom she met while teaching in Lake City, Iowa. Nancy financially-supported her husband Ron for eight years while he attended Veterinary School at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. She and Ron had 3 children; Paul, Heidi and Liesl - all of whom live in Minneapolis/St. Paul. Nancy's most significant teaching job was in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, teaching K-8 music at Christ the King and Cathedral Catholic Schools respectively for 21 years before retiring in 1998. Her favorite job was teaching at United Community , now named Boone High School in Boone, Iowa. She especially enjoyed the class of 1965. Nancy and Ron loved meeting new people and hosting parties around the upright grand piano in their living room. Upon retirement, they built and lived in a lake home in Spirit Lake, Iowa for 15 years where Nancy continued teaching piano and voice. Nancy moved to Graham Place in St. Paul in 2013 to be closer to her children and grandchildren. Nancy will be remembered by her children and grandchildren for her mentorship, fun-loving humor, unyielding optimism, remarkable resilience, belief in angels and the love that will forever surround all who knew Nancy with and through music. Nancy is preceded in death by her father Willis Kenneth Hunter; mother Arline Hunter; husband Ron Batz; and grandson Tate. She is succeeded in this earthly life by her sister Peg Scanlan; son Paul(Melinda) Batz; daughters Heidi (Earl) Batz Rogers and Liesl Batz; grandchildren Ben, Katie, Anna,Willis, Birch, and Ade; bonus grandchildren Sarah, Max, and Marina; and great granddaughter Adelaide. A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, July 28, 2 PM at Diamond Lake Lutheran Church, 5760 Portland Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55417. Visitation 2 hours prior to the service at the church, with a party following at the Bloomington Event Center, 1114 American Boulevard West, Bloomington, MN 55420. Memorials to: Boone High School Music Department - United Community School District 500 7th Street Boone IA 50036 Griinnell College Music Department 1115 8th Avenue Grinnell, IA 50112

Tributes

Nancy Jean Batz

July 21, 1936 - July 20, 2022

Tributes

Nancy Jean Batz

July 21, 1936 - July 20, 2022

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