Nancy L. Ruby

WAUSAU, Wis. - Nancy L. Ruby, 76, of Ironwood, Mich., passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital after complications from a stroke.

She was born Aug. 8, 1940, in Hurley to Lawrence and Elizabeth (Bott) Bourdages. She lived in Saxon until moving to Hurley in 1956. She graduated from Hurley High School in 1958.

Nancy married William F. Ruby on May 6, 1961, at the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley, and together they raised three daughters at their home in Ironwood.

In her earlier years, Nancy worked as a cashier at Erspamer's Supermarket until 1977. She also worked at the AmericInn Hotel until her retirement. Her other full-time job was raising her children. She was a great mother and really enjoyed watching her grandchildren grow.

Nancy made friends everywhere she went, often knowing many people when she was out and about. She enjoyed taking the Little Blue Bus to meet her girlfriends for shopping and coffee. She loved going to the casino with her sisters and friends. She always said that it was one place she was able to forget about her aches and pains. Very rarely did she pass up the opportunity to go. She will be dearly missed by all.

She is survived by her three daughters, Pamela (Neil) Beckman, Paula (Mike) Merritt, both of Ironwood, and Mary Ann (Dustin) Westlund, of Cambridge, Minn .; her three grandchildren, Michael Merritt Jr., of Ironwood, Amanda Merritt (Carl Perttula), of Ramsay, Mich., and Niklas Merritt, of Ironwood; her sisters, Pat Heinzen, of Silver Bay, Minn., Diane Haglund, of Duluth, Minn., Bonnie Udd, of Ironwood, and Linda Marchant, of Superior; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her parents; sisters, Arlene Kelly and Marlene Gritzmacher; and brother, Robert Marchant.

Out of respect for her wishes, cremation has taken place and there will be no formal services.

Range Funeral Service and Crematory, Ketola-Burla Funeral Home of Ironwood is in charge of all arrangements. To send online condolences, visit rangefuneralservices.com.