Nancy Elizabeth Johnston

Nancy Elizabeth Johnston, passed away on December 3, 2025, at the age of 82. She was born on April 16, 1943, in Petoskey, Michigan, to Louis and Agnes (Daughtrey) Hoffman and grew up in Harbor Springs, Michigan where she was a very proud member of her downhill state champion ski team.

Nancy earned a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Central Michigan University where she was an Alpha Chi Omega. She had a dedicated career as a public-school teacher. She loved being a teacher and mentor to her students. She married George V. Johnston in Harbor Springs on August 21, 1965. Nancy and George’s time together were spent in Lake Odessa, Michigan, Estero, Florida, every summer with family in Harbor Springs and most recently East Lansing,  Michigan. She was an active member of St. Edward’s in Lake Odessa.

Nancy is survived by her husband, George V. Johnston; children, Gwendolyn M. (Dennis) Kirby of Nashville, Tennessee, Stephanie A. (John) Fisher of East Lansing, Michigan, and Ryan J. (Bonnie) of Harbor Springs, Michigan; grandchildren, Dennis, Mark and Clare Kirby, Henry Fisher, and David, Jared and Jancey Johnston; siblings, Mary Lou Dawson and Tom Hoffman. Nancy was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Gerald Hoffman and Doris Ann (Tootie) Robinson.

Nancy was very passionate about her family, time spent together and holiday celebrations. She enjoyed making wreaths, ceramic Christmas trees and bread. She loved dancing, live music, baking wedding cakes for family and friends and wearing silly costumes! She was known as “Nana” or Aunt Nancy to loved ones. She also enjoyed spending time at the beach picking up shells and fishing.

Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, December 20, 2025, 11:00 am at Holy Childhood of Jesus Catholic Church, 150 W Main St, Harbor Springs, MI 49740. The family will receive friends from 10:00 am until the time of Mass.

A special thank you to the memory care and hospice team at StoryPoint in East Lansing.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Nancy’s name may be made to:

-Alzheimer’s Association https://www.alz.org/gmc

-St Thomas Aquinas Parish School https://stthomasaquinasparishschool.org/

-Holy Childhood of Jesus Cemetery Endowment Fund https://www.cclcparishes.org/