Nancy E. Seger, 82, passed away Thursday, September 9, 2021 surrounded by her loving family.

Friends may sign her online guest register at www.osheimschmidt.com

Daughter. Sister. Wife. Mother. Grandmother. Fearless adventurer; World Traveler; Jack-of-all-trades; Knower of all knowledge; Hostess with the mostest – "Women like her won the West."

Nancy Emma Roberts Seger was born in Pierre, SD in 1938. Many years were spent traveling to the Black Hills to the family cabin in Hisega. Nancy's adventures included hours spelunking in caves and killing rattlesnakes to sell to tourists. After losing both of her parents early, she moved in with her aunts and she graduated from high school in Santa Monica, California.

Nancy harkened back to the Midwest where she studied nursing at the University of Iowa. Among her many claims to fame was left-handed quarterbacking the Delta Gamma vs Kappa Kappa Gamma Powder Puff football rivalry where she led her DG sisters to victory. Always a take charge gal, game MVP Nancy "confounded the enemy with deft ball handling on the reverses and did all the passing" as evidenced in an Oct 27, 1958 Sports Illustrated article covering the 'Powder Bowl'.

Nancy met her future husband, David Seger, at Trinity Episcopal Church, Iowa City, where they would marry five years later. Nancy and David raised two daughters, Nikki and Shelby, whom they took to Australia and Paupa New Guinea as missionaries while the girls were infants. Upon their return to the U.S., son Adam was adopted. With the family complete, now began many moves for Nancy around the United States: Wisconsin, Sioux Falls, Louisiana, New York, Wisconsin (again), Indiana. Each summer, Nancy returned to the beloved family home in Hisega.

No matter where the Segers lived, Nancy picked up interesting jobs and unique skills to enrich their lives. Plumbing. Dry walling. Health club manager. Crawfish catcher. Girl Scout leader. Cow tipper. Meeting planner. All the time, she encouraged her children to play and explore fully the world around them. "What could possibly go wrong?" Or, better yet, "Cheese it, the cops!"

Sports were a major interest. In addition to her Sports Illustrated notoriety, Nancy excelled at tennis, golf, and pickup basketball games. Nancy attended several Super Bowls, the US Tennis Open, the Rose Bowl (twice), college games, high school games, and officiated track meets. When not wearing Hawkeye black and gold, she wore LSU purple and gold or donned blue and gold of the Fighting Irish.

But, Nancy was also a lover of the arts and attended symphonies, concerts, museums, zoos, and plays. Needing an outlet for her creative side, she dabbled in painting, sculpting, and could creatively fix most things with baling wire and duct tape. "No trouble at all!"

Nancy's last geographic move was a return to the Black Hills. The draw was her grandchildren: Matt and Sean Vickers. Nancy was a no-holds-barred board game and card player with those kids. Ever competitive, she usually won (with a card or two up her sleeve). Nancy continued to share her joie-de-vie with the next generation: fishing and hiking or ball games and gymnastics on the daily docket.

Nancy was selfless – the consummate hostess – serving others, be it tour guide or volunteer. Nancy was a life-long Episcopalian. Her faith was her bedrock. Nancy devoutly accompanied her husband, an ordained Episcopal priest, in his vocation. Yet, Nancy had her own ministry, volunteering for over 30 years at Episcopal Church General Conventions,  and serving with the outreach team at Emmanuel Church - the church where she worshipped as a child, where her children and grandchildren were baptized, where her husband was ordained Deacon, and who sponsored her family as missionaries.

Nancy's most notable ministry was volunteering for many years at St. Margaret's House in South Bend, IN. While serving on the board, she was adamant that the women and children be addressed as 'guests'. "They are the guests of Jesus and they are guests of ours."

Still celebrating Nancy's life are her husband David, daughters Nikki (Jennifer Rangel) and Shelby (Mark Vickers), son Adam (Wayne Mueller), and grandchildren Matt and Sean Vickers. Greeting her in 'the Garden' were her parents, Tom and Louise Roberts, and her brother, Jack.

In lieu of flowers, Nancy would encourage others to support St. Margaret's House whose mission comes from the words from Matthew 25:35-36 -   "For when I was hungry, you fed me. When I was thirsty, you gave me a drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me. I was naked, you clothed me. When I was sick, you took care of me." Donations can be made directly on their website - stmargaretshouse.org.

Warm, loving, generous, funny. What Nancy was best known for was her smile which could light up the room.