Preceded in death by Gerald and Gertrude Jensen. Survived by loving husband of 59 years, Clifford Buckingham; children: Elizabeth Welch, Dianne (Don) Fuhs, Clint (Alisa) Buckingham, Laura (Mike) Schonlau; 11 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; siblings: Connie Lawson, Jay (Sylvia) Jensen; large loving extended family and friends. Part of her friends/loving family was the Cassem Tierney Law Firm where she was employed over 60 years.
VISITATION: Tuesday, July 21, 5-8pm. CELEBRATION of Life: Wednesday, July 22, at 11am. Both Services will be at Westlawn Hillcrest Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Nan’s name can be made to Camp Calvin Crest (2870 Co Rd 13, Fremont, NE 68025), or the Presbytarian Church of the Master (10710 Corby Cir, Omaha, NE 68164).
Our mom, Nan Kay Buckingham, was born on June 8, 1941 to Gerald (Papa) and Gertrude (Nanny), who had three children, Mom, Connie & Jay. Her elementary school years were spent at Pickard Elementary School in Omaha, graduating Omaha Central High School in 1959.
She began working at Cassem Tierney Law Firm part-time in high school, and had a career that would span over 60 years. She raised her family alongside the families of the Firm.
In 1959, on the campus of Omaha University in the lunch line, she met her future husband and love of her life, Cliff. She went home and told her mom, “Today I met the man I’m going to marry!” - her dream came true on June 17, 1961. The next year, they started their family by welcoming their first daughter, Elizabeth, followed by Dianne, Clint, and Laura. The children have all married and started families of their own - Mom gave great thought and consideration to what her grandchildren would call her, lovingly landing on “Gammy.”
Gammy LOVED being a grandmother. The grandchildren, and soon great-grandchildren, would spend many hours at Gammy & Papa’s house gardening with her, playing office, or doing crafts. Often times the house was filled with activity, laughter, and hand prints on the front door - Gammy loved the activity. There was never a dull moment with 11 grandchildren; Kelsey, Callie, Caleb, David, Austey, Corrin, Cecelia, Blair, Allison, Lucy and Gezahegne, and six great-grandchildren; Alyssa, Austin, Olivia, CJ, RJ and Kingston,
Mom created memories at Calvin Crest with her sewing girlfriends and her annual girls’ weekend with her daughters, daughter-in-love, and nieces. Mom’s love of sleep, lunch with the girls, dinner out and cross-stitching would also fill her time.
Mom & Dad’s extended “family” included their bridge group, and they were all lucky to raise their families together and remain dear friends to this day. She loved cruises with Papa, annual October Waubonsie trips with the family, and really any time her family gathered to play Hand and Foot after an impromptu meal together.
On Sundays, at any get together, Gammy’s rule was “everyone needs to be out by 7pm,” and Papa would always add, “and no texting on this level.”
