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Nancy Burton

Nancy Burton

NEGAUNEE, MI – Nancy Mae (Wickstrom) Burton, 82, passed away at her daughter’s home under the care of her loving family as well as UPHH&H on December 24, 2022 at 8:33 PM.

Nancy was born March 12, 1940, to Elsie Larson and Erik Wickstrom in Marquette, grew up in Beaver Grove and graduated from Graveraet High School, Class of 1959. Over the years, Nancy held many roles in life, her proudest was being the mother and grandmother to numerous children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She spent over 20 years on the road as a cross-country truck driver side-by-side with the love of her life, Al. Oh! The stories she would tell. Comical, yet unbelievable, to say the least. Once off the road, she worked hard at becoming a CNA where she was employed at Norlite Nursing Center and then MCMCF from where she eventually retired. She changed the lives of every person she talked to with her huge smile and genuine caring conversation. She was known as the dog lady because she bred small dogs, “designer dogs” as she would proudly say, bringing joy to hundreds of people with her adorable mixes of puppies.

Nancy was a truly beautiful person, inside and out. She was accepting, kind, and supportive of her family and friends. She absolutely loved caring for people and animals. She was passionate about plants, gardening and passed that passion and “green thumb” onto many of her children. Nancy really enjoyed planning and hosting parties for holidays and special occasions. Her decorations were truly impressive, and she found great joy in bringing people together to celebrate. With Halloween and Christmas as her favorite holidays it was apropos that she would leave us on her most favorite day of all, Christmas Eve.

Nancy is survived by her sister, Betty Shaw, her children, Gary (Sherry) Johnson, Debbie Oien, Stephen (Trina) Johnson, Carole Spickerman, and Perry (Beverly) Johnson. In addition to her biological children, Nancy has a huge extended family that she loved as her own.

Her children and stepchildren gave her too many beautiful grandchildren and great-grandchildren to list!

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, Elvira Libby, Judy Kantola, and Erik Wikstrom, her daughter, Pamela Hamzeh, son-in-law, Wayne Oien, her grandsons, Timothy Johnson and Philip Abbott, and her husband, Al Burton.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, June 16th at Wesley United Methodis Church, Ishpeming, with Rev. Bob Freysinger and Rev. Rell Spickerman officiating. Interment will be in the Ishpeming Cemetery.

The family will greet relatives and friends from from 1:00 PM until the start of services at 2:00 PM at the church on Friday.

Mrs. Burton’s memorial page may be viewed at koskeyfuneralhome.com.