Nancy Ann Crawford, 87, passed away on May 10, 2024 at the Bickford of Davenport. Funeral services will take place on Thursday, May 16, 2024 at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Bettendorf, Iowa. Visitation will begin at 9:30 AM and end at the start of the Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM. Burial will take place at St. John Cemetery in Independence, Iowa. Memorials may be left to St. John Vianney Catholic Church and online condolences may be expressed at www.weertsfh.com.
Nancy was born on August 28, 1936 to Albert and Pauline (Anderson) Shonka in Independence, Iowa. She graduated from St. John High School in Independence in May of 1954. Nancy attended the nursing program at Mount Mercy College, Department of Nursing, graduating with an Associates in Science degree, May of 1957. She passed her Iowa State Board for nursing in the summer of 1957 and received her RN license. She worked in the hospital setting for the first 10 years after receiving her license in Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa. Nancy was united in marriage to Victor B. Crawford on September 30, 1957 in Lincoln, NE.
In 1967, she began working in Public Health for Buchanan County in Independence, IA. She helped establish the Buchanan County Public Health Nursing Agency. Around 1970-1971, she began working part time as a Public Health Nurse Supervisor for the Iowa State Department of Public Health and part time for Buchanan County. Within a year, she worked full time as a Nursing Supervisor / Consultant for the Iowa State Dept. of Health, overseeing the counties in NE Iowa. She retired in 1997 and moved to Colorado Springs, CO where she lived for 18 years before returning to Iowa and moving to Bettendorf in April of 2015.
While living in Colorado Springs, she worked part time as a Child Care provider for the Community Partnerships for Child Development (CPCD) for around four years. Then she volunteered in the Grandparents Program in the Literacy Program for another four years in East Middle School, District 11.
Nancy was a member of St. John Vianney Catholic Church and an active participant in their Crafters Group, where they would recite the rosary and knit prayer shawls for those in need. Nancy had a kind and generous spirit, and she was loved dearly by those who knew her.
Nancy is survived by two daughters, Lynn (Frank) Painter of Bettendorf, IA; and Ann (Mark Jacobs) Crawford of Colona, IL; one son, Tim (Connie) Crawford of Colorado Springs, CO; 6 grandchildren, Stormy Crawford of DeWitt, IA; Casey Crawford of South Boston, VA; Eric (Ashley) Northouse of Bettendorf, IA; Emily Northouse of Durant, IA; Bradley Crawford of Colona, IL; and Hannah Wagner of DeWitt, IA; and a step-grandson, Jeremy Painter of Bettendorf, IA. Nancy is also survived by 6 great-grandchildren; one brother, Jim (Mary Lou) Shonka of Independence, IA; and 10 nieces and nephews.
Nancy is preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Pauline (Anderson) Shonka; her husband, Victor; her son, Dennis Crawford of Houston, TX; one brother, Robert Shonka of Independence, IA; and one sister-in-law, Marlyn Shonka of Independence, IA.
