Nancy Kaye Boettcher

Nancy Kaye Boettcher died peacefully on Friday March 28th, 2026. Nancy was born on October 17th, 1954, in Grafton, ND to parents Charles and Marion Pickett. Weighing a meager two pounds, she began this life with an uphill battle but managed to persevere. She was the middle of three children and grew up for varying years in Grafton, Devils Lake and eventually Grand Forks.

Nancy moved to Wisconsin and the Fox River Valley in the late 1970s where a few years later she met Jeffery, the love of her life. They married in 1980 and moved to Appleton in 1984 where they would remain for their 46 years of marriage.

Nancy had a varied and diverse resume during her working life. She was a plant engineering secretary at Wisconsin Tissue Mills in Menasha. She also was a recess aide, church office secretary, job coach with Valley Packaging working with clients with physical and mental disabilities and a home health worker. She took pride in her work and was willing to do whatever was needed to make the family budget work.

Beyond her employment, Nancy cared deeply for her children Rinn (Katherine) and CJ (Charles). She was eager to support their learning and actively sought out ways to support their schools, most notably serving on Franklin’s PTA board for several years and endless hours of clipping box tops and Campbell’s soup labels to raise money for supplies and initiatives.

Nancy was extremely active at her church, First English Lutheran in Appleton. She taught first year confirmation students, sang on the praise team, and was a founding member of First English’s North site during the High School Cafeteria days. She had a heart for Stephen’s ministry and homebound members often visiting, writing cards and crocheting shawls and blankets.

Her later years were marred by various health challenges, but she still managed to crank out crocheting projects, write to her friends and relations often and always had a stash of crisp paper bills to mail to her children, grandchildren, and nephews.

Nancy is survived by her husband Jeff, her son Charles “CJ” Boettcher, her daughter Katherine “Rinn” Boettcher, sister Sue (Zane) Torgrude, brother David Pickett, nieces and nephews: Jennifer Brownell, Erica (Michael) Garrone, Maxwell (Seth) Pickett, Samuel Pickett, Colin (Kirsten) Steinke and sister-in-law Julee McVicker, as well as other relatives and friends.

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents Charles and Marion Pickett, brother Charles Pickett, Jr and sister-in-law Karen Pickett.

A memorial service will take place on Saturday April 25, 2026, at 11:00am at Wichmann Funeral Home, 537 N Superior Street, Appleton. Friends and family may gather at the funeral home from 10:00am until the service begins.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Fox Valley Pride or to First English Lutheran Church-Music Fund