Nancy Jean Schrick

Nancy Jean Schrick, age 76, of Portland, Oregon passed away on Saturday, January 21, 2023.

Nancy Jean Penkert was born on October 20th, 1946 in Northeast Portland where she spent most of her childhood. She was raised in a loving home with her parents Maxine and James Penkert. Two years later the family was completed with the arrival of Nancy’s sister, Cheryl.

Nancy’s was a fun childhood that included school friends and activities beginning at Alameda grade school then on to Gresham high school. Nancy’s interests included horseback riding and ballroom dancing which she studied at Author Murry school of dance. She especially loved trips to Grandma and Grampas home in seaside, where clam digging and homemade chowder were a frequent treat.

Upon completion of grade school, Nancy and Cheryl were rewarded with a memorable trip to Disney’s Magic Kingdom. It was trip she never forgot.

Nancy’s parents were both Marines who served in WWII. They instilled in Nancy a love for God, for this wonderful country, and especially the men and women of the armed forces who served to protect it. It was a love she displayed virtually every day of her adult life.

Shortly after graduating from high school, Nancy fell for her lifelong husband Terry Schrick. Early in their courtship, Terry was drafted and stationed in Germany. Not ones to let distance deter them, the young couple made an adventure of Terry’s deployment and were married in Germany.

Nancy and Terry warmly tease that they had a nine-month honeymoon as Nancy stayed through the remainder of Terry’s time overseas. They learned to enjoy glamor on a budget, getting by on Terry’s $195 a month salary. Nancy is quick to remind people, it wasn’t as bad you’d think, gas on the base was only 17 cents a gallon.

When the couple returned to the northwest, Nancy chose the vocation of her dreams which was being a stay-at-home wife and mother. Nancy and Terry were blessed with four delightful and energetic boys, with an extra emphasis on energetic. Nancy would occasionally catch herself saying she actually raised five boys, because Terry was as active as her sons.

Family life for the Schick’s had the added challenge of Terry continued military duties where he served as a reservist and chaplain, which was added to his weekday career working for Fred Meyers. Nancy on occasions found herself caring for the boys on her own when Terry was away on assignment.

The Schrick home was a place filled with love and a wide-open front door. Along with the four boys, Nancy and Terry hosted 30 short- and long-term foreign exchange students. Between times, and often overlapping, another 27 live-in guests found refuge with the Schrick’s, with the record being 13 people living in their six-bedroom, 1912 farmhouse. There was always a line at the bathroom, and hot water was rare, but love and fellowship was abundant.

Over the 55 years of marriage, Nancy’s resume also included seven pastorates. While most of these churches were small in size, the members they met along the way became lifelong friends. Their final church home was Mannahouse, where they served Nancy’s remaining 23 years. They helped develop and led a ministry focused on military, law enforcement, and other first responders, which was a natural fit for Nancy who served in the Family Programs for Terry’s multiple military units.

Nancy’s final days here on earth were like most of her days, surrounded by people she loved, and people who loved her. During her final months, Nancy was lovingly cared for by a team of Adventist home care and hospice caregivers along with her husband Terry’s daily support.

Nancy went to heaven on January 21, 2023.

For those that knew Nancy well, it wasn’t that her heart stopped on that cool January morning, but rather that she had finally given it all away. The legacy of her love lives on in her husband, four boys and their families, and the countless students, church friends, soldiers, and young people who think of Nancy as mother and friend.

Nancy is survived by her husband Terry, her sister Cheryl Sherlock, four sons, Derek, Kevin and wife Tonia, Chris and wife Becky, and Michael, and five grandchildren, Grace, Sam, Seth, Jeremy, and Bella.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.batemancarrollfunerals.com for the Schrick family.