Nancy Bloedel

Nancy Bloedel, 65, of Monmouth, IL passed away at 7:17pm Saturday, July 28, 2018 at St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, IL, surrounded by dear friends and faith.

She was born on July 16, 1953 in Malvern, IA, the daughter of Raymond and Ruth (Wanamaker) Bloedel. She was raised in Malvern, graduating from Malvern High School with several accolades in the Theater and Speech department. Nancy then earned her Registered Nurse license from Drake University in Des Moines, IA.

Nancy began her professional career in the health field, working most notably as a Surgical Nurse at Denver General Hospital; a Registered Nurse for the Telluride, CO Health Department; the Director of Quality Assurance at Virginia Baptist Hospital; and as a Registered Nurse for various home health care agencies in and around Monmouth, IL.

Nancy’s belief in Jesus and trust in God led her back to Telluride, CO where she immersed herself in religious study and in the breath-taking beauty and creative light of the Rocky Mountains. Here she owned a boutique focusing on rare, vintage women’s clothing – and used her keen sense of aesthetic in landscape design, interior design, and real estate.

Upon returning to Monmouth in 2009, Nancy took on renovating a charming property on W. 2nd Avenue, magically and meticulously transforming both the house and surrounding gardens.

Most importantly, Nancy loved her children, Emily and Alex Withenbury, and told all who would stop to listen the reasons for her pride, always ending with “I’d even be proud of them if they’d done nothing.” Nancy also had a deep love for Jesus. Her faith led her to form deep and lasting friendships with a network of people across the country. Nancy loved to read; was passionate about her garden; took pride in acquiring beautiful clothing and jewelry; enjoyed live music, dance, and theater, always making herself known by generous whooping and hollering from the audience; and loved coffee (all day, every day), chocolate, and spinach bread from Uncle Billy’s Bakery in Galesburg. Most recently, she attended River of Life and Trinity Anglican churches in Monmouth.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Raymond Bloedel and Ruth (Wannemaker) Bloedel and her brothers, Alan and William Bloedel. She is survived by her children, Emily and Alex Withenbury and Bob the Cat.

A memorial service will be 4:00-6:00 p.m., Thursday, August 9, 2018 at Trinity Anglican Church, Monmouth.  Cremation rites have been accorded.