Nancy Marie Hartman (nee Noftsinger), died on Friday February 17, 2023 due to complications of pancreatic cancer at age 73; preceded in death by her parents Harold and Gertrude (nee Toenjes) Noftsinger. Wife of Michael for 49 years, sister of Barbara Noftsinger, Janet (Joseph) Belfiore (deceased), Susan Noftsinger, Thomas (Terri) Noftsinger, and Paul Noftsinger. Aunt to nieces Laura Singleton (Bob), Christina (Drew) Hood, Sara (K. C.) Nachbar, and Melissa Noftsinger. The 5th chapter of Saint Matthew’s Gospel quotes Jesus: “Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go for two miles.” Nancy was a beautiful person who possessed a generous soul that enthusiastically went Jesus’ extra mile to love and care for her family, her husband, her friends, and her community. A National Merit Scholar and Scholar Quiz winner in secondary school, she graduated from Bishop DuBourg High School in 1968, received her degree from Saint Louis University magna cum laude in elementary special education and Master of Education from University of Missouri Saint Louis. Special education contributor to a published elementary school mathematics textbook and winner of the Jennings Missouri Young Woman of Achievement award in 1974, she worked 28 years as a teacher and educational diagnostician for the Special School District at Northview Elementary in Jennings and North Saint Louis County.

In retirement, Nancy continued to be a most excellent cook and enjoyed travel with her sister and nieces to Gulf Shores Alabama, cruising and visiting islands in the Caribbean, Mexico’s resort towns, travel east and west in the United States (especially the NationalParks), Canada, Hawaii, Europe, the United Kingdom, Egypt, and the USSR.

Nancy was passionately committed to social justice issues and community involvement as a member of the Normandy School District Board of Education, Metropolitan Churches United (MCU), president of the Saint Ann Churches United for Community Action (CUCA), member of the Board of Aldermen and mayor for the city of Bellerive Acres, ever an advocate for the handicapped and the disadvantaged. She was especially active in conservation and restoration efforts directed at preservation and improvement of the Bellerive Acres Bird Sanctuary, procuring a sizable financial grant to remove invasive honeysuckle, was instrumental in having the City of Bellerive Acres named an Arbor Day Foundation Tree City, and personally did a lot of hard physical labor in the woods for positive results.

Nancy, you made a difference in your life, and we’ll miss you. You were an example and an inspiration. We all love you.

Nancy left her remains to the Saint Louis University School of Medicine Center for Anatomical Science and Education. Memorial celebration is pending. Contributions appreciated to Beyond Housing or Metropolitan Churches United (MCU).