Shockey Roots

Nancy Sue Shockey (Wilson), 75, passed away on October 13, 2021, with her family by her side. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, November 6, 2021, at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Excelsior, MN, with visitation an hour prior to the service.

Nancy was born in Oak Park, IL, to William and Geraldine Wilson and graduated from West Leyden High School. She went on to earn a BA in Business Administration from Elmhurst College and an MBA from DePaul University. In 1982, she married the love of her life, Stephen Shockey.

Nancy was a pioneer. Attending college at nights while caring for two young children, she was the first in her family to earn a college degree. She quit her first management job after being told that women should earn less than men. She moved on to railroad logistics – and managed rail traffic across the country. She and Stephen later started (and ultimately sold) a software company and retired.

Nancy also spent many years volunteering for Habitat for Humanity. She believed in helping others and had a knack for writing and communicating with others. In her later years, she wrote children’s stories that feature Honey Bunny, Funny Bunny, and Pudgy Bunny. These stories were about helping and cooperating with others and will be published for future generations to enjoy.

Life is more than work. Nancy had the opportunity to live in many cities all over the United States. She enjoyed traveling and meeting new people. However, Nancy loved the mountains most and felt at home there. She and Stephen enjoyed living in Breckenridge, CO, for over 20 years and often said “the mountains are calling, and I must go”.

We were blessed to learn many valuable lessons from Nancy: “help others when you can”; “never give up, always persevere”; “if money can solve a problem it ain’t a problem”; “ketchup does not belong on hot dogs”; and, “life is short, eat dessert first”.

Nancy is survived by her husband, Stephen, children, Richard (Lisa) Simmons of Chanhassen, MN and Jennifer Cook of Denver, CO. She is also survived by her grandchildren (Heather, Tiffany, Hannah and Christopher), great-grandchildren (Ethyn, Brycen, and Myrah), and her brothers and sisters (Kevin, Linda, Diane, Tyler, Holly, and Shawn).

Her legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of everyone she interacted with as well as those she reached but never met. Help her kindness and compassion continue by donating to, or volunteering at, Habitat for Humanity.

A wife, a mother, a grandmother too,
This is the legacy we have from you,
You taught us love and how to fight,
You gave us strength; you gave us might.
Published by Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapels – Edina on Nov. 12, 2021.