Nancy was born in Morrison, IL, on July 7, 1942, to Albert E. and Virginia C. (Briggs) Jaeger. They moved to Davenport, IA, where she received her education and graduated from Davenport High School in 1960. She was married to Dr. David N. Wilson on April 4, 1964, and they lived in Iowa City a short time before moving to Omaha, NE, where her husband began practicing orthodontics. In 1968, Nancy graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with a B.A. in fine arts and worked at Savage-Dow Advertising Agency until they moved to Marshalltown, where she lived most of her adult life. She was a homemaker and community volunteer while raising their three children. She was a member of Marshalltown Assistance League, P.E.O. Chapter BB, TTT, 20th Century Club and University Women. In 1988, she returned to college and earned a Master’s degree in educational administration and a Specialist degree in adult education from Drake University. She continued her education earning a Doctorate in higher education from Drake in 1994.

She spent many summers with her family at their home on Clear Lake and treasured her time with family especially grandchildren. She enjoyed dancing with her husband, boating, reading, tablescaping, shopping and playing bridge with her friends. She taught for the Marshalltown Community College and then worked for Buena Vista University for twenty-five years as executive director of Marshalltown’s Professional and Online BVU site. Nancy donated time and scholarship to students in need and many said that if it weren’t for her help, they would never have made it through. She was also a main campus contributor for Buena Vista’s strategic planning, academic and search committees, fund raising and site development. She was a member and past board member of Marshalltown Rotary Club, past chair of the Regional Telecommunications Council, Drake University Advisory Board and Iowa Deans and Directors of Private Colleges and was involved in various local church, philanthropic and community boards. She was a Paul Harris Rotary International Fellow and was awarded the distinction of Who’s Who in American Education and Who’s Who among American Women Educators.

Nancy was an extraordinary woman who touched the lives of so many with her warmth, kindness and unwavering love. She was a devoted wife, a cherished mother, a caring grandmother and a trusted friend to all who had the privilege of knowing her. Her life was filled with compassion, selflessness and a genuine desire to help others.

Prior to passing, Nancy graciously volunteered for a clinical research trial to aid in the efforts to fight cancer. The research was held at the University of Iowa Hospital, in Iowa City and known as CAR-T cell Therapy. This program is customized to the patient and engineers the individual’s immune cells to treat their own cancer. This was appropriate as Nancy has always been a strong advocate for continued education and her community. uihc.org/health-topics/car-t-cell-therapy

Survivors include her son, Jeffery, of Des Moines, and daughter, Angela Eilders (James), of Robins, IA, three grandchildren: Katelyn, Nicholas and Elizabeth Eilders, AFS sister, Hilke (Manfred) Droes of Bovenden, German and AFS daughter, Birgit Neverman of Santiago, Chile.

She was preceded in death by her husband, David, her parents and daughter, Lindsey Wilson Bruinekool.