Nancy Rose Buck, age 75, of Sparta, Wisconsin, passed away on April 3, 2026, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center after a two-week health battle, with her loved ones by her side.
Nancy was born to Victor and Leafa (Potter) Nogar, and from the beginning she seemed to arrive with a built-in talent for making people feel welcome.
On her journey through life, Nancy met and married Donald Buck, a transplant from California who came to Michigan and fell in love with her. They were married in 1983 and built a life centered on devotion, and shared adventure.
Nancy had a boundless love for children—every child, every age, every personality. She and Don built a beautiful family together, loving four children, welcoming 12 grandchildren, and eventually celebrating 14 great‑grandchildren. And beyond those she was blessed to call her own, countless others lovingly claimed Nancy as their “Grandma B” too. Her heart always had room for one more.
Her 8-year-old granddaughter once said, “It took us a long time at the store because Grandma talked to everyone in the store,” and that probably sums up Nancy better than a thousand formal words ever could. She did not just meet people. She collected them, connected with them, and made them feel like they had known her forever.
While living in Michigan, she worked in human resources, a position she loved. After moving to Sparta to be near her daughter, she wore many hats throughout her working career. More recently, she was a cashier at Westside Liquor in Sparta, and she also worked many years at Hansen’s IGA. Wherever she worked, she brought kindness, conversation, and a welcoming spirit.
Nancy was full of interests and hobbies, and she embraced life with energy and enthusiasm. She was born dancing and continued dancing her way through life. She and Don taught dance, line dancing, and ballroom dancing, among other styles, for six days a week, and they went dancing seven days a week for many years. Ballroom dancing held a special place in their hearts, especially civil war era style dancing, and Nancy designed and sewed all of her own dresses for those occasions. She took great pride in her creativity and in the beauty of the life she and Don built together.
When she was not dancing, Nancy was golfing. Golf was another joy she shared with Don, and when the season ended in Michigan, they would find a place to golf, usually it meant going to Florida so they could continue golfing there. Her favorite hobbies revolved around Don, and that was because he was the center of so much of her happiness. They did everything together, and their shared life was a beautiful example of love, friendship, and devotion.
Nancy is survived by her husband of 43 years, Don Buck; children, Kim (Mosey) Fields of Sparta, Mike (Shelly) Cooper of Grand Rapid, MI, Brian (Jill) Owens of Chicago, IL, and Shawn (Melissa) Owens of Grand Rapids, MI, Tonya (Mike) Donoho of Dowagiac, MI, and Peggy (Matt) Korff of Marne, MI; brother, Gwen Nogar of MI; 12 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; nieces, nephews, other relatives and dear friends.
Nancy is preceded in death by her parents; brother, Lynn (Pauline) Gale; sister, Pat (Roger) Andrews; and a sister-in-law, Pat Nogar.
A Celebration of Life for Nancy will be held at a later date. Until then, she would want everyone to keep dancing—whether it’s in the kitchen, at a wedding, or just because a good song comes on. Nancy is heading home to Michigan, where her story began, and where her spirit will rest—probably with a golf club in one hand and a dance step still in her heart.
The Torkelson Funeral Home of Sparta, WI is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be offered at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.
Torkelson Funeral Home
