Nancy Page

Vibrant, fun-loving, and full of life, Nancy Page put the sparkle in the world around her. She loved lakeside living and did some traveling, but what made enriching experiences so much better was sharing them with the ones she loved. Nancy was a devoted mother if ever there was one, but she just may have argued that nothing was sweeter than becoming a grandmother and great-grandmother. She was never one to worry about building wealth or gaining an accumulation of material possessions, rather, her focus was on living fully in the moments she was given while taking nothing for granted. A woman of grace, compassion, and unconditional love, Nancy will never be forgotten.

Although the the decade that is commonly recalled as the Roaring Twenties was an exciting time when prosperity covered the nation, these days that were footloose and fancy free came to a sudden end with the crash of the stock market in October of 1929. The days that followed were some of the most trying days we have faced as a nation as they were blanketed by the Great Depression. Jobs were hard to come by, the unemployment rate soared, and countless American families lost their homes, their livelihoods, and their hope. It was just as this trying decade was starting that Stephen and Peggy (Brennan) Hipskind were able to shift their focus to an exciting time in their lives as they were eagerly awaiting the birth of their new baby as the heat of the summer held the city of Kalamazoo, Michigan, firmly in its grip. The big day finally arrived when the baby girl they named Nancy Jean drew her first breath on July 18, 1930. She was the third of four daughters and was raised in the family home alongside her older sisters, Peggy Ann and Mary Jo, and her younger sister, Tommy Ellen.

For the most part, Nancy was a young girl of her generation. Her parents were hardworking people who instilled within their girls a strong work ethic. Nancy attended local schools and enjoyed going to dances. She went on to graduate from St. Augustine High School in 1948.

As a young woman Nancy married, and life truly began as she welcomed four children including Jack, Jill, Bob, and Jayne into her heart and home. She fully devoted herself to caring for her children, and nurturing her family was first and foremost in her life. Although she treasured her role as a mother, Nancy discovered that becoming a grandmother to nine amazing grandchildren was just as rewarding. She even had one great-grandson, too! Nancy was an important part of her grandchildren’s lives, and she rarely missed any of their events and activities. She was a fantastic cook, and for years she made huge family meals for the whole crew.

Throughout her life, Nancy maintained an active lifestyle and had many interests. In fact, she learned to waterski in her forties as she wanted to keep up with her kids! Nancy’s heaven on earth was at her home on Gun Lake where she lived for over 40 years. She loved the peace that lakeside living brought, and she enjoyed walking around the point on Gun Lake, often taking her dogs, Daisey and Zoe, with her. The Fourth of July fireworks on the lake were something to see each year, and Nancy could often be found out working in her yard. She also liked going to Cancun with her sisters as they remained close. As a lifelong animal lover, she treasured the companionship of the various dogs she had over the years. Nancy was a fan of Johnny Cash and Vince Gill, and her favorite colors were blue and purple. To unwind each night before bed, she liked to have one Miller Lite.

All who knew Nancy Page would agree that she was truly beautiful on the inside and out. She was as cheerful as could be and loved making others laugh, and she always seemed to be smiling, too. Nancy was a lover of life and a lover of people who recently told her grandchildren that life was about loving everybody and giving lots of hugs. She leaves behind a timeless legacy that will be carried on by those who follow in her footsteps.

Nancy Jean Page, of Gun Lake, formerly of Kalamazoo, died on Wednesday, May 6, 2015. Nancy’s family includes her four children: Jack (Sherri) Page, of NC; Jill (fiancée Charlie Carpenter) Page, of Gun Lake; Bob Page, of Gun Lake; Jayne (Mark) Peet, of Kalamazoo; nine grandchildren; one great-grandson; one sister: Tommie Ellen (Don) Clark, of Kalamazoo. Nancy was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters: Peggy Ann and Mary Jo. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, May 11th at 11a.m. at St. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church, 159 131st Ave Wayland. A visitation will be held at the church on Monday, from 10-11 a.m. Please visit Nancy’s webpage at www.lifestorynet.com where you can sign her guestbook and share a memory and/or photo. Those who wish may make contributions to St. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church.