Nancy L. Eichelberger

Nancy Lee (Nichols) Eichelberger was born to Thad Edward Nichols and Loraine Inez (Edzards) Nichols on January 22, 1943 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. She passed away on January 26, 2025 at Fairview Manor in Fairmont, Nebraska at the age of 82 years, and 4 days. Nancy was the oldest daughter of Thad and Loraine. She had a sister, Bonnie Dee, who was a year younger. Nancy had two half-sisters, daughters of Thad: Roberta Jean Nichols (Bobbie Jean) and Delores Ann Nichols (Dodie). Nancy grew up on their family farm in Crete, Nebraska. They owned a Grade A Dairy Farm, so rarely were they able to leave the farm. She had many pets on their farm including many dogs all named Spot, who never lived very long because they were always run over by the dairy truck when it arrived. She also had cats, chickens, her horse named Danny, rabbits, and ducks. One of her beloved ducks ended up being Thanksgiving dinner at her aunt’s house, so she refused to eat duck from then on. When their farmstead was destroyed by a tornado, Thad took a job as a White-New Idea territory manager, and they moved to Prairie Village, Kansas. This is where she accepted Christ as her savior at the Bible Baptist Church. After living in Kansas for many years, the family decided to move back to Lincoln. Nancy graduated from Lincoln Southeast High School in 1961 and attended Nebraska Wesleyan until an illness prevented her from attending. During this time Nancy worked as a King’s Drive-In speaker girl. After college, she worked doing medical transcripts for a doctor, was a model for Golds Galleria, and worked for the Air Force Credit Union. Her final job was working with her parents in a farm equipment business they purchased in 1966 in Geneva, Nebraska and named it Nick’s Farm Store. She remained there until her retirement. She was married to Larry Lee Eichelberger of Lincoln, Nebraska on September 1, 1962 at Sheridan Blvd Baptist Church in Lincoln. To this union, two children were born, Shelly Lynn (Eichelberger) Kennel and Scott Allen Eichelberger. They lived in Lincoln for a few short years before joining her parents in Geneva to work at Nick’s Farm Store. Nancy became a member of the Geneva United Methodist Church and received her 50-year pin in 2024. She taught Sunday School and remained in the same women’s circle until her passing. She was also a member of the Welcome Wagon of Geneva, which welcomed new people to the community. Nancy and a group of women she had met, all got together and decided to learn how to play bridge. They started this group in 1968 and still played until the COVID years in 2020. Even though some of them have moved or passed away, the remaining group still gets together for lunches and coffee every other week. She was also a member of a stamping/scrapbooking group since the late 1990s, and this group also continues to meet for birthdays and holidays. Nancy and Larry enjoyed traveling to numerous places including Hawaii, The Bahamas, Mexico, Canada and most of the 50 states. She loved traveling with family and friends for long weekends. Her favorite activities were spending time with family, traveling, playing bridge, stamping/scrapbooking, reading mystery novels, doing circle word books, boating/beach time, and last, but definitely not least, shopping, especially for shoes! Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were her everything. Shelly and Scott used to tease her saying she loved the grands more. Since she never would deny or confirm, it was concluded that she did!! She loved spending time finding the perfect gift. After the gift was found, the job wasn’t finished until it was beautifully wrapped and embellished. The mission was that everyone had the same amount of presents and the money was equally spent. She was preceded in death by her parents, Thad E. and Loraine I. Nichols; sister, Bonnie Dee; half-sisters, Dodie and Roberta; father and mother-in-law, Todd and Harriet (Painter) Eichelberger; sister-in-law, Rita (Eichelberger) Evans; and brother-in-law, Walter Lee Evans. She is survived by her husband, Larry Eichelberger; daughter, Shelly Kennel and husband, Conley Kennel of Geneva; son, Scott Eichelberger and wife, Jenny (Saltzman) Eichelberger of Geneva; grandchildren Jamey and wife, Vicki (Edith & Isaac) Kennel of Gretna; Justin and wife, Hillary (Eva and Joel) Kennel of Gretna; Rebecca and husband, Logan (Madelyn) Orpin of Sarasota, Florida; Nick Eichelberger and fiancée, Rachel Adame of Kansas City, Kansas; and Elizabeth and husband, Eddy Zabala of Sarasota, Florida; nieces Kathy (Evans) and Jerry Marple of Glendale, Arizona; Kay (Evans) Peters of Fremont, Nebraska; great nieces and nephews, family, and great friends. A Funeral Service for Nancy was held on Friday, January 31, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Geneva. Kim Dunker & Pastor Matt Troyer-Miller presided over the Memorial Service. Melissa Houchin accompanied the congregation in the singing of “How Great Thou Art” & “Softly & Tenderly.” The recorded selection “In My Life” was played as the recessional song. Pallbearers included Jamey Kennel, Justin Kennel, Nicholas Eichelberger, Nolan O’Brien, Morgan Peters, Shane Johnson, and Ryan Marple. A Graveside Service was held in the Geneva Public Cemetery following the Funeral Service. Farmer & Son Funeral Home was in care of the arrangements and online condolences can be left at www.farmerandsonfuneralhome.com Memorials are suggested to the Fillmore County Hospital Foundation or the Geneva United Methodist Church.

Tributes

Nancy L. Eichelberger

January 22, 1943 - January 26, 2025