Nancy L. Mathews

HOFF FUNERAL AND CREMATION SERVICE, HOUSTON, MN 507-896-3127 HOUSTON, MINN. - Nancy L. 'Boma' Mathews, 77, of Houston, Minn. died on Saturday, September 7, 2013, at Valley View Healthcare and Rehab Center in Houston. Nancy was born on April 14, 1936, at her Magnuson grandparent's Home in Houston MN to Deloin and Adeline (Norton) Virock. Dr. Kenneth Onsgard was the attending Physician assisted by Nurse Mable Onsgard. Nancy was raised in Houston and attended Houston Elementary and High Schools. Nancy had a beautiful voice and as a child in 1948 she sang a solo on the Radio Station W.K.B.H. (La Crosse, WI) during their Kiddie Hour Show. Nancy also enjoyed singing duets with her brother Eddy at the Looney Valley Lutheran Church. She participated in Girl Scouts and had won many Spelling Bees as a child. As a member of the Houston Legion Drum Corps, Nancy enjoyed marching and playing in several parades with her drums. In addition, Nancy had been a long standing member of the Houston School Bands and played the clarinet. She graduated from Houston High School in June of 1955 and worked for many years as a Nursing Assistant at the La Crosse Hospital and Hillview Nursing Home. Nancy married Francis Michael Mathews on June 20, 1959 at St. James Catholic Church in La Crosse, Wis. She continued to work at both the La Crosse Hospital and Hillview Nursing Home as a Nursing Assistant after her marriage. Nancy enjoyed many activities and hobbies with her husband and children as a Girl Scout Leader for her daughters and a proud supporter of the La Crosse Boy Choir for her son. She loved to sew, bake, and can vegetables from the family garden. She enjoyed family picnics at Myrick Park, bike riding, fishing, ice skating and spending time at the family boathouse. As her own children grew she went back to work as a crossing guard for the City of La Crosse and took good care of "her kids" at her crossing in La Crosse. Nancy especially loved sunning, riding her bike and the yearly family camping trips to Jellystone Park in Warren's WI with her favorite activity being the big water slide. Nancy also was quite a jokester and loved pulling pranks on family members.Nancy was an avid Green Bay Packers fan and didn't miss a game. Nancy was afflicted by Huntington's Disease and in later years she led a quiet life in Houston, well cared for by staff at the Valley View Health Care and Rehab in Houston MN. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Houston. She is survived by her children: Mary (Steve) Tschumper, Sally (Brian) Mathews Inglett, Kay Mathews (all of Houston, MN) and Mike (Rhonda) Mathews of La Crosse, and Judy Mathews. Grandchildren Matt (Hollie) Korger, Karen (Derick) Cripps, David (Heather) Korger, Emily Tschumper, Anna Tschumper, Rosemary Tschumper, Danny Tschumper, Nathan (Ashley) Snyder, Leah Inglett, Karl Inglett, Nick Mathews, and Parker Austrander; Great-grandchildren; Joseph, Anthony, Felicity & Francis Korger (Matt and Hollie), Hazel Mathews (Nick Mathews), Drew, Jeremiah, Makayla Austrander and Logan Reashke (Parker). Siblings Terry (Joan) Virock, Jacob (Terre) Virock, Scott (Cindy) Virock, Marcia (Tom) Zenanko and Shawn (Terri) Virock. Nancy is also survived by many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and brother Eddy Virock. She was also preceded in death by her beloved brother and sister in laws; Arlen & Sue Mathews, Donna Mathews, and John & Mary Lou Rochester.There will be a Funeral Mass for Nancy at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 12, at St. James the Less Catholic Church in La Crosse, Wis. with the Rev. Robert A. Schaller officiating. Burial will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery in La Crosse. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday at Hoff Funeral and Cremation Service in Houston, Minn. and one hour prior to the Funeral Mass on Thursday at the church. Leave a memory of Nancy and sign her online guestbook at www.hofffuneral.com