Nancy Stoltz, age 84 of Valparaiso, Ind., formerly of Chesterton, passed away Monday, December 10, 2012.

She was born September 1, 1928, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to John S. and Murial Morrison Wiebe, both of whom preceded her in death.

Nancy is survived by her children Nina (Matthew) Buchanan of Parker, Colo., Paul (Laura) Miles of McKinney, Texas and Pavla (Francis) Frazier of Rockville, Md.

Also surviving are grandchildren, Meredith Gilbert, Doug Buchanan, Brian Buchanan, Alexis Miles, Elise Miles, Sydney Miles, Anastasia Frazier, Natasha Frazier and Tatiana Frazier, along with great-grandchildren Kaiya Gilbert and Brooklyn Gilbert.

Her siblings Sally Tollefson of Chesterton, John Kirk (Cindy) Weibe of Westminster, Md., and James Scott Wiebe of Indio, Calif., also survive.

She was preceded in death by her husband Daniel, sister Susan Betterton and great-granddaughter Teegan Gilbert.

Nancy was a pioneer of nursing at local, state and national levels. She worked to elevate and define the scope of nursing practice, enhancing nursing’s role in the patient care process. This all served to elevate the standard of nursing practice and promoted quality patient care.

She was a director of nursing at Porter Hospital for over a decade and a nursing instructor and faculty member at Indiana University Northwest School of Nursing. She received numerous awards as “favorite teacher.”

Nancy and her husband Daniel were avid golfers, traveling around the country and she was a dog lover.

A celebration of Nancy’s life will take place on Friday, December 14, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the Celebration Center at Pines Village, 3301 North Calumet Ave., Valparaiso, Ind., with Pastor Dean Christenson officiating.

Arrangements are under the direction of White-Love Funeral Home, 525 South 2nd St., Chesterton.

Memorial donations in Nancy’s name may be given to the VNA Hospice Center, 2404 Valparaiso St., Valparaiso, IN, 46383; The VNA of Porter County, 2401 Valley Dr., Valpraiso, In, 46383 and the IUN School of Nursing, Dunes Medical/Professional Bldg., Rm. 3102, 3400 Broadway, Gary, IN, 46408.

For additional information, please contact White-Love Funeral Home at 219-926-1309.

Posted 12/12/2012