Nancy Kretsch

Nancy Marie Kretsch was born on June 3, 1953, to Joseph and Mary (Lichowid) Makoski in Highland Park, Michigan. Her birth brought her family great joy in a time of need when Mary lost both her father, Joseph, and her baby son, Carlie, six months earlier.

Nancy, being a child of the 1950s had hours of delight playing dress up with her cousin, Debbie, and with the new fashion doll, Barbie. She also had fond memories of going to drive-in movies with her mother. Especially enjoying Elvis Presley films.

Nancy had fun-filled memories growing up; Spending time with extended family, enjoying Fourth of July picnics and summer birthday celebrations with visiting family members. She also adored her sleepover birthday parties with her cousin and many friends.

As Nancy grew, her parents taught her how to Polka, which inspired a lifelong love of dance. She also got a kick out of attending Polish festivals in Detroit, engaging in Polish culture, food and competing in polka competitions with her dance partner, Ricky.

Not just a city girl, Nancy loved visiting her grandma’s farm up north in Standish, Michigan. The farmhouse had pretty hollyhocks growing around it and there was always an evening show of fireflies on a hot summer night. The dirt roads and country living simplified everything. Grandma Julie had cows and chickens and Nancy loved to play with the kittens. Her and her mother, Mary, would take the long roads getting there to enjoy those slow and quiet times together with family.

Nancy grew up in Troy, Michigan, where she sang in the choir and excelled at being creative in her sewing and art classes. An excellent seamstress, she made many of her dresses for special dances and competitions over the years. Not surprisingly, attending the junior and senior proms were highlights of these years as she lit up the dance floor on those occasions. Her love of music began at an early age. Her mother got tickets to see The Monkees for her fourteenth birthday. She was a huge fan of Davy Jones and was thrilled to attend The Monkee’s concert at the Olympia Stadium with her cousin Debbie. Nancy loved music and saw Paul Revere and the Raiders with another girlfriend.

When Nancy was sixteen, she would take the bus to Canada and dance on a local tv show called, Swinging Time. She appeared as a regular dancer on the show and had the opportunity to see many famous entertainers perform in person like Aretha Franklin, Bo Diddley, Every Mother’s Son, and Ted Nugent and his band the Amboy Dukes. Robin Seymour, the host of the dance show, would receive fan letters asking about the pretty blonde dancer named Nancy. She enjoyed the attention and the letters, but also had to be cautious since some of the letters were men serving sentences in the local prison who would try to ask her out on a date!

In 1970, she was crowned Miss Troy at the local pageant. She received a tiara, trophy, beautiful bouquet of roses, and a $500 modeling scholarship at the American Beauty School. She made several appearances at holiday parades, but her most memorable one was when Santa Claus arrived at his Storybook Castle at Troy’s Oakland Mall in his sleigh. Nancy, along with the mayor of Troy presented Santa with the key to the city. She also made appearances for local radio and television shows. There simply wasn’t anything that Nancy couldn’t accomplish if she set her mind to doing it!

Nancy met Edwin Joseph Kretsch while walking with a girlfriend at Summer Set Apartments in Troy. He was out cruising with his friend, and it was love at first sight. She fell for his wonderful singing voice and his talented lead guitar playing in a local band called, The Better Way. They got married on January 21, 1972 at Guardian Angels Church in Clawson, Michigan. Edwin joined the U.S. Army and moved to Germany soon after. Their daughter, Tammy, was six months old at that time. Later, they settled back in Michigan, eventually buying a home in Rochester Hills in 1979.

As a mother, Nancy enjoyed cooking and gardening at home. She loved to plant pretty, colorful flowers around the yard. Nancy also enjoyed doting on her daughter. She was always busy making Barbie dresses for her daughter’s dolls. She passed her Barbie dolls down to Tammy and enjoyed playing Barbie with her in a detailed village that Tammy created with her mom in her playroom. She taught Tammy her love of dance. The two of them especially loved Disco dancing. Nancy and her daughter created many wonderful memories together from their days of playing Barbies to sharing birthday dinners as a family at Zehnder’s in Frankenmuth, Michigan. Nancy always looked forward to these annual gatherings of birthdays and picnics. In addition to the delicious chicken dinners, they also strolled the shops and collected treasures together. Being loved by Tammy was the most important and greatest feeling for Nancy. Any amount of time they spent together, her heart was joyful.

