Nancy Hilty

NEWTON, Kansas — Nancy Gross Wismer Hilty died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2023, at Newton Medical Center, surrounded and loved by her family.

She was born April 23, 1938, to Norman and Laura Wismer in Abington, Pennsylvania. Some of her most vivid childhood memories included her dad's trips into Philadelphia to sell produce, her parents' care for foster children and the visit to her family's home by famed author Pearl Buck.

Nancy majored in organ and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Bluffton (Ohio) College in 1960. She later attended Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Indiana. As a student, she volunteered with Mennonite Central Committee at Fergus Falls State Mental Hospital in Minnesota and Wichita Institute of Logopedics in Kansas and did additional work after graduation in Gulfport, Mississippi. She was also employed for seven years with Oaklawn Psychiatric Center in Elkhart, Indiana.

Nancy married Peter Hilty on Aug. 16, 1969. At that time, she moved to Cape Girardeau, where Peter was a professor of English at Southeast Missouri State University. In Cape Girardeau she was vice president of Saint Francis Medical Center Auxiliary and worked at the Boy Scouts of America office for 15 years.

Nancy and Peter had a son, Daniel Peter, in 1973. She was proud, loving and supportive not only of Daniel, but also of her daughter-in-law, Kristen, who married Daniel in 1996, and her grandchildren, Elijah and Maggie, born 2001 and 2004, respectively.

Nancy and Peter were married for almost 40 years until his death Nov. 20, 2008.

Nancy served as organist at various churches since age 17, the last being Centenary United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau for 20 years. More recently, she continued as substitute organist at Bethel College Mennonite Church. She enjoyed participating in bell choirs, bell ensembles and women's groups, both in Cape Girardeau and Bethel College Mennonite Church.

Nancy loved to play organ and piano, sing in choirs, volunteer, be a caregiver and play games. Most important to her was being with her family.

Survivors include her son, Daniel (Kristen) Hilty; grandson, Elijah; granddaughter, Magdalena "Maggie"; sister-in-law, Sue Hoadley; Wismer nieces and nephews, Cherie (Dennis) Thiessen, Ken (Lynn) Friesen, Karen (Al) Stobbe, Becky (Dan) Unger, Chris (Scott Swearingen) Wismer, Cathy (Mark Epp) Wismer, Sue Wismer, Galen (Rachel) Kaufman, Kendra Kaufman and Nathan (Jill) Kaufman; and many beloved nieces and nephews on Peter's side.

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, Norman and Laura; husband, Peter; sisters, Jean Friesen and Eleanor Kaufman; and brothers, Earl and Don Wismer.

A memorial service and celebration of life will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 12, at Bethel College Mennonite Church in North Newton, Kansas.

Memorial contributions may be made to Bethel College Mennonite Church, Kidron Bethel Village Benevolent Fund or a charity of choice.

Petersen Funeral Home in Newton is in charge of arrangements.