Nancy "Nan" Wares

TRAVERSE CITY — Nancy Lee "Nan" Wares, 67, passed away Nov. 4, 2010.Born on October 4, 1943, in Big Rapids, she was the oldest of three children born to Dale A. and Jo-Anne K. (Hardy) Wares. Natives of Traverse City, her parents moved their young family back home in 1949, and that is where Nan spent the remainder of her formative years.She graduated from Traverse City Area Public Schools in 1961, and went on to Central Michigan University, where she attained a BS degree in teaching in 1965. In 1975, she received her MA degree from Eastern Michigan University.As Nan got into junior high, on through high school and even when she was in college, Nan was the babysitter of choice for many of the younger kids in her Boughey Hill neighborhood. But it was more than that; it was as though she was their older sister. She would frequently take them special places, such as the beach, the drive-in theater and the Dairy Queen. For all of those kids, now well into adulthood, it cannot be overstated how much Nan still means to them.She spent her entire working life (1966-94) teaching health and physical education at Franklin High School in Livonia. She also was a coach. She spent her first five years coaching the girls swimming team. She also started the girls synchronized swimming program in 1969, and remained the team's coach through the 1980-81 school year.During her years of living in Plymouth and teaching in Livonia, Nan made many wonderful friendships with fellow teachers. Among the many things they did together were: participate in a bowling league for 25+ years; escaping each year to the Traverse City Area for a long weekend of snowmobiling; taking a "special trip" each year during summer vacation.Upon retiring at the end of the 1993-94 school year, Nan re-settled in Traverse City and spent her remaining days living in the beloved home of her parents, situated on the Boardman River. She loved to entertain and the majority of her summer weekends were spent hosting the extended families of long-standing Wares family friends.Though she never again worked, she spent from August 1994 through August 2008 as a volunteer at Munson Medical Center. She ended up logging 11,000 hours of dedicated service. For several years, she was the chairperson for the gift shop. Once it hired a full~time manager, she became the Fridays chairperson for the hospital's escort service.Nan was the loving sister of William C. (Jane) and the late Dale R. (Bob) Wares. She was also the dear aunt of Andrew (Heather) Wares, Sara (Marcos) Gabriel, and Michael (Lori) Wares, as well as the proud great-aunt of William and Sadie Wares, Ava and Nicolas Gabriel, and Oliver and Amelia Wares.She was preceded in death by her brother, Bob, in 1973; mother, Jo-Anne, in 1984; and father, Dale, in 1986. Extremely close to all three, Nan never ceased carrying a heavy heart for these losses.A memorial celebration of her life is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, in the chapel of the Central United Methodist Church on Cass Street in downtown Traverse City. The Rev. Dale Ostema will be officiating. A visitation has also been scheduled for that day from 10 to 11 a.m. Immediately following the service, a luncheon will be served in the church basement.In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to Munson Medical Center's Volunteer Services Program.Please share memories with the family at Nan's online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.comArrangements are being made by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.

Nancy "Nan" Wares

November 4, 2010