Nancy Joanne Niesen

MIDDLETON - Nancy J. Niesen, age 73, passed away at her home in Middleton, Wis., on Jan. 29, 2024. She was the daughter of Robert A. Greene and Marion (Zak) Greene.

Nancy was born in Ashland, Wis., and in 1962 her family moved to Middleton where she graduated from Middleton High School. After school she worked for a few years for the State of Wisconsin. On June 9, 1973, she married Greg Niesen. Last year they celebrated 50 years together. In April of 1978 Greg and Nancy purchased their starter home. After some home additions it turned out to be their forever home.

Nancy was a very talented artist. She designed parade floats for several years for a firm based in Chicago. One incomplete goal was to help design and work on a float for a Rose Bowl Parade. While her children were attending elementary school, Nancy created a class called Art In The School. She volunteered many hours with that program so that the school children would have a better understanding of the different methods and styles of paintings.

As a self-taught accountant Nancy took care of the accounting, taxes, and payroll for almost 40 with the Greene-Niesen Insurance Agency. This was certainly not her dream occupation, but she was extremely efficient and good at it. Never off a penny.

Nancy loved to travel, especially in an RV with her children as they were growing up. So many enjoyable vacations. It included travels to the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Niagara Falls, Canadian Rockies, Prince Edward Island, Myrtle Beach, Mount Rushmore, and many more. One of her favorite vacations was to Pensacola Beach with her children and grandchildren. Speaking of grandchildren, that is what she lived for the past several years. She couldn't wait for the next visit. So many special memories with all of them.

Nancy and Greg spent several weekends in Green Bay during the football season. She was a big Packers fan. Her Packers highlight was getting a short video message from Brett Farve (thanks to her children). The message referred to having to eat a cupcake after a Packers touchdown which Brett thought was pretty funny. He knew that he caused Nancy's family to eat several cupcakes each game.

Nancy's love of family, friends, and especially the grandchildren will always be cherished. The grandkids, Calvin, Alena, Mary, Francis, Joanna, and Elizabeth were everything to her. Her goal was to meet Elizabeth who was recently born, and she did.

Nancy is survived by her husband; children, Angela (Ryan) Fronek, Verona, and Nicholas (Kelly), Waunakee; six grandchildren; and her siblings, Alan (Diana), Diane (George) Esser, Mary (Kevin Hughes) and Robert (Yuki). She was preceded in death by her parents.

A special thanks to Agrace HospiceCare. The staff was so helpful during Nancy's final days which were at home. That was her wish. It would have been difficult to do that without the help of Agrace and their incredible staff. Nancy was also supported by Home Instead. The care and support from Home Instead was extremely helpful as well. The family would like to thank Nancy's team of doctors at the UW Hospital in Madison, Wis., Dr. Baskaya, Dr. Tevaarwerk, Dr. Stella and Dr. Jaeger, as well as the Oncology staff.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, memorials may be made in Nancy's name to JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) at https://jdrf-wisconsin.ejoinme.org/fronek. Nancy’s granddaughter Alena has type 1 diabetes.

A visitation with be held at ST. BERNARD CATHOLIC CHURCH (Higgins Hall), 2015 Parmenter St., Middleton, from 4:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the church at 12 noon on Saturday Feb. 3, 2024, with Father Brian Dulli presiding. A visitation will be held in Higgens Hall, which is connected to the church from 11 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Saturday. A luncheon will follow the Mass in Higgens Hall. Burial will take place at Sunset Memory Gardens, 7302 Mineral Point Road, Madison, following the luncheon.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson West

Funeral & Cremation Care

7435 University Ave.

(608) 831-6761