As she aged, Nancy continued her passion for her family and spending time with friends. Nancy held a special place in her heart for her dogs. In the early 1980s, there was Missy the poodle. In the 1990s, there was Teddy the poodle and Skippy the maltese. Currently, she would share her affections with Teeny Sundance, also known as Sunny D. by Tammy, and Frosty the maltese. She enjoyed their companionship especially after Edwin passed away May 23, 2020. Over the years, her love of music never wavered; she continued to enjoy anything from the '60s through the '80s as well as all current artists of pop, country and rock and roll. Some of Nancy’s favorite artists were the Bee Gees, Fleetwood Mac, Chicago, Madonna, Whitesnake, White Lion, and Def Leppard. With all her years on the dance floor, it was no surprise that among her favorite TV shows were the popular “Dancing with the Stars” and “The Bachelor.” Nancy never missed an episode!

A year after Edwin’s passing, Nancy experienced some health issues and, being a concerned daughter, Tammy made an effort to get her mother to live closer to her in Kalamazoo, Michigan. After trying a few places, Nancy decided to take residence at Provision Living of Oshtemo. Nancy enjoyed making new friends, participating in arts and crafts, watching Elvis movies in the building theater, attending entertaining events like the Elvis impersonator, the summer carnival and picnic, and the car show.

Through the subsequent years, Nancy spent time with her daughter and family who ensured her final years were filled with happiness, love, and adventure. Tammy made a monumental effort to help make things easier for her mother. Some of the times most dear to Nancy were when her daughter Tammy cleaned up and polished her father’s 1981 Corvette and 1994 Camaro and entered them into the car show so her and her mother could share a special moment watching as the cars were highlighted in the show.

They went on a mini trip to Cherry Point Market at Silver Lake to see Tammy’s favorite lighthouse, Little Sable Point and then to a large field of poppies at a Fennville farm. Nancy always loved to see colorful flowers. She always dreamed of going to Tulip Time in Holland, Michigan, and Tammy and her husband, Keith, took her to the event three years in a row.

Tammy surprised her with tickets to see Micky Dolenz of The Monkee’s on October 28, 2023. Nancy had not seen The Monkee’s since her fourteenth birthday and she was so happy that Micky’s voice still sounded as strong as ever fifty-six years later. Her feet were tapping to her favorite songs.

Nancy also enjoyed going to the movie theater which she was not able to do for a long time. She saw the “Elvis” movie and loved it! Tammy and her mom dressed in their brightest pink attire and went to see the “Barbie” movie together and had a wonderful bonding moment. She also loved Taylor Swift and Tammy brought the Eras Concert to her by taking her to the theater concert performance on the big screen. She was so enthralled with the music while happily enjoying delicious popcorn.

For Nancy’s last birthday, Tammy took her to the South Haven Lighthouse to enjoy the sand and water. Tammy also took her mom to the Shades of Lavender farm in Mattawan, Michigan, which brought her great joy and peace amongst the purple colors and calming scent of the beautiful lavender flowers.

Described as a sassy firecracker and someone with a big heart and loving presence, Nancy valued relationships with others. Gone too soon, her fun-loving personality and charming smile will be remembered by all who knew and loved her. There is no doubt that she will be deeply missed. May her loved ones remember her for her fearless approach to life as well as her natural way of being true to herself. Each time they gather together, may they feel her warm spirit and embrace the fact that she loved them beyond measure. May their hearts and minds envision her forever dancing in Heaven.

Nancy Marie Kretsch, of Rochester Hills, Michigan passed away Wednesday, December 11, 2024 after a battle of cancer. She was 71. Surviving her is her daughter, Tammy (Keith) Boneburg. A Life Story Visitation will be held Tuesday, December 17 from 5-8 p.m at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900, where food, drinks, and stories will be shared. A Memorial Service will be celebrated on Wednesday, December 18 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Thomas More with a viewing starting at 10:30 a.m. A luncheon by Olgas will follow in the church hall. Her burial is planned for Thursday, December 19 at 11 a.m. at White Chapel Cemetery in Troy, Michigan. Celebrate Nancy's life online by sharing stories and photos on her personalized web page at BetzlerLifeStory.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.