Nancy Lee Fitzsimmons

Nancy Lee Fitzsimmons 92, of Penrose CO passed away August 25th, 2025.  

She was born September 18, 1932 to Peter & Minnie Datema in Caledonia, MI. Nancy married her high school sweetheart, Jim in 1953 and they had four devoted daughters. Nancy was a dedicated wife and mother, a great cook, baker, seamstress, always kept a "project" in the works and liked to be on the go. Nancy had a green thumb and enjoyed growing flowers and vegetables. She was tough on the baseball field (even after she gave up her long red braids) and could still do a perfect cartwheel at the age of 65. Nancy loved her family and all church gatherings, playing games (for the win), laughing (especially with her younger sister, Joyce), coffee, chocolates and her grandkids! 

Nancy was a woman of deep love & commitment to God. She shared her faith in so many ways, from teaching children in Sunday School and in-home bible classes to playing the piano in church as well as the accordion on occasion. Of Nancy’s many gifts, her heart-felt prayers is what she would want us all to remember most and to certainly "take up where she left off". In her later years, Nancy began a purse ministry for women in need and served on the Mission Board at Praise Community Church in Florence, CO. She and Jim faithfully supported many mission ministries throughout the years; their favorite was Our Daily Bread.  

Nancy's life and memory will be forever cherished by her daughters, Brenda (Billy) Warren, Colleen (Mike) Perschbacher, Dawn (Douglas) Nave, son in law Dan Mitchell, her brothers, Jim, Phil and Pete (Nancy) Datema, her sister Joyce (Royce) Wilcox, and sister-in-law Eleanore Datema, her 8 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Nancy was preceded in death by her husband, James Fitzsimmons, her daughter Audrey Mitchell, her parents, her brother, Jerry Datema and sisters and their spouses, Jane and Robert Earl VanLaan and Doris and Earl VanLaan and sister in laws, Gen and Phyllis Datema.   

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, September 7th at 4:00 p.m. (visitation 3 p.m.) at Gaines Church, Caledonia, MI. 

There will be an additional celebration at Praise Community Church in Florence, CO on Saturday, September 27th at 12:30 p.m. 

Donations can be made in Nancy's name to ourdailybread.org 

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