Nancy Lynne McCombie

Nancy was born March 5, 1937, in Marquette, a daughter of Hjalmer Henry and Linnea Dorothea (Anderson) Bergh. As a young child, Nancy grew up on the farm purchased by her parents on Little Lake Road, where they raised turkeys and grew cedar trees for cedar post use. Nancy attended Graveraet High School where she played the baritone in the school band and graduated as salutatorian of her class. On November 17, 1956, Nancy married Thomas George Forrest McCombie, Jr. in Hancock, and on December 31, 1957 a son, Thomas III was added to the family tree. Tom attended Michigan Technological University while Nancy took on the roles of wife, mother, and homemaker. In 1959 when Tom received his engineering degree, the family moved to St. Paul, Minnesota for Tom’s employment. On July 19, 1959, a second son, Michael, joined the family and Nancy continued raising her children. The family later moved to Hudson, Wisconsin, and when the marriage ended in 1970, Nancy worked for a time as a waitress while also raising her children. At age 41, Nancy returned to the classroom at the University of Wisconsin River Falls, earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Arts on August 4, 1978. For many years, Nancy was employed as a nurse’s aide at various times in Hudson, Wisconsin, New Richmond, Wisconsin, and Des Moines, Iowa before returning to Marquette. Upon her return to Marquette, Nancy was primarily involved with the care of her aging parents and her sister, Karen Bergh, a devotion of compassion and love for 37 years. Additionally, she was employed at the Mining Journal in a clerical position and following retirement, returned every Thursday to water the plants and catch up on the latest news. Nancy was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church.

Nancy is survived by her sons, Thomas (Deborah) McCombie III of McGrath, MN and Michael W. McCombie of Munich, Germany; her grandchildren, Thomas McCombie IV, Steven L. McCombie, Catherine L. (Robert) Scott, Rebecca (Anthony) Reams, Lucas McCombie, and Verona McCombie; and through Deborah, grandchildren, Andre A. Smith, Victor M. Smith, and Trevor J. (Jessica) Smith and their daughters, Valena and Hazel; great-grandchildren, Anastasia (Daniel) Smith, Evelyn L. Scott, Brett Jones, and Melanie F. Reams; great great-grandchildren, Oliver and Sabrina Smith; a sister-in-law, Ruth Bergh in Lower Michigan; nieces and nephews, Erik (Kathy) Bergh, Kristine (Michael) Ounan, and DiAnne (Steven) Warfield.

In addition to her parents, Nancy was preceded in death by her sister, Karen Bergh on November 24, 2023; her brother, Daniel Bergh; and a niece, Beth Bergh.

Friends may call at Messiah Lutheran Church on Monday, February 19, beginning at 11:00 am until the time of service at 12:00 noon. Rev. Molly Hunter will officiate. Interment will be made in the Park Cemetery.

Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com.