Nancy Susan Edminster

Nancy was born on January 24, 1937, in Ironton, Ohio, the daughter of Robert Berg Jameson, and Helen Elliot Jameson. Located on the banks of the Ohio River, Ironton was in the midst of the Ohio River Flood in January of 1937, and Nancy’s parents had to use a rowboat to make it to the hospital in time.

The Jamesons were a musical family, and Nancy grew up playing piano and clarinet, and singing in the choir. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from DePauw University (Greencastle, Indiana) in 1959. During her time at DePauw, she belonged to Delta Zeta Sorority, and played in the concert and marching bands. Following graduation, she continued her education to become a Registered Dietitian.

While at DePauw, she met Ralph Edminster, and they were married on June 12, 1960. They made their first home in St. Louis, Missouri, where Ralph completed his medical degree at Washington University, and Nancy was employed as a dietitian at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. They next relocated to Grand Rapids, Michigan, finally settling in Lansing, Michigan, in 1967.

Nancy spent her early years in Lansing raising their three children, being an active member of Peoples Church (East Lansing), and volunteering with Sparrow Hospital Auxiliary, and with special education students at Post Oak Elementary School. In later years, she was employed as a medical office manager, finally retiring in 2015 at the age of 78, only due to the physician himself retiring.

Nancy became a member of University United Methodist Church in the 1980s, and played in the handbell choir. She dedicated hundreds of hours to planning and maintaining the UUMC Memorial Garden. Through the church, she made many close friends who were an extension of her family.

Nancy was passionate about gardening, and was particularly proud of her success in keeping heritage plant and flower varieties in existence. This included some perennials and vegetables that she could trace back to her grandfather’s time, among them dahlias, hostas, and tomatoes.

She loved to travel, to experience new cultures and all the wonders of nature around the world. Early family vacations were spent attending National Wildlife Federation Family Summits in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Rocky Mountains, and the Adirondack Mountains. There were also many, many road trips around the entire United States. With family and friends, especially her frequent travel partners Pete and Gwyneth Schroeder, she visited most of Europe, including Russia during the Cold War; New Zealand and Australia; Central and South America, including the Galapagos Islands, and a mission trip to Costa Rica; the Caribbean; and Africa, including South Africa, during Apartheid.

Nancy was an accomplished baker, seamstress, and artist, and completed many oil paintings and stained glass pieces. She volunteered for more than 20 years at the Southside Community Kitchen in Lansing. She had a legendary sense of humor, was fiercely devoted to her family and friends, and believed strongly in treating everyone with respect and compassion.

She is survived by her brother Tom (Sandra) Jameson; daughters Susan Edminster (Lief Findsen), Jean (Tim) Musson, and Ann Riker; grandchildren Dylan (Allison) Edminster, August Riker, Colin Riker, and Nicholas Bruckman; nephew Keith (Dottie) Jameson; niece Kathy Sanders; and her dear friend of more than 60 years, Robbe Pohl.

A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held on June 13, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., at University United Methodist Church in East Lansing, Michigan. Interment will take place in both the UUMC Memorial Garden, and at McComb Union Cemetery in McComb, Ohio. Donations in her memory may be made to the Memorial Garden Fund, or to the Music and Worship Endowment Fund, in the care of University United Methodist Church, 1120 South Harrison Road, East Lansing, Michigan, 48823.

Nancy’s life, love, and values will continue to inspire those she left behind.