Nancy Jeske

Nancy K. Jeske, age 77, of Melrose, passed away Saturday, October 21, 2023 at LeSueur Medical Center in LeSueur, Minnesota surrounded by her family after a short, but courageous, battle with cancer.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, October 26 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Melrose with Pastor David Mommens officiating. Private burial will be at a later date at Oak Hill Cemetery in Melrose.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the church in Melrose.

Nancy Kaye Friesen was born in St. James, MN on August 6, 1946 to Edna and Jacob Friesen. She graduated from Comfrey High School in 1964 and Mankato State University in 1968. She married Ron Jeske on July 20, 1968. They moved around for the first few years of their marriage and then moved to Melrose when they built Melrose Fertilizer. Nancy worked with Ron for 32 years at the fertilizer plant. But her real joy was her family. Her 3 girls were the center of her life and she spent countless hours on bleachers, in the stands and sewing and creating lots of things for them. Her children and grandchildren knew they were the most important part of her life.

Nancy also loved a nice drive, coffee with her friends, altering just about anything, a little daily chocolate, and a fun family day at the state fair. Later in her life she found her place in the theatre as the costumer. Those people were her second family. She loved Marit and her gang, the cast, and the crew. She really loved the kids. She spent many nights watching rehearsals, even when she didn’t need to be there.

First and foremost were her grandchildren though. She traveled near and far for band concerts, baseball, softball, basketball, football, soccer, and everything in between. She treasured her time with them, and they treasured their time with her.

We know she was welcomed by her parents, her husband Ron, who passed away in 2014, and the countless animals she has loved over the years.

She will be missed by her daughters and sons-in-law, Alyssa (Joe) Rosenberger, Amber (Fred) Middendorf, and Adrea (Tim) Mauseth and her 5 grandchildren, Maddie, Jacob, Isaac, Gavin and Wyatt. She is also survived by her brother, Gene Friesen and his children Jeremy and Lindsay and brother-in-law Doug Jeske and his children John and Bob. Her kitty, Sylvia, will also miss her dearly.

Memorials are preferred to Melrose Stages Theatre, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, or the charity of your choice.