Nancy Jane Holbert

Nancy Jane Holbert of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, went to be with her Lord and Savior surrounded by family on May 16, 2023, at the age of 89. Nancy was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, on June 23, 1933, the daughter of Hans W. and Valta M. Dieckmann. She grew up in Wheeling and graduated from Triadelphia High School in 1951.

After high school, Nancy was accepted into Ohio Valley General Hospital School of Nursing, graduating as a Registered Nurse on September 2, 1954. After moving to Oklahoma City, Nancy went to work in the surgery unit of Hillcrest Hospital from 1968 to 1970. She then served as assistant supervisor of surgery at South Community Hospital, now Integris Southwest Medical Center, retiring in July of 1995, after 25 years of dedicated service.

Nancy was baptized, confirmed, and married to the love of her life, Clair Holbert, at St. Marks Lutheran Church in Wheeling, WVa, July 1, 1955. Upon moving to Oklahoma City, they were founding members of Atonement Lutheran Church where they actively served from 1968 through 1980. For the next thirteen years they were active members of Faith Fellowship Church of Oklahoma City. In 1993, they joined Western Hills Church, now known as Together Church where she served faithfully for 30 years. Through the years and at every church, she actively participated in Bible study, singing in choir, and decorating the sanctuary. She absolutely loved helping write and perform funny skits for ladies’ retreats that kept all attending in stitches.

She loved to spend as much time as possible outdoors and enjoyed being immersed in nature. She enjoyed hiking and camping and you could often find Nancy outside in her yard, tending her garden. She also loved swimming, often praying for her family, by name, each lap she swam. She enjoyed attending concerts, especially outdoor ones with friends.

When she wasn’t enjoying herself outdoors, Nancy loved watching football on TV, sewing and crafting, and especially reading novels, her Bible, and the latest selection for the book club she attended.

More than anything, she adored her family who were always a priority in her life. She loved them all equally and fully, cherishing the time she spent with them. Nancy was a devoted and loving wife and a wonderful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend to many. She will be very dearly missed.

Nancy is survived by four daughters, Cindy Perkins and husband Lance of Oklahoma City, Suzet Roggow and husband Brent of Oklahoma City, Karen Gordon and husband Steve of Ft. Worth, Texas, and Gwyn Jackson and husband Wes of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; 15 dearly loved grandchildren and their spouses, and 19 great-grandchildren (plus one on the way) who brought her great delight.

She is also survived by two sisters, Carolyn Barth and husband Marvin of Tracy, California, and Linda Sue Rodenbaugh and husband Robert of Lancaster, Ohio, many loved nieces, nephews, and cousins across the country, as well as a multitude of friends whose lives she so deeply touched.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of almost fifty years, Clair E. Holbert, and by parents Hans and Valta Dieckmann of Wheeling, W.Va. She is also preceded by her younger brother Richard Dieckmann and sister-in-law Noramay Dieckmann of Van Buren, Indiana, and her niece Ginger Dieckmann of Florida.

Our family would like to thank the staff of Excell Hospice, especially Jenna, Chelsea, Leslie, and Deborah, as well as Dr. Hopkins, friends, and neighbors. May we all carry on her legacy of steadfast faith and love.

To make a memorial donation in Nancy’s name:

Reaching Souls International

12625 S. Portland Avenue

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73170

                   -or-

For her granddaughter & grandson, Keah and Bryan Payne called to Tanzania

LCMS (Attn: Edie)

1333 South Kirkwood Road

St. Louis, MO, 63122

Make checks payable to: LCMS

(Very important in memo line: Donations Missionary Payne in memory of Nancy Holbert)

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