Nancy Beggs Oren

COTTAGE GROVE/MONONA - Nancy Beggs Oren, age 87, of Cottage Grove, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, March 6, 2022, at the UW Hospital surrounded by her loving family. She was born on Jan. 17, 1935, in Madison, the daughter of Lyall T. and Christine Beggs.                                                                                                  

Nancy graduated from Madison West High School, class of 1952, and then attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. She married the love of her life, Clair Oren, on May 4, 1954, in Madison, and together they were blessed with four children, eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and 67 years of marriage. Nancy grew up in Nakoma, and together with her husband, they raised their family in Monona and later moved to Cottage Grove where they currently resided.

At a young age, Nancy became very patriotic due to her father serving as National Commander and Chief of the VFW.  Nancy loved gardening, which she learned from her mother, and her children followed in her footsteps. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary Post 1318, St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, the East Side Club and the White Lake Association.

Nancy loved spending time with her family and friends, especially at her White Lake home in Montello.  She always said, “the more the merrier.” Nancy was her children’s, grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s biggest fan at attending their events and activities. In addition, she was a big fan of the Badgers, Packers, Brewers and Bucks. Nancy was an avid reader of romance novels, she enjoyed trips to the casino with her husband and family, she loved solving word search puzzles and watching the Wheel of Fortune.

Nancy was a stay-at-home mom when her children were young and worked at the polls in Monona during the elections for over 30 years.  After her children graduated from high school, Nancy was employed for over 25 years with Lutheran Social Services, working with adults who dealt with chronic mental illness. She was known for her kindness, patience and dedication to the clients of the Dean Avenue Group Home.

Nancy is survived by her loving husband, Clair Oren; her devoted children, Kent Oren (special friend Karen Schwartz), Kris Oren Nelson (special friend Mike Taylor) and Kevin (Jenny) Oren; her amazing grandchildren, Matt (Cynthia) Oren, Mandy (Nicholas) Passint, Tyler Nelson (special friend McKenna Prestigiacomo), Jake Nelson (special friend Kaylee Tipton),  Brittany (Marty) McGuire, Wesley (Becky) Oren, Kelly (Mitchell) Wheeler and Austin Esse; her awesome great-grandchildren, Evie Oren, Maddie Oren, Nolan Passint, Kayden Passint, Madison Passint, Weston Wheeler and Norah McGuire; her wonderful sister-in-law Virginia Beggs; her special nieces and nephews, Brad Beggs, Thea Travis, Lyall Beggs, Eric Hovland and Holly Porter; her special cousin-in-law, Ruth Oren; her numerous four-legged fur grandbabies, as well as many other relatives and friends.

Nancy was preceded in death by her daughter, Kathy Oren Esse; her son-in-law, Ron Nelson; her parents, Lyall T. and Christine Beggs; her in-laws, Clarence and Nellie Oren; her sister, Geraldine Hovland; and her brother, Dr. Robert Beggs.

Nancy taught us all the meaning of love and she will forever be in our hearts. She was an amazing Wife, Mother, Grandma, Nana, Sister, Aunt and friend to everyone. She will be missed greatly by everyone who knew her.

A funeral service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 12 noon on Saturday, April 9, 2022. Burial will follow at ROSELAWN MEMORIAL PARK, 401 Femrite Drive, Monona, with a celebration of Nancy’s life held afterwards at the East Side Club, 3735 Monona Drive, Madison. A visitation will be at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday.

In life we loved you dearly, in death we love you still.  In our hearts you hold a place no one else will ever fill.

Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us everyday. Unseen, unheard, but always near, so loved, so missed, so very dear.

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

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420