Nancy Virginia Hedberg

Nancy Norder Hedberg Nancy Norder Hedberg passed away Monday, December 17, 2018 at her home in Arvada, CO surrounded by her husband and children after a valiant and graceful 6-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Nancy was the first of three children born to the late Joseph and Ruth Norder in Cleveland, OH on July 12, 1938. She is survived by her brother Paul and sister JoAnn. After graduating high school, Nancy attended North Park College in Chicago, IL for two years and later on, at Antioch College in Xenia, OH, she completed her Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education. She furthered her education, obtaining her Masters in Education from Kent State University in Kent, OH. Nancy spent over 30 years teaching math and other subjects to students in the Northeastern Ohio and Northern Suburbs of Denver, CO. Nancy met Allan her husband of nearly 61 years first in 1953. They started writing while Al was stationed in Germany with the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. They had their first date in 1956 the day Al returned from active duty in Europe, a movie in which Al admitted he fell asleep. Two years later, they were married on April 12, 1958 at Bethany Covenant Church in Lyndhurst, OH. Afterwards they lived in the city of Ashtabula, in Plymouth Township, and in the Village of Jefferson in Ashtabula County, OH where they raised their three children Jill, Julie, and Jim, whom she affectionally referred to as the †œ3 J†™s†� in signatures on cards and letters from the family. During their years raising the family, Nancy and Al enjoyed farming together in Plymouth Township, camping, and road trips throughout the United States. One summer Nancy and Al led the family on a 10,000 mile, 6-week road trip to the Oregon Coast, down to Tijuana, Mexico, and back through the Grand Canyon, Colorado, and the Great Plains, visiting the sites and friends along the way. Nancy always enjoyed visiting national parks and the nature and the educational opportunities it presented. Nancy was very active in church as a Sunday School teacher, Youth Group Leader, Alto in the choir, and providing special music on occasion. Nancy shared her faith to many, right up to her last days here on earth. After their children were raised and Nancy retired from teaching, she and Al moved to Colorado in 1995 to allow Nancy to take a full-time position as Camp Administrative Assistant at Covenant Heights Church Camp near Estes Park, CO. Nancy had been volunteering during the summers the three years prior and worked two full years at the camp. She enjoyed the close proximity to Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) and the adventure of living in a one-bedroom log cabin in full view of Longs Peak, a 14†™er in RMNP, and living at an altitude of 9,200 feet above sea level. After a brief two year move down to the city of Westminster, CO during which Nancy worked as a teacher at Belleview Christian School and an administrative assistant at Arvada Covenant Church, Nancy and Al built their dream home in Estes Park, CO in full view of the north side of Longs Peak where they lived for nearly 10 years. There, Nancy enjoyed entertaining family and friends from all over the world, giving them an opportunity to share in God†™s grandeur that Nancy so enjoyed along with special Colorado Christmases where Swedish Christmas Eve Dinners took the forefront of the celebration. Nancy was very proud of and fond of spending time with her children, seven grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren attending musicals, baseball games, dance competitions and having the grandkids spend the night. In addition, she was an avid baseball and football fan, enjoying games in person and on TV. She was ever the educator and willing to share a perspective that may help someone solve a problem. With her expertise as a math teacher, she was known to challenge her children with difficult math problems to solve in their heads on some of the road trip adventures. Nancy is survived by her husband Allan Hedberg; her children Jill Pelton of Grand Rapids, MI (her husband Dan; and children Jenifer Schultz and her husband Bill and their children Hannah and Tyler of Minot, ND; Brian Pelton and his wife Kathryn and their children Shawn and Drew of Marquette, MI; and Laura Moore and her husband Bryon and their children Austin, Wesley, and Hayley of Grand Rapids, MI); Julie Shaffer of Westminster, CO (her husband Clayton); and Jim Hedberg of Westminster, CO (his wife Nancy and their children Kyle and his wife Katie and their foster son Easton of Elma, NY; Amy Brown and her husband Tim of Vancouver, WA; Audra Hedberg and her fiancÁ© Connor Stubits of Grand Junction, CO; and Abby Hedberg, living with Jim and Nancy in Westminster, CO); her brother Paul Norder of Knoxville, TN (and wife Marie) and sister JoAnn Lakemacher of Elkhorn, WI (and husband Herb). The Hedberg family would like to thank the staff of The Denver Hospice for all of their love and support as we went through this journey together. A special thank you to Karen Gasseling, Jennifer Movish, Cheryl Mundis, Lori McPherson, Julie Moriarty, Pam Hertzler and Gary Weibel for all you did for Nancy and our family. Calling hours will be held at the Aspen Mortuary located at 6370 Union St, Arvada, CO 80004 on Wednesday, December 19, 2018 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Nancy requested bright colors to be worn at her remembrance events. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Anchor Point Ministries, in care of Pastor Lou and Patti Damiani, 1079 Jay Rodgers Court, Traverse City, MI 49696, or online at Anchorpointministry.org/donate. Anchor Point Ministry held a very special place in Nancy†™s heart. One of the last phone calls Nancy took was from Pastor Lou and Patti and it brought a warm and joyful smile to Nancy†™s day because of the strong bond of Christian love between Nancy, Al, Pastor Lou, and Patti. A celebration of Nancy†™s life will be held on December 20, 2018 at Arvada Covenant Church, 5555 Ward Road, Arvada, CO 80004 beginning at 3:00 PM.