Nancy (Grobaty) Thompson of Davis, CA, aged 92, passed peacefully into the next life on Sunday, November 16, 2025. She was a cherished mother, grandmother, and friend and she will be greatly missed.
Nancy was born in Garner, Iowa to Laura Elizabeth (Betty) Pritchard and Raymond Gerald (Dutch) Grobaty. She had an older brother, James (Jim) whom she adored, and a brother Gerald (Gerry) who passed before her birth. She was born into a large extended family, full of grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles whom she treasured. Family gatherings were full of music, good food, and larger than life characters. Betty and Dutch relocated to Southern California in Nancy's early years where some of the Iowa family had already migrated. They eventually moved to Big Bear Lake where the family ran a camp. This was a great setting for her to indulge her great love of the outdoors, fishing, and camping. The Grobatys moved again, this time to Long Beach, CA and Nancy attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School. Upon graduation she enrolled at UCLA where she flourished as a Political Science major and formed lifelong friendships through the Alpha Phi Sorority.
She married Rodney Thompson in 1956, and they relocated to Aberdeen, Washington, while Rod served in the Coast Guard. Sadly, they lost their first child, a son, at birth while stationed there. After Rod's service ended, they moved back to Southern California and had four children, Jeane, Pam, Susan, and Jim. Nancy was a dedicated mother, adding softball and volleyball coach, Girl Scout leader, school and parish board member and fundraiser to her other accomplishments. The family moved to Fresno in 1973 where she made dear friends and was active in many community activities. In addition to volunteer efforts, she ensured her children had excellent educational, athletic, and fine art opportunities and was forever shuttling a van full of kids to one outing or another.
Nancy was an avid sports fan throughout her life following various Southern California and Bay Area teams with great interest, especially her UCLA Bruins. She was known as a vocal spectator at her children's sporting events.
Alongside family obligations Nancy was active in Republican Party politics. She helped charter a chapter of Republican Women, Federated, volunteered for numerous local, state, and national campaigns, and worked on staff for California State Legislator, Ken Maddy.
Nancy divorced in 1991 and found new passions and friendships through Sweet Adelines International. She was a member of several choruses in Northern and Central CA. She cherished the many friendships she made and the travel opportunities through this association, especially her close friendship with Shirley Kout.
She was a devoted daughter and did much to support and care for her parents, including having her mother Betty live with her and Shirley during Betty's last years. Nancy moved to Davis as her health declined. She resided at University Retirement Community (URC) in Davis. Nancy's family is incredibly grateful to the staff at URC for the tremendous love and care they showed to Nancy.
Nancy is survived by her four children and their spouses; Jeane (Paul) Larkins, Pam (Brett) Fiorini, Susan (Jeffrey) Leider, and Jim (Kathleen) Thompson; her grandchildren: Christopher (Samantha), Laura, and Paul (Kristin) Larkins; Leah (Mitch) Carver; Jessie and Talia Leider, Sarah (Max) Kardos; Kylie, Kate and Emma Thompson; her great grandchildren: Mia, Charlotte, and Will Larkins; Olivia and Piper Hamilton; Avery and Kate Larkins; Vivian Carver; and Norah and Ember Kardos. Nancy is happily reunited with her parents, her brothers, her infant son, her grandson, Rod Fiorini, and many loved ones and friends who passed before her.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, January 31st at 2:00 pm at St. James Catholic Church, 1275 B St, Davis, CA. Reception to follow at the International House, Davis,10 College Park, Davis, CA. Nancy's final resting place will be at Davis Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers please consider donating in Nancy's memory to:
The University Retirement Community Employee Appreciation Fund (EAF in memo), 1515 Shasta Dr, Davis CA 95616
Sutter Health Hospice Care, Attn: Gift Services, P.O. Box 160045, Sacramento, CA 95816 (memo SCAH - Davis). https://give.sutterhealth.org/campaign/723377/donate
Nancy was born in Garner, Iowa to Laura Elizabeth (Betty) Pritchard and Raymond Gerald (Dutch) Grobaty. She had an older brother, James (Jim) whom she adored, and a brother Gerald (Gerry) who passed before her birth. She was born into a large extended family, full of grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles whom she treasured. Family gatherings were full of music, good food, and larger than life characters. Betty and Dutch relocated to Southern California in Nancy's early years where some of the Iowa family had already migrated. They eventually moved to Big Bear Lake where the family ran a camp. This was a great setting for her to indulge her great love of the outdoors, fishing, and camping. The Grobatys moved again, this time to Long Beach, CA and Nancy attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School. Upon graduation she enrolled at UCLA where she flourished as a Political Science major and formed lifelong friendships through the Alpha Phi Sorority.
She married Rodney Thompson in 1956, and they relocated to Aberdeen, Washington, while Rod served in the Coast Guard. Sadly, they lost their first child, a son, at birth while stationed there. After Rod's service ended, they moved back to Southern California and had four children, Jeane, Pam, Susan, and Jim. Nancy was a dedicated mother, adding softball and volleyball coach, Girl Scout leader, school and parish board member and fundraiser to her other accomplishments. The family moved to Fresno in 1973 where she made dear friends and was active in many community activities. In addition to volunteer efforts, she ensured her children had excellent educational, athletic, and fine art opportunities and was forever shuttling a van full of kids to one outing or another.
Nancy was an avid sports fan throughout her life following various Southern California and Bay Area teams with great interest, especially her UCLA Bruins. She was known as a vocal spectator at her children's sporting events.
Alongside family obligations Nancy was active in Republican Party politics. She helped charter a chapter of Republican Women, Federated, volunteered for numerous local, state, and national campaigns, and worked on staff for California State Legislator, Ken Maddy.
Nancy divorced in 1991 and found new passions and friendships through Sweet Adelines International. She was a member of several choruses in Northern and Central CA. She cherished the many friendships she made and the travel opportunities through this association, especially her close friendship with Shirley Kout.
She was a devoted daughter and did much to support and care for her parents, including having her mother Betty live with her and Shirley during Betty's last years. Nancy moved to Davis as her health declined. She resided at University Retirement Community (URC) in Davis. Nancy's family is incredibly grateful to the staff at URC for the tremendous love and care they showed to Nancy.
Nancy is survived by her four children and their spouses; Jeane (Paul) Larkins, Pam (Brett) Fiorini, Susan (Jeffrey) Leider, and Jim (Kathleen) Thompson; her grandchildren: Christopher (Samantha), Laura, and Paul (Kristin) Larkins; Leah (Mitch) Carver; Jessie and Talia Leider, Sarah (Max) Kardos; Kylie, Kate and Emma Thompson; her great grandchildren: Mia, Charlotte, and Will Larkins; Olivia and Piper Hamilton; Avery and Kate Larkins; Vivian Carver; and Norah and Ember Kardos. Nancy is happily reunited with her parents, her brothers, her infant son, her grandson, Rod Fiorini, and many loved ones and friends who passed before her.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, January 31st at 2:00 pm at St. James Catholic Church, 1275 B St, Davis, CA. Reception to follow at the International House, Davis,10 College Park, Davis, CA. Nancy's final resting place will be at Davis Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers please consider donating in Nancy's memory to:
The University Retirement Community Employee Appreciation Fund (EAF in memo), 1515 Shasta Dr, Davis CA 95616
Sutter Health Hospice Care, Attn: Gift Services, P.O. Box 160045, Sacramento, CA 95816 (memo SCAH - Davis). https://give.sutterhealth.org/campaign/723377/donate
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