Nancy Mildred Willard

Nancy Mildred Stigers Willard of Northglenn, Colorado passed away Saturday, July 3, 2021 at Presbyterian St. Luke’s Hospital in Denver, CO following a period of illness. She was 88 years old. Most of her immediate family were able to visit in the week preceding her death.

Nancy was born August 10, 1932 in Hedrick, Iowa to Dr. Arthur L. “Bud” Stigers (D.V.M.) and N. Marie Kalsem Stigers. She was the eldest sister to Mary E. Stigers Brown and Roger G. Stigers. Due to her father’s work she moved several times while growing up. Places she lived include Des Moines, IA, Van Meter, IA, and Sioux City, IA. Her father was called up to military service in November of 1941 and Nancy and family spent time with him in Natchez and Jackson, Mississippi the following year. Her father then went overseas and was gone until October of 1945. Nancy, her mother and siblings stayed in Van Meter, Iowa during her father’s time overseas. Upon his return the family moved to Sioux City, IA until 1947 when they moved to Storm Lake, IA. Nancy attended Storm Lake High School for her senior year, graduating in May of 1949.

In September of 1949 Nancy began attending Sioux City Methodist Hospital School of Nursing. While in nursing school she met Robert R. “Bob” Willard. Bob and Nancy were married in August of 1952 and she graduated from nursing school two weeks later. She and Bob then moved to Chicago where she worked as a registered nurse and Bob completed his medical school. Upon Bob’s graduation from medical school he and Nancy moved to Michigan (Benton Harbor and then Ann Arbor) for Bob to complete his internship and residency. In 1959 she and Bob and sons, Michael and Christopher, moved to Colorado, where she lived the rest of her life. She lived and worked in Boulder for 12 years and then moved to the Denver area (Littleton, Aurora, and Northglenn).

She worked most of her life as a registered nurse, including roles as nursing supervisor and head of respiratory care. Nancy also sold Mary Kay cosmetics for many years.

Outside of work she loved to cook, and eventually took up painting and crocheting. She enjoyed painting and making gifts for family members. She loved dogs, old tv shows and good jokes. She was proud of each one of her children and grandchildren, and was thrilled with the arrival of her great grandsons.

Nancy is survived by her brother Roger Stigers (Oline) of Cedar Rapids, IA; her son Michael Willard (Kay) of Hope Mills, NC; her daughter N. Margaret “Maggie” Willard of Elizabeth, CO; her granddaughters Natalia Willard and Tanya Willard of Lihue, HI; grandsons Cole Willard (Taylor) of Aurora, CO; Clay Willard of Erie, CO; Carson Willard of Denver, CO; and her great grandsons Jasper Vidinha of Lihue, HI and Booker Willard and Briggs Willard of Aurora, CO.

She is predeceased by her parents, Dr. Arthur “Bud” and Marie Stigers of Golden, CO; her sister Mary Brown of Dacono, CO; her son Dr. Christopher J. Willard of Broomfield, CO; and her granddaughter Christina Willard.

A funeral service will be held August 21, 2021 at 2:00 pm at Olinger Funeral, Cremation & Cemetery - Crown Hill in Wheat Ridge, CO. Interment and reception immediately following the service at the same location. For those that are unable to attend in person, Service will be live streamed via the like below.