Nancy Sue (Schweickart) Snell

Nancy Sue Snell, 78, South Bend, passed away at 9:00 p.m. Friday, January 15, 2021 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend.

Nancy was born September 4, 1942 in Evansville, Indiana to the late Willard Schweickart and Hilda (Eissler) Schweickart.

Following her graduation from Evansville Central High School, she attended Indiana State University in Terre Haute, where she met the man who would become her husband while applying his stage make-up for an operetta performance. On July 6, 1963 in Evansville, she married James H. Snell. They were married for more than 42 years.

Nancy was employed as a secretary at Bethel College from 1979 until her retirement in October of 2016. James later became a pastor and she joyfully served alongside him at Beaver Creek Wesleyan Church from 1985 until his death in 2006. She remained a faithful member there for the rest of her life.

Nancy enjoyed spending time with her family, church activities, going for drives in the country, playing board games and card games, watching game shows, and doing puzzles of all kinds, especially jigsaw puzzles.

Over the years Nancy was a friend and mentor to many. Often those people saw her as a second mother or grandmother.

One of the highlights of her life was a trip to Scotland in 2010 with her sister and daughter, where she was able to meet and spend two weeks with her pen-pal, Marjorie, with whom she had shared correspondence since the second grade. They enjoyed a friendship of more than 70 years!

Nancy’s family would like to express sincere gratitude to her friend and caregiver, Mari Clark, for her compassionate care and her true servant’s heart.

Surviving are a son, James Jr. and wife Marty Snell of Earl Park, IN; daughter, Kathleen and husband Jack Strickland of South Bend; and son, Timothy K. Snell also of Earl Park; grandchildren, Nicholas Strickland’s wife, Chloe Reitherman, Isaiah Strickland and wife Tatum, and Eddie; and great-grandchildren, Antalya and Nolan, Isayah and Noah. Also surviving are a sister, Mary Mickelson of Indianapolis, and a brother, Mark Schweickart of Evansville.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother John Schweickart. a son, Jeffrey Snell, and a grandson Nicholas Strickland.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 23, 2021 at Beaver Creek Wesleyan Church, 66027 Redwood Rd. North Liberty, Indiana 46554, with Pastor Ben Jones and Rev. Phil Thomas officiating. Burial will follow in Southlawn Cemetery. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Friday January 22, 2021 at Palmer Funeral Home – Guisinger Chapel, 3718 S. Michigan Street, South Bend, Indiana 46614, or one hour before services at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Beaver Creek Wesleyan Church or The Hot Dog Club Ministry, c/o David and Shirley Duncan, 1086 S. Confederate Dr., Macon GA 31220.

Online condolences to the Snell family may be directed to www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.