Nancy Louise Jenckes

Nancy Louise Jenckes passed away Monday, October 16, 2017 at The Hospice Home in Fort Wayne.  Born April 18, 1941, as one of the “Smith” girls, she became determined and intellectual.  She Graduated from St Jude’s Elementary (she still has lunch monthly with a number of her classmates) and Fort Wayne Central Catholic High School.  She received her undergraduate degree from Western Michigan and her Masters from Purdue.  She spent 31 years teaching in the Fort Wayne Community Schools and touched the hearts and minds of many students.   One of her many efforts was teaching introduction to Spanish, German, French, Latin and Chinese to Lane Middle School sixth graders.  Nancy was active in the American Association of University Women and a strong disciple of the advancement of women.  She enjoyed her bridge clubs and books clubs and the exchange of ideas with other smart people.  A single parent, as Nancy Minnie, she successfully raised her two children Mark Minnie (a pharmacist supervising three hospital pharmacies in the San Francisco area) and Melissa Fiedler (an English teacher at Leo High School).  A compassionate person by nature, she helped raise and mentor her grandchildren and has made an impact on all who knew her. Nancy is survived by her loving husband of 28 years, Joseph Jenckes of Fort Wayne, IN; her son, Mark (Shannon) Minnie of Sausalito, CA; her daughter, Melissa (Mark) Fiedler of Fort Wayne, IN; her sister, Sharon Ort of Cheshire, CT; her sister, Jeanne (Edward) Rielly of Westbrook, ME; her sister, Barbara Pickell of Albion, IN; and six grandchildren: Payton, Riley, and Luke Fiedler; Eion and Isabella Minnie, and Brent Jenckes.

There will be a gathering of family and friends to celebrate Nancy’s life on Friday, October 20, 2017 from 4:00-7:00 PM at the Mizpah Shrine Center, 1015 Memorial Way, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805.  Memorial donations may be made to the Scleroderma Foundation. Share a favorite memory or send a condolence online at www.nothernindianafuneralcare.com.  Arrangements by Northern Indiana Funeral Care of Fort Wayne.

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