Nancy E Entz

Nancy Elaine Entz was the first of 6 children born to Bill and Dorothy Entz on October 4, 1951. She grew up on the same farm on which her father was raised. Her sister, Margie, came along 11 months later and then came 4 brothers, Charles, Alan, Andy and James. Nancy was so thankful to be born to parents who loved the Lord, who had daily devotions with their kids, and who took them to church and midweek services. At one such midweek service she heard a clear presentation of the Gospel and knew God was speaking to her. Later that night in bed, Nancy admitted to God her own sin and trusted in Jesus’ payment for that sin. So, at 9 years old, Nancy became a child of God.

Her life was now on a new trajectory—a trajectory modeled by her Savior, Jesus. Nancy would now go on to live her life eagerly dedicated to serving others as her way of serving God.

She went to a little two room school in Brainerd through 8th grade, then went to Berean for High School. She spent a year at Grace Bible Institute in Omaha where she enjoyed the “big city” life—going to her first opera, ballet, and symphony orchestra performances. She then transferred to Tabor College in Hillsboro to study social work. After graduating from Tabor, she went to Washington University in St. Louis to get her Masters. While there, God was growing Nancy through her church, a campus Bible study, and through the encouragement of faithful friends. A summer course in deep Appalachia and her field placement at an inner-city community center were great experiences in learning to work with different cultures and to see their problems with compassion. God was teaching Nancy that true service to others knows no socio-economic, racial, or cultural bounds.

Nancy spent 40 years serving in the Social Work field. She spent time working with children in pediatrics, with kidney dialysis patients, and as a case manager helping patients find appropriate care facilities. She took on each of these roles with determined dedication, doing everything to the best of her ability to serve each patient under her care. She also cultivated deep friendships with her coworkers throughout the different roles in her career.

In her 60’s, Nancy began thinking it would be wonderful to have more time for the relationships she had been building her entire life and began to ask God if He had something different for her to do. So, at 64, she retired. Yet she used her retirement in exactly the same way she used every other day. She served the Lord—and others—with faithfulness and cheerfulness.

She continued her service in the church with increased involvement. She helped lead and teach her Sunday School class. She was involved in several Bible studies. She got involved with the Willing Workers, looking for practical ways to help both missionaries and community needs.

She increased her praying. Her prayer journal was overflowing with missionary update letters and pages listing the names of people she was praying for: friends who did not know Jesus, friends from work, her pastors, her siblings, her nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

While Nancy never had any children of her own, she loved her nieces and nephews with a mother’s heart of sacrifice, patience, and service. Growing up, Nancy had two amazing aunts who lived on the same farm who had an enormous impact on her life. They taught her about God and showed her the love of God. They loved the lost. They loved their siblings. They loved their nieces and nephews. God used the example of these aunts to show Nancy how to practically and thoughtfully love her own nieces and nephews. And what a special aunt she was to her 37 nieces and nephews with their spouses, and 51 great nieces and nephews. She would babysit and attend their sporting events—especially track meets—to cheer them on. She would go to concerts and graduations. She would babysit. There would be birthday parties, shopping trips, coffee dates and meals at Freddy’s. Saturday morning coffee at Margie’s house was a cherished weekly tradition for many years. Having Charles and Charis just across the drive gave her a walking buddy and someone to check her tire pressure. In Colorado with Andy and Lisa’s family and Alan was a yearly highlight where she would enjoy the beauty of the mountains and the beauty of family harmony. She loved to sit in the stands with James and Genia’s family watching a ball game.

Nancy was a responsible and loving caretaker her entire life. What started as simply being a good big sister, soon spread to the patients she was helping, her friends, her nieces and nephews, her aging parents, her Sunday School class and Bible Study group, her great nieces and nephews, and, of course, her precious cats—her “fur babies!” She was eager to gather people under her wing and took such thoughtful care of all of us. She was quick to send an encouraging card, eager to lend a hand, and faithful to maintain relationships whether near or far. She had a special way of making sure each person felt special. She was a wonderful connector of people who ultimately wanted the people in her life to be connected to God.

Today, we honor Nancy for her faithful love and thoughtful service. Yet she would be quick to turn the spotlight off herself because she knew the truth. These wonderful qualities that we see so clearly in Nancy are the work of God in her heart. Therefore, as we honor Nancy, let us direct our ultimate praise to Him—our faithful, loving, and helpful God. Let us give thanks to Him for all His gifts to us, including the gift of Nancy Entz.

Memorial contributions are suggested to, World Impact and sent in c/o Lamb Funeral Home, PO Box 358, Whitewater, KS. 67154.