Nancy Jane Wamhof

NANCY JANE WAMHOF
October 16, 1930 - January 29, 2026

Nancy was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, dedicated homemaker, and extraordinary pianist. She passed away at age 95.

Nancy was born in Merced, CA to Paul and Gertrude Oneto. After graduation from Merced High School in 1948, she attended Fresno State College, majoring in Music. She was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority at Fresno State College, and graduated in June 1952.

At Fresno State, she met Alton Wamhof, also a music major. They married on March 17, 1951. Alton and Nancy were married for 52 years and had 5 children.

Nancy was gifted with musical ability, especially on the piano, from an early age. She was the accompanist for the Fresno Women's Chorus for many years throughout the 1950s and 1960s. She also accompanied various other choruses in Fresno, and accompanied many a student performing in solo competitions and recitals. Nancy was a long-time member of the Fresno Musical Club. She also taught piano privately.

Nancy will be remembered for her love of family, her love for her canine friends, her sweet and gentle nature, her emphasis in keeping fit, and her music-making. Embracing country living, she was an avid gardener, made good use of the fruits and vegetables that were grown, enjoyed her roses and houseplants, and loved pulling weeds. At harvest time on the family farm, as grapes were picked and dried into raisins, she was lovingly referred by her family as the "Queen of Grape Re-picks", going row by row and picking all the grapes that had been left behind on the vines. These were the raisins kept in the family freezer to be used throughout the year. At Christmastime, she outdid herself with homemade cookies and candies. She sewed a lot of her own clothes and all the original curtains for her Kearney Blvd. home. Nancy and Alton supported Fresno State athletics and traveled many miles with the team as part of the Red Wave. They also enjoyed going to the San Francisco Giants, and Fresno Giants baseball games.

Nancy is survived by her sister Toni Honeycutt (Gary); her 5 children: daughter Kay Lee (Mitchell), daughter Joyce Canepa (Ken), son Paul Wamhof (Linda), son Gary Wamhof (Stephanie), and daughter Jenny Wittwer (Scott); her 9 grandchildren: Kayte and Michael Lee, Robert and Cathy Canepa, Kevin Wamhof, Matthew, Emily, and Megan Wamhof, and Summer Wittwer; and her 4 great-grandchildren: Lindsay Fredrickson, Zoe Lee, Chloe and Rory Canepa.

She will be deeply missed.

Remembrances may be made to Bristol Hospice Foundation, or the Fresno Humane Society. Family and friends will be invited to a service which will be announced at a later date.