STERLING — Nancy Govig, 77, of Sterling, formerly of Steward, passed away on Sunday, May 17, 2020 at Rock River Hospice Home in Sterling. Nancy was born on July 4, 1942 in Chicago, to Milo and LaVergne (Lehmann) Heitmanek. 

On Sept. 22, 1962 she married John D. Govig in Cicero, whom she met on a blind date. John passed in 2007.

Nancy was predeceased by her parents, her brother, Rick Heitmanek, and her in-laws, John L. and Helen Govig of Creston. 

Nancy was a loving mother of three and grandmother of five. When her girls were young, she enjoyed sewing Barbie clothes, building blanket “forts” under the apple tree and baking brownies for camping weekends. More recently, Nancy relished spending time with her grandchildren, frequently indulging them with trips to Dairy Queen (banana split blizzards were her favorite). She enjoyed painting, reading, sewing, traveling, photography, was an avid quilter and was a long-time member of the Kings of the Road camping club. 

Nancy was a registered nurse and graduated from Mt. Sinai School of Nursing in 1963. Over the course of her career, she worked at Rochelle Community Hospital, was the director of nursing at Rochelle West nursing home, was a rehab nurse at Pine Acres nursing home in DeKalb, and served as school nurse in the Franklin Grove and Indian Creek schools before retiring in 2008.

Nancy also worked with her husband, John, on the farm, driving the grain truck to the elevator, disking (in straight lines) while John planted, and running errands to pick up parts for the equipment. She also volunteered with a number of groups, particularly as her daughters were growing up. She was a member of Steward United Methodist Church and more recently the First Presbyterian Church in Rochelle, where she enjoyed teaching ESL classes for several years.

Nancy is survived by three daughters, Karen Savage of Boston, Massachusetts, Julie (Dave) Carrion of Sterling, and Jill (Richard) Kane of Versailles, Kentucky; five grandchildren, Amanda, Alexis, Andrew and Aiesha Savage, and Isaac Carrion; and her beloved dog, Odie. 

A private burial will be held at the Union Cemetery in Steward and a Celebration of Life gathering will be held at a later date. Care has been provided by the Unger-Horner Funeral Home. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Nancy’s memory to the English as a Second Language program at First Presbyterian Church. Checks can be made payable to First Presbyterian Church, please note the “ESL program in memory of Nancy Govig” on the check and mail to 1100 Calvin Road Rochelle, IL 61068.

Nancy’s family also welcomes all to visit www.ungerhorner.com to sign the online guest book.