Nancy Robbins

Nancy Robbins, 78, of Knoxville, Iowa passed away on Monday, April 1, 2024. Funeral services will be held Friday, April 5, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Melcher-Dallas (203 W. Center Street). Interment will be at the Pleasantville Cemetery. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service on Friday, from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m., at the funeral home. Memorials may be made in Nancy’s name to the Muscular Dystrophy Association or the Special Olympics.

Nancy Lou Williams was born May 5, 1945, to Kenny and Sybil Williams in Carlisle, Iowa. She grew up in Carlisle alongside her sisters, Sharon and Shirley. Nancy attended Carlisle High School and met her future husband, Charles “Muck” Elmer Robbins III, at a high school football game. She graduated alongside the class of 1963 and was married to Chuck that November, celebrating 60 years of marriage in November of 2023. 

The couple made their home in Avon Lake, and was blessed with two sons, Charles “Buff” Elmer IV and Brad. In 1973, they moved to rural Pleasantville (Nutterville). Nancy attended the Iowa School of Beauty, but she chose to open a restaurant with Chuck instead of using her degree. The Feedlot Café was opened in 1978 and served the Pleasantville community for several years. In 1985, Nancy and Chuck moved to Evergreen Colorado and then on to Austin Texas where she went to work for Dell Technologies. In their retirement years Nancy and Chuck made their home in the rural Melcher-Dallas area.

In addition to raising their boys, Nancy and Chuck also opened their home to many foster kids throughout the years. Nancy was a wonderful mother and had a lot of love to share. 

Nancy stayed busy in her free time reading books, hunting for morel mushrooms, fishing, bowling, playing cards and dominoes, going dancing, listening to Elvis, having an occasional margarita, and traveling. Nancy and Chuck looked forward to road trips on their motorcycles. Montana was one of their favorite destinations.

Nancy passed away on April 1, 2024. She will be dearly missed by her husband, Charles “Muck” Elmer Robbins III; sons, Brad (Cindy) Robbins and Charles “Buff” Elmer (Denese) Robbins IV; foster daughter, Anita Roff; grandkids: Avery Robbins and John Millson, Sara and Brad Adams, Justin and Alissa Kleywegt, and Jessica and Seth Mein; great grandkids: Marmion and Vance Millison, Madi Robbins, Macie Adams, Jaxon Adams, Brynlee Vander Hart, and Hunter Mein; sisters, Sharon Koons and Shirley Patterson; and siblings-in-law: Jeannie Ramirez, Patty and Richard Sallman, Mary Rodda (Robbins), Bob and Karen Robbins, Linda Robbins, and Clayton Haug. Nieces and nephews and cousins too numerous to mention.

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, Kenny and Sybil Williams; parents-in-law, Charles “Chod” Elmer Robbins Jr. and Mary Robbins; grandson, Charles “Chase” Elmer Robbins V; sister-in-law, Carol Ann Haug; and brothers-in-law, Tom Robbins and John Rodda.