Nancy Booth Hagstrom

Nancy Booth Hagstrom, beloved mom, teacher, and friend, died peacefully on March 16, 2024, in Oakland, California. She was born in Des Moines, Iowa on November 8, 1934, and lived a life proudly rooted in Iowa. From Whittier Elementary School in Waterloo to West Junior High and High School to Grinnell College, Nancy covered great ground on her way to becoming a music education major. She enjoyed choral directing, piano, pipe organ, and voice. Nancy raised her family in Evanston, IL, where for more than 50 years she made lifelong friends, invested generously in her church and community, and engaged in a full and meaningful life. After her children were born, Nancy went back to school and earned a master’s degree in teaching reading.

Our mom introduced us to relatives and special places during trips to Iowa and the incredible family reunions she encouraged and organized. These joyful reunions epitomized her organizational skills, inclusive heart, and deep love for family, no matter how far away in distance or relation. As a super mom and teacher in Illinois, she took on nurturing and raising us to be adventurous, strong, and caring like herself. Contributing her passion and energy for eleven years on our Green Lake, Wisconsin farm was a gift to our family.

Other gifts our mom gave throughout her life included supporting us and believing in us unconditionally. Her support for our choices of schools, residences, careers, significant others, and eventually spouses, meant we could keep looking to the future and its possibilities. Nancy traveled extensively for genealogical connections to Norway, global learning opportunities, and adventures with her children in Alaska, California, and several international destinations. She was also a lifelong camper, Norwegian dancer, cancer survivor, and active church member.

Nancy's giving heart and global vision led her to a lifetime of volunteering that followed her five years of teaching music and twenty-plus years of teaching first graders to read and love learning. She deeply believed in teaching tolerance and advocating for justice. The list of organizations to which she faithfully gave up until her death approached twenty. We plan to continue our mother's legacy of giving and supporting worthy organizations.

As her dementia progressed in later years, Nancy never lost her enthusiasm for life and her enjoyment of music and family. She wanted to be remembered for saying YES to life! We love our mom deeply and thank you for loving her, too.

Nancy is survived by daughter Susan Hagstrom and husband Mark Estes of Oakland, son Bruce Hagstrom of Spokane, former husband David Hagstrom, granddaughters Holly and Haley Hagstrom, former daughter-in-law Cathe Hagstrom, and numerous beloved extended family members all over the world. She was pre-deceased by her parents John Hoyt Booth and May Thompson Booth, and her sister Karen Booth Gwaltney.

The family is planning both in-person and virtual Celebrations of Life. The in-person celebration will be held April 13, 2024, at Piedmont Gardens in Oakland, from 10:30 am to 12:00 noon in the Sky Room on the 11th floor. All friends and family are welcome to join in honoring and remembering Nancy. For those unable to attend in person, a virtual celebration will be held on May 11, 2024. Details on both of these events are available on CaringBridge: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/nancyhagstrom

In lieu of flowers, donations in Nancy's memory can be made to Bread for the World. Nancy was a dedicated supporter of this organization, advocating for a world without hunger. She volunteered with Bread for the World for many years and was a monthly donor until the very end of her life. Contributions can be made at https://www.bread.org/ or https://www.bread.org/institute/.