Nancy Neiman

Nancy Jill Neiman, born on May 6th, 1948, died on Tuesday, September 6th, 2022, after a short battle with cancer and a subsequent stroke. She will be greatly missed by her friends and family.

In her own words, “In 1948 in Des Moines, I joined the Neiman family around noon, causing my father, John, to miss his lunch. He mentioned that fact a lot around mealtime. My mother, Madeline, renamed me “Settle Down” once I began walking. Today I would have been diagnosed as ADHD, but then I was just the nonstop go getter. Growing up with lots of boomers in the neighborhood, odds were there were other “settle downers” to challenge parents. We were often scooted out the door with instructions to return when it was dark. No organized play dates. Just kids joining games, inventing all kinds of activities, and solving our own conflicts. We all went to Hubbell Elementary School and I soon learned there were consequences for being hyper active. I pondered this a lot while sitting in the “thinking chair” corner in kindergarten”.

Nance lived on with her care-free and playful nature as she grew up in Des Moines, attended Merrill Junior High and Roosevelt high school, College and Drake University and became a teacher. She lived in Ft. Dodge and Indianola before establishing her home in Milo, Iowa. She was known to be a favorite and fun teacher to her elementary kids at Emerson and Irving elementary schools. She deeply cared about her students. After retiring from teaching, she worked as the librarian in Milo, Iowa. She took great pride in the library, contributing her own books, organizing and decorating for the seasons and holidays and sharing her love of reading. Nancy read at least a book a week. She loved to learn and always had reading suggestions for friends, family and community.

Nance was also an absolute character with a (sometimes questionable) sense of humor. She always bought singing gag gifts, goofy gadgets, and joke greeting cards ensuring everyone around her continued to laugh and have fun.

In addition to reading, Nancy loved to play words with friends, cards (pitch), “float on water” and fish, watch documentaries/ movies, drink Franzia box wine, gamble at Prairie Meadows and order everyone too many things from Amazon. Nance made a beautiful home. She planted flowers, landscaped and got a lawn mower to ride on. She was a great neighbor who took care of those around her - elders and youth. Prior to her parents’ death, Nancy was a devoted daughter and spent time with her mom as her best friend. Nance loved her community. That community inevitably included many stray cats who she would rescue. They would make their way into her home and life.

Nancy was also a deeply spiritual person and believed in a peaceful afterlife. We hope she is watching over us and we will see her again one day. Until then, she will be deeply missed.

Nancy is survived by her brothers, Richard (Dick) Neiman and Donald Neiman, their spouses, and a large extended Neiman family of nieces and nephews and kids. She is also survived by her chosen Milo family, Jennifer and Matt Lane, and their children.

There will be a Celebration of Life and sharing of memories at Piershbacher Funeral Home in Milo (201 Walnut Steet) on September 24, 2022, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Nancy Neiman Memorial Library and Education Fund.