Lonnie Wesley Nance

Lonnie Wesley Nance, 90, passed peacefully at his residence in Nixa, MO on Friday, January 24, 2025 and completed his heavenly journey home. He was born on Thursday, March 1, 1934 in Broken Arrow, OK to John and Edna Nance.
In 1936 Lonnie moved to Blanchard, IA with his parents and siblings. He worked closely with his father in the blacksmith shop to learn the trade, graduated from Blanchard High School in 1952, and went to work in Southern Iowa welding and repairing machinery. On May 12, 1955 he enlisted in the US Army National Guard and received his Honorable Discharge. Lonnie attended the Blanchard Assembly of God Church and accepted Jesus as his personal Savior. On November 27, 1955, Lonnie married Wanda Harris in Rogersville, MO. He was well known for his mechanical aptitude, abilities, practical jokes, and even had a Patent for one of his fabricated items. Around 1968 he moved his family to Tarkio, MO. Where he continued to work with equipment repairs, fabrication, building construction, wrecker and crane service, moving houses and grain bins, over a wide area; from central Nebraska, to central Iowa, and south to St. Joseph, MO. He also served Tarkio and the Atchison County Area as a Volunteer Firefighter, Part-time Police Officer, Reserve Deputy, and EMT. In the late 1970's he took a job in Joliet, IL as a College Welding instructor and worked with two of the local colleges. He also served as an instructor in building repair with the City of Joliet prior to his retirement and move to Nixa, MO.
Lonnie was preceded in death by his parents, five siblings Letty, Bonnie, Johnnie, Eula and Betty and several brother-in-law's, sister-in-law's, nieces and nephews.
He is survived by two sisters and two brothers: Doris McKinnon, Ruth Campain, Bill and Joyce Nance, Dennis and Sue Nance, along with many in-laws, nieces and nephews, his wife Wanda Nance, and his four sons: Raymond and Kathy Nance, Samuel and Sheila Nance, Timothy and Pam Nance, and Lonnie D. and Janet Nance, and a beloved host of Grandchildren, Great-Grandchildren and Great-Great-Grandchildren.
We will miss his wisdom, humor, teaching, and love for God.
A visitation will be held from 9-11 AM on Friday, January 31, 2025 at the Life360 Chesterfield Church, 2220 W. Chesterfield St., Springfield, MO 65807 with funeral services to follow at 11 AM. Burial with full military honors will take place at Rivermonte Memorial Gardens. After graveside services, the family would like to invite you to a 1 PM luncheon at Thrive Church, 113 W. Mt. Vernon St., Nixa, MO 65714. Memorial donations may be made in his name to the Nixa Senior Center or Haven Hospice. Online condolences can be made at www.klingnerfunerlhome.com