Nancy Shutes

Taken from her loved ones too soon, Nancy Shutes was truly beautiful on the inside and out. She was both compassionate and generous with the ability to find the bright side in any situation. Life was not without times of trial for Nancy, but she faced whatever came her way with both strength and courage that were to be admired. A devoted mother and wife, she treasured these roles, but she just may have argued that nothing was better than becoming a grandmother to the five grandchildren she adored. Nancy experienced so many of the best things that life has to offer, but what made these experiences truly extraordinary was sharing them with the ones she loved. Life will never be the same without her here, but she leaves behind a priceless collection of memories that her loved ones will forever hold near and dear to their hearts.

The 1950s were an exciting time in American history. Both WWII and the Great Depression were distant memories while manufacturing was again booming. The new home market was exploding as the baby boom was underway, and prosperity was widely experienced. Names like James Dean and Marilyn Monroe were well-known, and Elvis Presley took the music world by storm with the sounds of rock ’n roll. Amidst this exciting time was the year 1956 when Arnold and D. Maxine (Otzman) Kohler were pleased to announce the birth of the baby girl they named Nancy Louise on March 12th in Lakeview. She was one of five children raised in the family home in Lakeview, Michigan, as she was joined in the Kohler clan by her older siblings, Fred, Joan, and Brenda, and her younger sister, Marsha.

In many ways Nancy was a young girl of her generation. She and her sister, Marsha, often wore braids in their hair during their elementary years. When going to school, which was a mile up the road, Nancy and her siblings were required to walk there and back home. Chores around the house were also a must. Nancy was a lifeguard, and these skills came in handy later in life when she helped rescue her husband from drowning on Hogset Lake.

After high school Nancy was eager for all that life had in store. She took some college classes, and she spent some time working at Great Lakes Computer Center. The bulk of Nancy’s working days were spent at First of America Bank where she worked for more than 20 years. What was of greater significance during this time was her personal life. Nancy was richly blessed to become a mother to her son, Craig. Some time later she was introduced to the man of her dreams. His name was Dan Shutes, and they met through her sister, Marsha, who was friends with Dan’s sister. Sparks flew early on, and it wasn’t long before the couple found themselves deeply in love. With a desire to establish a life together the sweethearts were married at Harmony Chapel with a reception following at the Hudson Building. To their life Dan brought his daughter, Elaina, and together they welcomed three additional children, Amanda, Jason, and Zach. For the past 15 to 20 years Nancy was no longer working outside the home and was solely focused on her home and family. Over the years they also had some special pets in their family including their cat, Scottie, their dog, Mutlee, Jason’s dog, Turbo, and Dan’s dog, Biscuit. Dan also had a pet skunk named Peppy. When her children were younger they attended church as a family, and she often reminded her children, "Do unto others as you want done unto you.” In addition, Nancy often said, “If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.” As a family they visited Six Flags as well as Disney World where priceless memories were made.

Although caring for her family kept her busy, Nancy did live life to the fullest in everything she did. She enjoyed sewing, and her skills in the kitchen were fantastic. Nancy was a very passionate cook, and she always made everything from scratch including the most amazing cinnamon rolls. She did make time for her soap operas, and among her favorite movies were Fried Green Tomatoes and Patch Adams. Two of the best days of Nancy’s life were when she was there to hold Amanda’s hand as she gave birth to Nancy’s grandchildren, Noah and Eveah.

All who knew Nancy Shutes would agree that she took the ordinary and made it extraordinary. She was a jokester who mastered the art of making the most of any and every situation, and her zest for life was truly contagious. Nancy was both strong and compassionate with a heart that was as big as they come. A friend to all who were within her reach, Nancy drew others near with ease. Deeply loved, she will be forever missed.

Nancy Louise Shutes, of Vicksburg, passed away on Monday, September 26, 2016. Nancy’s family includes her husband, Dan; four children: Craig; Amanda, Jason and Zach; stepdaughter: Elaina; five grandchildren: Noah, Eveah, Hunter, Brianna and Tara; siblings: Fred, Joan, Brenda, and Marsha. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 12 - 1 p.m., at Life Story Funeral Home, 409 S. Main, Vicksburg (269-649-1697). A funeral service will be held on Thursday at 1 p.m. followed by a burial at the Vicksburg Cemetery. Please visit Nancy’s webpage at www.lifestorynet.com where you can sign the guestbook and share a memory and/or photo. Those who wish may make contributions to the family.