Nancy Dart Opie

Nancy Dart Opie, age 90, passed away on Jan. 19, 2025 at Bradenton Hospice House, Bradenton, Fla. Nancy was born on August 4, 1934, in Rhinelander, to Leslie and Frances Anderson Dart.

From a young age, she cared for people. At age 12, she cared for her younger sisters, a newborn and a 3-year-old, while their Mom was bedridden. At age 17, at Three Lakes HS, she was appointed as a student member of the Oneida County Health Board. At age 18 she was off to Milwaukee County School of Nursing earning her diploma in 1955. In June 1955 she married Fred Opie of Milford, N.H. While in Milwaukee, Marie, their daughter was born and Nancy worked in pediatric nursing. The family led an active life moving from Milwaukee to Louisville, Ky. where she worked as a nurse and received her bachelor's degree. They then moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where she received her master's degree in psychiatric and mental health nursing. 

While working at the University of Cincinnati, she was also a visiting professor at Indiana University. Moving to Indiana in 1992, she received her doctorate in nursing at IU and served as chair of the Department of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing until 1996. Nancy received awards for her dedication to nursing. She was a published author of documents related to mental health nursing. Nancy was an IU faculty member until retirement in 1998. 

After retirement, Fred and Nancy moved to Venice, Florida where she mentored teens at a local school, was active in her church, and learned to make baskets (many have been passed on to family members). They spent summers in Northern Wisconsin where she helped with the Sugar Camp senior meals and enjoyed many gatherings with family and friends. She loved watching birds both in Florida and Wisconsin. While in Florida, she often took visitors to the Rookery and the Venice breakers to watch the birds. 

Always curious, she took trips to many parts of the world including Antarctica, India, China, Nepal, Sweden, England, Italy and more. She cared for her husband until he died in 2014 of Lewy Body Dementia. Sadly, in 2022 she lost her only daughter, Marie, to cancer. She didn't forget her Northwoods roots, taking time to educate others on how to care for her mom after cancer surgery. Unfortunately in 2014, she was hit by a car resulting in having to spend the last years of her life in nursing homes and hospice care. She gave back even then by offering a grateful smile for those who worked so hard to care for her. 

She is survived by her son-in-law Fred Williams, brother Bernie Dart (Joanne), sister Karen Stroede (Dan), sister Peg Thomas (Earl), sisters-in-law Carol Dart and Betty Dart, and many nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by parents Leslie and Frances Dart, husband Fred Opie, daughter Marie Opie Williams, and brothers Denny Dart and Elwood Dart. 

This is a quote from one of her nursing students, "she's a wonderful human being who gets to know individuals and offers guidance along with sympathy and patience". That was Nancy. We will miss her. To share a memory or to send a condolence to the family, visit www.farleyfuneralhome.com. A memorial service will be held in the spring. 

She will be interred at the Sugar Camp cemetery.