Nancy Katherine Dorch

1936 - 2023

Nancy Katherine (Jones) Dorch, 87, of Lincoln, Ill., formerly of Burnside, died from gallbladder cancer and associated complications on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, at home, surrounded by family. Nancy was born on Aug. 12, 1936, in Fort Madison, Iowa, to James H Jones and Beulah B (Griffiths) Jones. She married her childhood sweetheart, Robert C. Dorch, in the EUB Church in Colusa on June 18, 1955.
Nancy is survived by her husband, Robert, and four children: Robert J. Dorch (Sherryl) of Vienna, Va.; Rebecca L Dorch of Littleton, Colo.; Constance Sue Mason of Indianapolis, Ind.; and Jonathan C Dorch (Emily) of Austin, Texas; three siblings: Kenneth J Jones (Diane) of Quincy; S. Sue Jones (Tom Grayson) of Champaign; and Phillip B Jones (Marty) of New Lenox; nine grandchildren: Philip and Abby Dorch; Conrad and Myraeka d'Leeuwen; Kyler, Matt, and Travis Mason; and Ian and Dakota Dorch; two great-grandchildren: Wells and Baker Mason; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Nancy was valedictorian of her 1954 graduating class of Colusa High School. After raising her four children, Nancy returned to college, earning her literature degree in 1978 from the University of Illinois in Springfield. Nancy worked in the library of Chester East Lincoln Elementary School and in the counseling office at Heartland Community College. She also designed landscaping projects for clients of Dorch Landscape Nursery, was a long-time member and officer of the Logan County League of Women Voters and served as an election judge for many years. Nancy grew up on and lived on farms most all of her life. Throughout her life, she enjoyed hay rack rides, picnics, working in her perennial garden, tending roses, reading, birding, visiting national parks, and camping and vacationing with her family. She loved parenting and grandparenting. When asked, she described herself as "a daughter, wife, mother, feminist." Her one regret was not living to see a woman president of our great country.
Private burial will be at Myers Cemetery in Hancock County. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Lincoln.
Memorials may be made to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Planned Parenthood and the Lincoln (Carnegie) Library.