Nancianne Ohlinger

NANCIANNE “NANCY” OHLINGER (nee Horvath) age 58, passed away on September 3, 2020, was the beloved wife for 25 years of James; cherished daughter of Roland “Ron” and the late Dorothy “Dottie” (nee Emrick); loving sister of Mark Horvath (wife Carol) and Jeffrey Horvath (wife Jacqueline); dearest aunt of John Riester, M.D., Katherine Maynard (husband Jordan), Scott, Daniel (wife Christina), Steven (wife Maria) and James Horvath, and great-aunt of Charlotte Maynard; treasured niece of Marlene Fecek, Barbara and Ronald Toth, Lawrence and Diane Burns; dear cousin and friend of many.

Nancy graduated from Brush High School in South Euclid, Ohio where she performed competitively as a member of the varsity swimming team.  She also took ballet lessons and played organized baseball until she broke her elbow sliding into second base.

On one fateful day when Nancy was in her early thirties she volunteered to mom that she had met someone who checked all the key points on her potential-husband check list.  “And mom” she said, “I think he really likes me.”  It was a gentleman named Jim…… Jim Ohlinger.  Love bloomed and Nancy and Jim tied the knot.  Nancy found the love of her life; and better yet, the marriage of Nancy and Jim, though shorter than it should have been, could well be described as being idyllic.  Nancy and Jim truly were soul mates.

Nancy relocated to Michigan in 1995 when she married Jim.  She developed into a highly successful property manager with eventually over 2.2 MM sq. ft. or retails centers in three states under her care.  That ended during the corporate downsizing with the Financial crisis in 2008/9.  After a break of a year or so, she started working in apparel sales at Carl’s Golf Land to remain busy and have an opportunity to interact with people.  She soon became a highly valued employee.  She stopped working after about seven years when she hurt her back and couldn’t stand on her feet all day long.  Her cancer diagnosis came a few months later.

Although Nancy made Michigan her home, she stayed close to family and friends by phone calls and holiday visits.  She would call regularly and would spend time discussing a variety of topics which ran from the inept Cleveland Browns to politics; from movies and TV shows to gourmet cooking and interesting books.  Those discussions revealed her knowledge, interest and passion for a variety of subjects.  The highlight of the year for Nancy was hosting the annual fourth of July weekend for family and friends who enjoyed comradery, tasty food and fireworks.  A special delight was the excellent bruschetta and other specialties that Nancy prepared for guests.

During the last few pain-filled months of her life she continued to focus on beating the cancer that had her in its deadly grip, and she talked at length about the trip she and Jim would take to Italy when she became well again.  That, unfortunately, was not to be.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief;

Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your heart and share with me –

God wanted me now.  God set me free.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Nancy to Ascension St. John and Providence Foundations, Hospice Program Support, 19251 Mack Ave., Suite 102, Grosse Pointe, MI 48236, or online here.

A private Memorial Service will be held at THE DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME OF WILLOUGHBY HILLS, 28890 CHARDON ROAD.