Nancy Cords

1940 - 2021

Cords, Nancy D. (Schuh)

MESA, Ariz./MADISON - Nancy D. (Schuh) Cords, age 80, died after a long battle with respiratory issues at Gilbert Mercy Hospital in Gilbert, Ariz., on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021. She was born on March 12, 1940, in Madison, Wis., the daughter of Peter and Lorraine Schuh, and graduated from Madison East High School in 1958. She was married to Robert G. Cords in November of 1958 and lived in the Madison, Wis., area until 1980 when they moved to Arizona. Her husband, Robert, passed away in 2004.

Nancy's nickname was "Fancy Nancy"; her first job was at Federal Bake Shop on Mifflin Street, and she worked in various administrative jobs, most notably with Wisconsin Teachers Retirement, Madison Water Utility, J&C Plumbing and Dane County Health and Human Services, before moving to Arizona. There, she worked for the City of Tempe as an administrative supervisor in their Public Works Department. Nancy was a devoted wife and loving mother. She routinely siphoned money away from her budget to provide the children with extra clothes or treats rather than spend on her needs. Over the years she and Robert fostered and adopted stray dogs with regularity and at one time had six dogs in the household.

Nancy is survived by her four sons, Robert (Amiee) of Jacksonville, Fla., Donald of San Diego, Calif., William (Cecilia) of Leonardtown, Md., and Steven in Mesa, Ariz.; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and brother, Paul Schuh of Dalton, Ga. She will be buried with her husband, Robert, at the Medina Cemetery in Marshall, Wis. Funeral services will be postponed until a proper gathering can be convened to celebrate her life. Instead of flowers, in honor of her kindness to animals please donate to your local humane society or no-kill shelters.