Nancy J. Riemenschneider

Nancy Jean Riemenschneider May 14, 1939 – July 1, 2024 Nancy was born on Mother’s Day on May 14, 1939 in Saginaw, MI, the first child of Ralph and Anna (Morningstar) Gosen. Nancy lived on a “prairie farm” in Koch Township and attended a one room school. The family moved to Saginaw in 1946 after her father passed away. Nancy enjoyed Girl Scouts as a girl and started her own greeting card business, selling cards door to door. Nancy attended North Junior High and Arthur Hill High School where she earned a varsity letter playing basketball. Nancy was an excellent student and earned an Associates’ Degree from Bay City Junior College (now Delta College). While at college, Nancy was introduced to the love of her life, Ernest “Mike” Riemenschneider. Mike had a car and offered to give Nancy rides to and from class. Nancy and Mike fell in love and married on August 20, 1960 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in 1966. Their honeymoon was a trip to California, traveling much of the way on Route 66 in their Studebaker. Nancy worked full-time in secretarial roles as Mike finished his education at Ferris Institute. With Mike employed at Ford Motor Company, Nancy and Mike started their family, living in Parma, Ohio, and in Lansing, Okemos and Plymouth, Michigan. Nancy supported her family, serving as a troop leader for her daughter Julie’s Girl Scout troop and accumulating many, many miles driving her children to travel swim team practices and meets, and to softball and baseball activities. Nancy also enjoyed a successful and award-winning business selling Avon products. Once Mike retired from Ford in 1998, Nancy provided administrative support for his “Mike’s Performance Specialties” business restoring old Holley carburetors, and enjoyed this opportunity to meet and greet customers from around the world. Nancy was an avid sports fan, sharing her immense enthusiasm for the Detroit Tigers with all she knew. She was also a supporter of Michigan State University athletics, particularly its basketball teams. Social and always happy to chat, Nancy was always busy. She was a member of Tonquish Creek Garden Club. And she enjoyed attending events for several car clubs, including the Mustang Owners Club of Southeastern Michigan (MOCSEM) and Shelby American Automobile Club (SAAC), and made many good friends at the car clubs over the years. Nancy and Mike were well-known for their Acapulco blue 1968 Shelby GT500KR convertible, an array of continually changing newer Mustangs, and Mike's enthusiasm for speedy cars which earned him a World Record from the American Hot Rod Association. Nancy supported, and sometimes tolerated, Mike’s performance car hobby, but was not a bad driver herself. She was a dedicated member of her Bible Study group, which was a particular source of comfort when Mike passed in 2014. Nancy enjoyed traveling with Mike to new places. Some of their favorite trips included Hawaii (twice), Alaska (twice), many of the National Parks in the west, all of the countries on the North American continent, and England and Scotland. Nancy traveled to 44 of the 50 states. They regularly traveled to visit family and loved to spend time with all of their grandchildren. Nancy is survived by her two children, Julie (Michael) Martin of Roswell, GA, James (Johanna) Riemenschneider of Portland, OR; and her five grandchildren, David and John Frazer, and Nicholas, Ben (Risa) and Mary Martin. Nancy is also survived by her brother Thomas (Linda) Gosen of Riverview, MI. Her beloved husband Mike preceded her in death in 2014; as did her brother, Larry Gosen. Visitation Friday, August 23rd 1:30 PM until the 3 Pm Funeral Service at Vermeulen-Sajewski Funeral Home, 46401 Ann Arbor Road West, (between Sheldon and Beck) Plymouth, MI 48170. She will be laid to rest near Mike at United Memorial Gardens in Superior Township, MI. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Arthritis Foundation, Attn: Memorials, 1355 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 600, Atlanta, GA 30309, or the Parkinson’s Foundation, 200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131.

Nancy J. Riemenschneider

May 14, 1939 - July 1, 2024