Funeral services for Nancy Rauss, 83, of Wayne, will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 10:30 a.m. at The Rock Museum and Chapel (the former St. Peter's Lutheran Church) in Pilger. Burial will be in the Pilger Cemetery with a luncheon to follow at the Copper Family Community Center. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. and will continue one hour prior to service, both at The Rock Museum and Chapel.
Minnick Funeral Home in Wisner is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Memorials may be directed to the family for future designation in Nancy's name.
Nancy died Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 at Edgewood Memory Care in Norfolk.
Nancy Leilah Rauss was born Oct. 25, 1942 near Pilger to Axel and Agnes (Miller) Petersen. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Pilger. Nancy graduated from Pilger High School in 1960. After high school, she worked at St. Francis Memorial Hospital in West Point as a CNA. After moving to Omaha she worked for a school in the kitchen alter had worked in the kitchen at Wisner-Pilger High School.
On April 30, 1982 she was united in marriage to Merlyn “Doc” Rauss in Yankton, South Dakota. In 1983, the family moved to Wayne. Nancy worked at Popo’s Restaurant and after its closing, for a short time, at McDonald’s.
Nancy loved spending time with her family and friends, watching Husker Football and Volleyball, and anything Coca Cola. She loved to shop for gifts from her catalogs, and was very proud of her Pilger roots.
Survivors include her daughter, Kay Kemp of Wayne; grandson Colton and Bailey Kemp and daughter, Kinsley; granddaughter, Tylee and Austin Viergutz and daughter, Kaizlee; brother Jim and Wilma Petersen of Pilger; nieces and nephews.
Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, Axel and Agnes Petersen; husband, Doc Rauss; daughter, Natalie Rauss, and brothers, Lanny and Val Petersen and Howard Petersen.
