Nancy Susan Mathews (Vandybogurt) Welch

Nancy Susan Mathews (VandyBogurt) Welch, age 76 passed away on October 15, 2022 at Glenn Arbor Hospice after a battle with bone cancer. Nancy was born on February 11, 1946 to William R. and Geraldine (Powell) Mathews in Battle Creek. She was a 1964 graduate of Lakeview High School and attended Northern Michigan University and Kellogg Community College before her marriage to Walter VandyBogurt. They had three children, Walter (Bart) Jr., John R. and Amy C. VandyBogurt. Nancy worked for Transamerica Insurance Co., UndercoverWear, Dr. Mehmet Yomaz, and Dr. Michael Hughes before working with Royal Funeral Home from 1993 until her retirement.

In 1990 she married LHS classmate William James (Jim) Welch and moved to Climax, MI where they lived until moving to Fine Lake in 2008. Nancy loved living on the lake, especially the evening boat rides with Jim. She enjoyed luncheons with Ladies of the Lake and was the Secretary of the Fine Lake Association. She participated in many events held at the lake over the years including several placing entries in Fine Lake Boat Parades. Nancy and Jim attended Gull Lake United Methodist Church where Nancy was a part of the Care Team and enjoyed supporting her church family. She was active with her high school Club 64 group, volunteered for Companion Cats for many years and loved her card club with dear family and friends. Nancy and Jim enjoyed membership in a motorhome club and made many lifelong friends as they traveled throughout the country.

Nancy was known as Minnin to her grandchildren with whom she shared many special things like nicknames, cookie day, floating in the big deep, and shark teeth. Nancy and Jim have always been loyal Detroit sports fans (win or lose) and they loved the time spent following the Lions and Tigers. She was a lover of gardening, quilting, baking, garage sales, cards (and games of every kind), warm winters spent with her toes in the sand with Jim and her many friends at Oak Grove, in Englewood Florida, reading everything, and spending time with those she loved. She was up for anything, a lover of her cats, present and past, and was the most thoughtful gift giver and prolific card sender. She is deeply missed by family and countless dear friends.

Nancy is survived by her husband Jim Welch; children, Walter (Jennifer) VandyBogurt Jr. and Amy VandyBogurt; step-children, Jamie (Marlene) Welch and Kevin Welch; grandchildren, Maxwell (Julia Townley) VandyBogurt, Charles VandyBogurt, Samuel VandyBogurt, Shelby (Tyler) Blanchard and Matthew (Aliya Jonic) Mitchell and 7 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and son, John R. VandyBogurt.

Services will be held at Gull Lake United Methodist Church located at 8640 Gull Rd, Richland, MI 49083 on Saturday, October 29, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. with a visitation and refreshments with family to follow. Donations in her name can be made to Companion Cats at 29 Hoag St., Battle Creek, MI 49014. Personal messages for Nancy's family may be shared at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.