Obituary: Nancy Ruth (Adams) Friesen

September 29, 1941 – January 29, 2024

Nancy was always the life of the party; she had that spark that ignited joy in every gathering. She had an intuition with people with a gift to nurture and know what every person needed. Her laughter was contagious, and she turned ordinary moments into extraordinary moments. Nancy passed away in her home in Gypsum, Colorado, surrounded by loved ones on Monday, January 29, 2024.
She was born in Denver, Colorado, on September 29, 1941, to Harold and Joy Adams where she graduated as the Valedictorian from West High School and went on to graduate with honors from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley with a Bachelor’s in Education. Her education did not stop there. Additionally, Nancy earned her Master’s in Chemistry from Colorado University in Boulder.
She met the love of her life Roger Friesen in Greeley while she was in college. They fell in love and were married in August of 1963 and began their family. Nancy and Roger not only shared the same birthday but also 60 years of marriage. You didn’t get one without the other. They were partners and teammates in every aspect of life except for when it came to playing cards!
They spent the remaining years together raising four kids and being successful in many different business ventures including Ace Heating and Sheet Metal in Denver; Gypsum Creek Sheet Metal and Heating in Gypsum; and The Akaska Bait Shop in Akaska, South Dakota. Although if you were to ask Nancy, she would say that her biggest success in life was always her family, they meant the world to her.
Nancy carried many titles and roles in her life but her favorite role was being a grandma, and she was so proud of her six grandkids. She loved being a grandma and was an adopted grandma to many! She never failed to make her grandkids smile, laugh, give advice and show them love. She also had many furry grandchildren treating each and every one of the pets that came into her life like a valuable part of the family.
Nancy had so many friends and there is no doubt she touched the lives of many! She was a strong hard-working woman but always had time to visit and laugh with you making you feel special. Nancy enjoyed belonging to the Order of the Eastern Star Masonic Lodge in Eagle, Colorado, for over 30 years. She enjoyed her many travels to visit other lodges throughout Colorado and even visited chapters in Toronto, Canada while she was the Ambassador for the Colorado State Chapter. It was common to see Nancy having five people dressed formally for a meeting packed in the old Lincoln bouncing down the road to visit other chapters. She and Roger traveled and made friends in many different states including Colorado, Nebraska, Arizona and South Dakota.
Nancy lived her life with a profound sense of joy; she loved larger than most; she was quick to forgive and even quicker to ask for forgiveness. She will always be remembered for her spitfire personality and the way she touched every person she met. Anyone who met Nancy never forgot her! We will remember her infectious laugh and amazing spirit. We couldn’t have asked for a better mom, grandmother, teacher and friend. We will miss her every day and her memory will live on in the hearts of many.
Nancy was preceded in death by her parents and is survived by her husband Roger, brother Mike, her children Terry, Tammy (Paul), Jer (Kelsey), and Josh (Erika), and grandchildren Amanda, Weston, Skylar, Mckayla, Mckenzie, and River.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, May 5, 2024 at the Brush Creek Pavilion, Eagle CO. from 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Please come and share your memories of Nancy.