Obituary for Nancylee Ziese

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Nancylee was an extraordinary woman and did worlds of good in the arenas of breast cancer and child protection. She was an activist in current political issues. She never let the job "be done by someone else" -- she dug in and started going forward herself. I worked with her on cancer issues and she was an inspiration. Her light will shine for many years and she will be oh, so sorely missed. Rest in peace, Nancylee, for a job well done.. Shirley Ruedy

Nancylee will be missed by many. At one particularly difficult time in my church life she was unfailingly kind and supportive. As social workers we shared a bond. My prayers and sympathy are for her family.

Remembering “A Lovely Flower” Today we are sad and grateful--sad, for on February 24th, we lost a good friend, colleague, and mentor. But we are also grateful—grateful for the many blessings Nancylee Ziese brought to us, to her students at Kirkwood, to her colleagues in social work, therapy, and teaching, and for her service and advocacy impacting the families she worked with and the citizens of Iowa. Nancylee was strong and committed in her support of women and children, and she was fearless in taking on the political, legal, bureaucratic and legislative obstacles she found along the way if she believed they were hurting people or could be made more effective. Nancylee was a loving spouse, mother and grandma, and we know that her grandson, Deegan, was the light of her life. We met when Nancylee came to teach Human Services and Sociology courses at Kirkwood or through her community work. She informed her teaching with her years of experience in family practice. She helped her students to understand how important it is, especially in social work, to understand the advocacy role--to care about the greater community around us and to be an informed activist for those who perhaps could not speak for themselves. Through some forty boards and organizations, from her early days on school board in Sioux City, to such work as her appointment to the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission or her volunteering with the Cedar Rapids Downtown Rotary, Iowans for Gun Safety, PEO Chapter IH, and the Iowa Breast Cancer Action Foundation, Nancylee lived her life's philosophy and her teaching. Nancylee was always connecting people to each other, to services, to organizations and to information. So, typical of Nancylee, a few years ago, she saw a mutual friend hurting and suggested that we start meeting her for lunch. We called ourselves "The Ladies of the Flower." We wore a lapel flower or flower pin each month when we got together and chuckled with each other when we forgot. We listened to each other, we laughed, we learned from each other and we became stronger in our own lives by the bond we created together. We will think of Nancylee Ziese when the first brave purple hyacinth struggles to emerge into a new spring and when the last defiant chrysanthemum of November faces the killing frost--both perennials--because Nancylee was the first to step forward, the last to give up in a righteous cause, and could be counted on, perennially, to be always ready to stand up. We learned so much from her. Yes, we are sad, but, oh so, so grateful. We know that her advocacy, her caring, her determination and her laughter will live on in us all. Thank you, Nancylee Ziese, for your life well-lived. You have truly been a difference-maker. The Ladies of the Flower: Barb Dobling Dr. Julianne Thomas Kathy Good Kathleen Van Steenhuyse

Nancylee was a competent and caring person, always willing to be a friend. I know her family misses her deeply and her community does as well. My sympathy goes out to all she touched, and all she would have touched if her time had been longer.

Nancylee had investigated my husband and I prior to adopting our son. She was wonderful to work with and had so much knowledge about family issues. I'm grateful for the advise she gave us. I will never forget the phone call she made one Sunday 18 years ago telling us she had a baby boy for us with 'Paul Newman blue eyes'. It was an honor to have known Nancylee. Her funeral service was so nice and so inspiring. It was really a celebration of her life. Nancylee will be remembered. Best wishes to her family.

Jerry and family - my sincerest sympathies to all of you. I am a retired social work professor from Mount Mercy and I regularly asked Nancy to guest lecture in my Child Welfare class on the topic of adoption. She generously agreed each time and provided the class members with valuable information. She also shared her personal experiences as a social worker, legislative advocate, counselor and mother. She was a wonderful person, excellent role model for social workers regardless of their field of practice, and a true asset to any and all of the communities she participated in. To say she will be missed is an understatement. My best wishes to all of you and all who knew her well. John Rogers

My deepest sympathy goes out to Larry and your family. Nancylee was a true trail blazer and a wonderful friend. I will miss her.