Nancy Louise Fulmer

Nancy Louise Grabill, the daughter of Garland Samuel and Doris Helen (Holloway) Grabill, was born on December 30, 1947 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, Iowa.  She was the youngest of eight children.
   Nancy grew up on her parents’ farm north of Fiscus in Audubon County, Iowa. She was raised with a strong work ethic, helping with chores which might involve milking cows, gathering eggs, feeding hogs, driving the tractor for baling hay, mowing grass, bean walking, general housework and gardening.
   Nancy began school in a one-room country school house, Douglas No. 3. When the schools consolidated, she went to Gray Elementary and Jr. High. From there, she went to Audubon High School, graduating with the Class of 1966.
   During her school years, Nancy learned to play the piano. In High School, she was on the girls’ basketball team and in G.R.A. (Girls’ Recreational Association). The “aim of G.R.A. was learning to get along with others by participating in games and having good times,” a philosophy that Nancy continued to implement for the rest of her life!
   In the summer, Nancy played softball with the young women’s team for Fiscus, running barefoot around the bases. She was a natural coach for the farm girls, cheering them on and helping them laugh through ridiculous plays. When playing neighboring teams, winning didn’t necessarily matter, but rescuing the underdog always did. She had deep empathy for the feelings of others.
   Nancy attended Bible School at Merrill’s Grove Baptist Church in Fiscus. She also went to the RLDS Church in Harlan with her parents.
   In her spare time, Nancy did not knit, crochet, nor sew, but instead made zig-zag gum wrapper paper chains many feet long, and also homemade valentines and posters with construction paper and words cut from newspapers and magazines.
   Nancy went on to Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa to pursue a degree in education. While in college, she met Lyle E. Sherer, who she married in Dow City, Iowa on November 25, 1970. The couple began their married life working in Kansas City. They had no children.
   Some time later, Nancy moved to Harlan, Iowa where she worked in the junior high special education department at the school, and at Mickel’s Restaurant. She also ran a sand-blasting business out of her home and etched beautiful mirrors, glass panes for doors, windows and other items. She was honored to create all of the etched windows for the Church of Christ in Audubon.
   While in Harlan, Shelby County, Iowa, Nancy met and eventually married Dean William Fulmer on September 25, 1985 in her parents’ home in Audubon. For a number of years, they lived in Minden, Iowa, then moved to Lebanon, Missouri. Nancy decorated cakes for Hy-Vee and Wal-Mart. She was always active in their church and went on to become a pastor, having attended seminary at Graceland College in Lamoni.
   When her husband Dean required care beyond Nancy’s ability, she moved him to the Veteran’s Home in Cameron, Missouri and found a nearby apartment for herself. Dean passed away on September 4, 2016 at the Veteran’s Home.
  While in Cameron, Nancy became the pastor of the Community of Christ Church. This is her last church and she considered it “home.”
   On Easter weekend, Nancy tested positive for covid. Further testing revealed brain cancer. Nancy lived five weeks and five days from testing positive until she passed on June 6, 2023 at the Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa.
  Preceding her in death was her husband Dean Fulmer; her parents Garland and Doris Grabill; her sister Barbara Doyel; her brothers Samuel Grabill and Larry Grabill; her brother-in-law Martin Jorgensen; her sisters-in-law Marilyn Grabill and Gayle Grabill; her nephew Greg Grabill; a great niece and a great-great nephew.
   Survivors include Nancy’s special friend Richard Smith of Cameron, Missouri; her step-daughter Deborah and husband Jay Duke; grandchildren: Ryan and wife Jenifer; Brandon and wife Mariana; and great-grandchildren Madison, Carter, Jaxon, Hudson and Rogan.
   Nancy’s step-daughter Susan and husband Heath Nave; grandchildren: Brittany and husband Kirby; Kurt; Cory and special friend Rachael; and Devin; great-grandchildren: Adalynn, Arianna, Brystol, Layla, Silver and Chet.
  Her brothers and sister: Keith Grabill; Rex Grabill and wife Judy; Alvin Grabill and wife Peggy; Helen Jorgensen and Donnie Armentrout, all of Audubon, Iowa; her brother-in-law Jim Doyel of Mason City, Iowa; sister-in-law Shirley Grabill of Audubon, Iowa; eight nieces, fourteen nephews, numerous other relatives, her church families and many friends.
   As per Nancy’s wishes, her body was cremated. A Celebration of Life event is being planned for a later date by her church family in Cameron, Missouri. An afternoon of celebrating Nancy’s life is being planned following the Grabill Reunion, held at the Irwin Community Center in Irwin, Iowa, open to the public from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, August 6, 2023.
  Thank you to everyone for all the acts of kindness and care given to Nancy, and for all the expressions of love shown to her.