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Nancy Lurie Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Nancy Lurie
Mark Dietenberger
December 3, 2024
I visited Nancy Lurie at the Milwakee Public Museum ten years ago (12/2014) to show her the finger woven objects that my deceased father, William Karl Dietenberger and I have woven over the years since we have left the powwow world by 1970. We reminisced concerning when my father was the master of ceremonies during the Hay Lush Ka powwows during the 1960s, where he was good friends with Nancy and the Ho Chunk Tribe. While attending UW Milwaukee, Nancy tried to get me to teach finger weaving at the museum. I guess I was too busy getting my education, where I ended up with a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. Anyways, I visited the Parson's trading post at the Dells in 2020 and saw the woven sash that I made at 12 years old on display, and is presented here. At least the owner is no longer in the dark on who is its creator, and I thought to pay Nancy another visit, only to learn she had deceased. What a great gal, and may she rest in peace, my 7 years belated condolences.
Mark Dietenberger
December 3, 2024
Gwen Samp
July 28, 2017
Nancy was my beloved cousin and she will always be a part of my life's memories. I recall her laughing - not too long ago - when I reminded her of how we jumped up and down on her Grandmother Rosie's feather bed. And Nancy would show me what an expert she was with a bow and arrow. Miss you already Nancy! Love, Cuz Gwen
Paul Rykken
July 25, 2017
Nancy Lurie was instrumental in helping us improve our teaching of and about American Indian people, and particularly the Ho-Chunk people, within the Black River Falls School District. I met Nancy in 1990 and worked with her on several projects related to curriculum. I also interviewed her several times to tap into that wealth of knowledge that she possessed. She was a giant. God bless her memory.
Celeste Clark
July 5, 2017
Nancy was instrumental in helping the young native students in the late 60's develop and establish the Native American Student Movement (NASM) at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). She also served as an advisor to the student group throughout my years at UWM per Mike Connors.
The student group eventually change their name to the American Indian Student Association per Celeste Clark, UWM.
June 5, 2017
We are planning a celebration of Nancy's life to be held July 19th, 4pm-7pm at the Milwaukee Public Museum. If you are able to attend, please RSVP and join us.
Jodie Lane (Nancy's cousin)
[email protected]
Julia Howell
May 24, 2017
I began studying Nancy's contributions to action anthropology when I began a Master's program 6 years ago and instantly fell in love with her mind and writing. I contacted her last Summer to introduce myself and she seemed overjoyed to have a new pen pal to connect with between the ebbs and flows of her health. She was warm, with good humour, enthusiastically supportive of my research and always interested in what I was up to in life. I enjoyed learning of her appreciation of her old best friend and research partner June Helm and her cat, Skoo Skoo, "Sweetie" in Winnebago (Ho Chunk). We exchanged and confirmed each others' observations about the similarities and differences between Canadian and American Indian Policies and contemporary political situations, and she expressed humble pride in her last ethnohistorical research (with Patrick Jung) that uncovered the myth of Jean Nicolet's Chinese robe. She hoped text books and State Historical Society site markers that perpetuated what she debunked would one day stand corrected. In her last message she shared what she felt was most challenging about getting so old: the loss of so many contemporaries with which to share memories. Now it is us left to feel the loss of such a potent life and teacher. I believe Nancy was a true warrior in her work that engaged relationships between Indigenous and settler peoples, and and although I will miss her friendship know I will continue to find new wisdom in her lasting contributions and find ways to pass on what she offered us.
Nancy Mathews
May 24, 2017
I had enormous respect for Nancy as a museum professional, anthropologist and educator. What a legacy she leaves!
mildred Evenson
May 23, 2017
I knew Nancy through my Aunt Frances Perry of Black River Falls. She was a friend indeed. We loved her visits and I missed her coming to the Pow Wows in spring and fall. I know death will come to us all, but I will hold in my memory as long as I live. Such a great person>
Henrietta Funmaker
May 22, 2017
I met her at a very young age. Maybe one of the first white ppl I had ever got the courage to talk to. She was very nice to me, and the first Phd. Dr. I ever met, it tickled her that I said only men can be Dr.s ?! I was 5?! What did I know? I visited her behind my Gagas house off and on every other spring! She'd tell me of far away places and the ppl, like us. She was an original, peaceful, sort of person that I will always strive to be! God bless you, see ya on the other side. Cissy
JAY toth
May 22, 2017
I enjoyed the friendship and conversations we had regarding anthropology.
Joshua Smith
May 22, 2017
Nancy was so incredibly kind towards me and my research on action anthropology. She came to our double session at the AAAs in Chicago on the subject and participated generously. Her work is monumental to mine and will be for generations of anthropologists to come! Thank you, Nancy!
Susan Snowball
May 22, 2017
Nancy had a small lodge built over by the Youngthunder's at the Indian Mission near Black River Falls. She was and will forever be a welcome addition to all our homes!
May 22, 2017
Rest peacefully dear cousin.
Lisa Buttolph
May 22, 2017
Nancy wrote a book about my Great Grandmother, Mountain Wolf Woman. I have read it many times. Thru that book I got to meet my GGM and I will be forever grateful as she died before I was born. I had the opportunity to meet Ms. Lurie as well at pow-wows when I was a child. R.I.P. Dear Lady.
May 22, 2017
I met Dr. Nancy Lurie shortly after she joined the anthropology staff of the Milwaukee Public Museum in 1972. Nancy was a lifelong advocate for American Indian issues and concerns, authoring numerous books and articles about their lives and histories, and initiating museum exhibits that highlighted the importance of Indian contributions to American civilization. While working with Nancy on the development of some of those exhibits, I had the good fortune to learn about her adventurous travel and research experiences, and listen to her extensive knowledge of anthropology and cultural history.
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The last exhibit Nancy and I worked on together was North American Indians: A Tribute to Survival. It includes an impressive powwow diorama featuring dozens of contemporary Indian dancers slowly moving in a ceremonial circle to the sounds of tribal drum and song. That compelling exhibit opened in 1993 and still remains today a proud legacy of Nancy's distinguished career with the Milwaukee Public Museum. Dr. Lurie and I remained close friends long after her museum retirement, often meeting for lunch and interesting conversation. She will be greatly missed but never forgotten.
James H. Kelly
Exhibit Director Emeritus
Milwaukee Public Museum
Norman Tribbett
May 21, 2017
Nancy was a friend of Valentine Ritchie (Potawatomi), Verol Ritchie Tribbett Tyler (Forest County Potawatomi) and Norman Henry Tribbett, (Potawatomi). Her letters and memories are an addition to our lives. She traveled with my grandfather, Val Ritchie, researching. She guided my own understanding of Potawatomi history in the 1960s and 1970s.
She will always hold a place near and dear.
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