Nancy Pyzik

Nancy Pyzik was a vibrant and generous woman to know and love. She modeled a life rich with hard work, putting others first, and being an exceptionally loving wife, mother, and grandmother. Her warm personality, cheerful demeanor, and infectious smile will forever be remembered by her many special friends and loved ones.

Bringing great joy to their world, LeRoy and Ethel (Ferguson) Heimerdinger welcomed home their newborn baby girl, Nancy Ann, on December 10, 1936, in Jackson, Michigan. Her birth brought much happiness to her loving parents.

Growing up in Manchester, Nancy lived a childhood filled with many special memories with her sister, Maxine. At a young age, she had an interest in animals, especially horses, that stuck with her throughout her life. Born with an easy-going personality and positive outlook on life, Nancy learned to take all things in stride. Once while working as a water-carrier for the JV football team, she tripped, fell, and knocked herself out! Talented and well-liked, she played the accordion while attending Manchester High School and was chosen for the homecoming court. Her father owned an Allis Chalmers dealership and a DeSoto dealership which may have sparked her interest in working for General Motors at the Fisher Body in Tecumseh in later years.

Although she enjoyed her career, nothing brought her more fulfillment than her role as a mother. Nancy doted on her four wonderful children; Tim, Roxanne, Kim, and Terry. In 1973, when she married Henry (Hank) Pyzik, she felt honored to become step-mother to his three loving children; Roger, Gary, and Pam. Nancy modeled a strong Christian faith for her children and instilled in them the value of treating others with kindness. She was quick with a word of encouragement and was always there when they needed her. Despite their large family, she made a special connection with each and every one of her children. Her love of children extended beyond her family. During her early retirement years, she became active in Tecumseh Friends Church where she started a children’s library. She loved when the children would seek her out after church every Sunday and pick a book, video, or stuffed animal to have for the week. Nancy had a knack for making children feel special.

Hank and Nancy had a very special bond. Avid dancers, they enjoyed many Saturday nights at the Golden Nugget in Irish Hills dancing and listening to music. At family weddings, she was often the first one on the dance floor with or without a partner! When she retired, she took up line dancing and grew fond of Country music. Nancy and Hank wintered in Florida during their retirement years. They fell in love with travel and vacationed to Hawaii as well as the Bahamas. Nancy was also fortunate to tour Europe with a church group and her sister, Maxine. She and Hank loved to entertain at each and every holiday over the years. Nancy loved to bake and Hank would always make his traditional Polish kielbasa. Their home was very welcoming and they hosted countless Thanksgivings, Christmases, and birthdays for their extended family.

Nancy was the epitome of a nurturing grandmother. When her grandchildren were little, she would often be the first one to get down on the floor to play with them. Whether it was soccer, volleyball, baseball, football, a concert or graduation ceremony, Nancy made every effort to attend their special events, even for those who lived a couple of hours away. Proud of their many accomplishments, she created a sacred collection of albums with special letters or funny sayings they shared with her over the years. She loved to put her knitting and quilting talents to work by making sweaters for her grandchildren and beautiful keepsake quilts for her children and grandchildren. Much to her delight, her love for needlework, sewing, and crafts has been passed down to her grandchildren.

In addition to celebrating the family holidays, some of her most cherished memories were on the annual November shopping trips to Chicago with her daughters and granddaughters for more than fifteen years. Her favorite part of the trip was always the memories and laughter they shared together back at the hotel room or chatting over dinner. Any time she was surrounded by family she was filled with joy!

A loyal friend herself, Nancy was blessed with Shirley Campbell, Lois Reyner, Susie Woodward, and Teddy Schindler who shared more than sixty years of friendship together. She also had a special group of ladies she walked with every morning during the summer and winter months in the Tecumseh cemetery for over twenty years.

Nancy left a legacy of unconditional love through many small acts of love and great sacrifice. Her ability to accept life’s challenges, her spirit of adventure and her wonderful sense of humor, will be dearly missed. May her loved ones reflect on her life with great happiness and may they honor her life by always looking for the good in others.

Nancy Ann Pyzik, age 83, of Tecumseh, Michigan, went to be with her Lord and Savior on December 5, 2020. During her retirement years, she volunteered at the gift shop in Herrick Memorial Hospital and was an active member of the Tecumseh Friends Church. She later attended the Tecumseh Church of the Nazarene. Nancy is survived by her children; Tim (Diane) Merritt of Brooklyn, Roxanne (Jim) DeWeerd of Grand Rapids, Kimberly (Steve) Wright of Adrian, Terry (Laura) Merritt of Britton; step-children; Roger (Carolin) Pyzik of Adrian, Gary Pyzik of Dallas, step-son-in-law, Herb Ayres of Kalamazoo; grandchildren; Andrew Merritt (Stephanie Walaszek), Michael (Tricia) Merritt, Bradley Claus, Chad (Debbie) DeWeerd, Jason DeWeerd, Brandie (Michael) Milward, Brittney (Bryan) Fuller, Jordan (Kenan) Smith, Cassidy (Eric) Hadden, Cari Jo Merritt, Tate (Britni) Ketola, Leighton Merritt, Roger (Rhonda) Pyzik, Jr., Randy Pyzik, Sarah (Dima) Ruban, Mary Ayres, Rebecca (Victor) Girela-Ayres, Trisha Pyzik, Scott Pyzik, George Pyzik, and many beautiful great grandchildren. She is also survived by her niece, Beth Smith. In addition to her parents, Nancy was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Henry J. Pyzik, step-daughter Pamela Ayres, sister Maxine Widmayer, and brother-in-law Lyle Widmayer. Services will be held at the Handler Funeral Home Tecumseh, Michigan June 26, 2021 at 11:30 a.m. The family will receive friends a half hour before the funeral. The family would like to thank the staff at Cambrian Senior Living for the compassionate care Nancy received while residing there. Memorial contributions may be made to Cambrian Senior Living, 333 N. Occidental Hwy. Tecumseh, 49286 Inurnment will be in Brookside Cemetery, Tecumseh.