Nancy Ann Julius was born August 25, 1964, in Newcastle, Wyoming to Roy and Pat Julius. She was the 8th child of a family of 9. Nancy grew up in Upton, WY and was active in sports, cheerleading, FHA, choir, Jobs Daughters and numerous other school activities. Many of her summer days were spent at the city pool. This was the beginning of her love for the water and beach.
She graduated from Upton High School in 1982 and received her associate degree from Casper College in 1984. It was there she met the love of her life, Guy Johnson. Together they continued their education at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. In the spring of 1986, Nancy graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education.
Nancy and Guy were married in Upton, WY on Aug. 9, 1986. Guy accepted a teaching position in Holcomb, KS so they began their married life living in Garden City, KS. She went to work at Garden Medical Clinic since there weren’t any teaching positions open in her field at the time. While living in Garden City they made many lifelong friends.
In the fall of 1991, Guy accepted a teaching & coaching position in Clearwater, KS so that moved them closer to family already living in Wichita, KS. She went to work at Galicia Medical Clinic in Wichita as once again, no teaching positions were available in her field. Her almost 30-year teaching career began in 1992 with most of those years teaching at Conway Springs High School. She taught FACS, Early Childhood Development, Marriage & Family and Speech as well as being an FCCLA advisor. Nancy was not only heavily involved with her students and their activities but also community outreach. She was such a fan of the Cardinal football team, she talked her Dad and siblings into following them across the state for games! She received her Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Fort Hays State University in 2010. She was an instructor for Cowley County Community College. Family events and celebrations were also beneficiaries of her organizational leadership degree.
With both Guy and Nancy being teachers, summers and other extended breaks afforded them the time to start traveling. Their travels took them from coast to coast but the trips that were Nancy’s favorites were to any beach or ocean. Hawaii and Australia topped her list! Many trips were planned around family events and locations.
Nancy had a wide variety of talents. As a young girl, with her long fingers she became an accomplished pianist, had an eye for design, the ability to articulate feelings through writing and armed with a camera or selfie stick to document memories in the making. Her creative eye was brought out through quilting and crafts which many family, friends and students were recipients of. She could turn any venue rented for a celebration into a priceless memory with her attention to the smallest of details. Nancy always joked that her best creative moments came from floating in her pool.
Nancy had many loves…Guy first, their home, her pool, family, friends and her beloved KU Jayhawks. Once she received her diagnosis, her love for all of these grew stronger and her faith became a beacon to many with her words and actions. She was a true inspiration that touched so many lives. She was a wife, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, teacher & mentor that was loved by all and will be missed beyond measure. Nancy demonstrated her strength and courage to the very end. She received her angel wings on April 20, 2024.
Nancy is survived by her husband Guy Johnson of Clearwater, KS; father Roy Julius of Wichita, KS; siblings Dena Hayashino (Paul) of Spearfish, SD, Lonny Hunt (Tereza) of Wichita, KS, Jerry Hunt of Upton, WY, Debbie Stoddard (Gordon) of Glenrock, WY, Jenna Livingston of Cody, WY, Patty Bruce (Ron) of Moorcroft, WY, Janet Capps (Jeff) of Park City, KS.; brother-in-law Marty Kruckenberg Meade, KS; and numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and 1 great great nephew.
Nancy was preceded in death by her mother Pat Julius; father-in-law Robert "Bob" Johnson; sister Melinda Kruckenberg; nephews Jason Hunt, Melvin Clyde, and Shawn Clyde and great nephews Ein Remington and Owen Remington.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Nancy's memory may be made to Victory In The Valley, 3755 E Douglas Ave, Wichita, Kansas 67218, https://www.victoryinthevalley.org/donation; and/or Community of Christ Webb Road Congregation, 3500 S Webb Rd, Wichita, Kansas 67210.
A celebration of life service will be held July 27, 2024 in Alva, WY. A memorial reception will be held in Clearwater, KS at a later date.
