Nancy P. White

Nancy P. White, 87, of Rhinelander, passed peacefully from this world on July 31, 2023 after a very sudden and brief illness.

Nancy, the oldest daughter of Kenneth and Ellen Pennebaker, was born in Yosemite National Park, California, which she called “the most beautiful place on earth.” She attended Bob Jones University in South Carolina where she majored in home economics, garnering skills and talents that she perfected and used to bless others until her last waking moments. Nancy met her future husband, Ken White, at BJU and they married in September 1957. The couple made their home in the Carolinas where all six of their children were born. 

In August 1976, Ken was called to pastor Northwoods Baptist Church. When Nancy heard his side of the initial phone conversation, she grabbed an atlas and had him point to “Rhinelander.” Seeing the extreme northern location, she violently shook her head, “NO!” However, the family unanimously voted to move to Wisconsin, and she fell in love with the Northwoods. She especially enjoyed the changing seasons, delighting in and praising God for every wildflower, autumn leaf, and snowfall. 

Nancy served as an accomplished and faithful pianist and organist for the church for 47 years. She was a founding member of the Lake Country Food Co-Op where she was known for her decades of ceaseless dedication and hard work. Nancy will be remembered for sewing hundreds of tailor-made garments and gifts, happily working in her flourishing garden, serving thousands of homemade meals to everyone who walked through the welcoming doors of her home, and hand-washing every dish.

Nancy is survived and deeply missed by her loving husband of almost 66 years, Ken White, and their 96 descendants:

Six children — Kenny (Cindy), Kyle (Jodi), Kevin (Pat), Keith (Cindy), Kelly (Marty) Mathews, and Keenan (Katherine)

Thirty-six grandchildren—Keelie (Corey), Keesha, Kip (Janie), Kaleb (Stacey); Joshua (Erica), Jay (Megan), Jared (Jesi), Kyla (Gregg), Anna Beth (Kirk), Patrick (Sonja), Paul (Abigail), Jonathan (Stephanie); Zachary; Joey (Ang), Keith Jr. (Nicole), Ellen (Daniel), Chet (Priscilla), Dana (David), Troy, Shane (Claire), Bryce (Audrey), Owen (Maddie), Lisa, Gabe; Marty Jr., Katie (Ryan), Mark (Erica), Seth (Megan), Brett, Kent (Emily), Sean, Neil, Kirk, Lauren; Quinna, and Julina

Fifty-three great-grandchildren — Caedmon, Carys; Ayla, Emery, Maren; Oliver, Jaxon, Alexa, Roman; Joanna (Robby), Joshua Jr., Rosemary, Eric; Carson, Liam; Easton, Milo; Ryleigh, Murphy; Corinne, Graham; Paityn, Sebastian; Carson, Keira, Cameron; Vince, Eva, Watson, Violet; Karissa, Benjamin, Renee, Levi; Veda, Isaac, Willow, Macy; Sadie, Nigel; Charlotte, Camilla; Maverick, Juniper; Dean, Clint, Grant; Jack, Reggie; Corbin, Nora, Elena; and Graham 

One great-great-granddaughter — Bailey.

She is also survived by her sister, Priscilla Woznick, and brother, Tom Pennebaker.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023 at 4 p.m. at Hildebrand Funeral Home.  Visitation will be on Saturday, from 2 p.m.until the time of the service.  

Pastor Ed Foster will officiate. 

To view the funeral service for Nancy via live stream on Facebook, please join us on our facebook page.

A committal service will take place on Monday, August, 7, 2023 at 10 a.m. at the Northwoods National Cemetery, located at 4520 Lakewood Road, Harshaw, Wisconsin, 54529. Please meet at the cemetery by 9:45 a.m.

God spared Nancy from experiencing the death of any of her descendants or their spouses, being preceded in death only by her parents, Kenneth and Ellen Pennebaker.