Nancy June Quale

Nancy was born to Paul and Ruth Rhodes in Denver, Colorado in 1943. Originally due in May, her middle name changed to June when she arrived June 1st. The second oldest of 4 girls, she had a strong bond to all her sisters. Paul was a pediatrician who ran his practice out of their family home and Ruth, with a flair for sewing and drawing, kept the home and focused on being a mother. Due to their father’s love of the outdoors, the family spent their summers road tripping, camping and hiking.

After graduating from High School in Lakewood, a suburb of Denver, in 1961. Nancy traveled to Fremont, Nebraska to attend Midland Lutheran College. During college, Nancy married her first husband, Carl Youngmann.

They moved to Lawrence, Kansas after graduation in 1965. A scientist to the core, Nancy took her father’s lead and trained to be a Medical Technologist at the University of Kansas. While in Lawrence their son, Hans, was born. Their small family then moved to Seattle, where Nancy obtained a position at Hall Health Student Medical Center at the University of Washington.

Carl dissolved their marriage after 10 years. Nancy found refuge in her St. Luke’s Lutheran church community. In 1976 Nancy married her second husband, Irv Quale, after meeting him in a church singles group. In marrying Irv, Nancy gained 2 stepsons, Tom and Tim, who visited during school breaks. Together Irv and Nancy had a daughter, Sarah.

In 1999, Nancy hung up her white lab coat for the last time. Retirement for Nancy only brought on new adventures. Nancy and Irv enjoyed taking their Airstream Trailer up and down the West Coast and to Montana every summer. They also enjoyed tranquil days in their vacation home on the Olympic Peninsula. Nancy was fond of joining groups and committees and became increasingly involved in political and church functions making new friends along the way.

Nancy is survived by 3 sons, a daughter, 5 grandchildren, 3 sisters and their families. We are eternally grateful that in her final months she was surrounded by the love of her family, church community and friends. She will be missed beyond expression.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (P.O. Box 19023, Seattle WA 98109. Checks may be made payable to SCCA with indication that they are in memory of Nancy Quale, call (206) 288-2070 or (877) 308-3117 to make a donation by phone, or online at www.seattlecca.org/donate) or St. Luke’s Lutheran Church (3030 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA 98004, http://www.slukes.org).

We will be celebrating Nancy’s life on Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 3030 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA 98008. A reception with lunch will follow the service. We invite all whose lives have been touched by our mom in any way to join us.