Nancy Ann (Zvingilas) Kauffman

Nancy Anne Zvingilas Kauffman passed away peacefully at 98 years old on Thursday, July 24, 2025. Nancy was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on July 16, 1927, the oldest child of Adam B. and Mary (Holden) Zvingilas. Nancy’s early years were spent on a Lithuanian family farm in Griswold, Connecticut with her parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and her younger siblings, May and Richard. Throughout her entire life - her fond memories of the farm, the woods and meadows and the old horse barn brought her much comfort and shaped the values and interests that she held dear.

When Nancy was 12, the family moved to Plainfield, Connecticut. She attended Plainfield High School from 1941 to 1945. She was an excellent speller and won many spelling contests. This would bring her success in many scrabble games in the years to come. After high school graduation, she attended Joseph Lawrence School of Nursing in New London, Connecticut earning her nursing degree in February of 1949. They worked the student nurses hard, but she was thrilled to have a warm room and hot running water for a bath. She worked at the Joseph Lawrence Hospital for one year after graduation and then answered an ad for nurses at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She got the position and courageously began an exciting adventure in the spring of 1950 as she boarded the plane for Ann Arbor, Michigan.

It was while working at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor that Nancy met and fell in love with Robert J. Kauffman, “Bob”, who had a radio and TV rental business for patients in the University Hospital. Nancy and Robert were married on September 1, 1951, in Plainfield, Connecticut. They eventually settled down in Plymouth, Michigan, where they raised three children, daughters Cheryl, Lynn and son Douglas. She worked as a nurse in Northville, MI until Lynn was born and then was happy to be a homemaker as Bob traveled frequently as a salesman for Down River Packaging Corporation. When the children were older, Nancy became the school nurse for the Plymouth Public Schools. Bob and Nancy took the children on yearly summer trips back to Plainfield, Conn where they enjoyed being with the extended family.

Nancy was a lover of nature, which was her sanctuary. She was an avid gardener, creating beautiful gardens around their homes, she especially loved watching for birds, learning their names and songs by heart (before the app Merlin), she enjoyed walking in the woods searching for wild mushrooms, she fed and named the deer around their property and she cherished all the family dogs. She loved classical music and enjoyed going to the symphony. One summer before she and Bob married, she was delighted to be the camp nurse for the distinguished National Music Camp (now the Interlochen Center for the Arts) in Interlochen, MI. She especially loved listening to Beethoven’s Symphonies which moved her to tears. She was a compassionate supporter of anyone in need. Nancy was active in many of the committees for the First Presbyterian Church of Plymouth, MI, volunteered many years for meals on wheels, FISH, and the Salvation Army and was a dedicated supporter of Habitat for Humanity.

With Bob and Nancy’s children grown up - Cheryl married and settled in Wheaton, Ill, Lynn married and settled near San Francisco, California, Doug settled in Denver, Colorado - Nancy and Bob decided to design and built a creative home in the countryside near Ann Arbor. They filled it with their collection of architectural antiques. It was a peaceful haven for them that they thoroughly enjoyed for a decade. As they started to get older, they decided to move closer to their daughter, Cheryl, husband John and the grandchildren, Amy and Andrew. They decided on the beautiful area near Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Again, they designed and built a lovely home near the Geneva National Golf Course. It was here that Nancy was able to create her gardening masterpiece. Nancy and Bob enjoyed their retirement years exploring all the little towns around Wisconsin and spending time with their children and grandchildren. Highlights were full family trips to Maine, Montana and Ireland.

When Bob sadly passed away in 2008, Nancy decided to move closer to Cheryl and family and settled in at The Holmstad Senior Living Community in Batavia, Illinois. She was a friendly participant in the community. She took up the challenge of learning everyone’s name, which she accomplished quickly. She really enjoyed her friends and neighbors. She joined the garden, craft and sewing clubs and enjoyed many outings, especially to the Chicago Symphony. After her daughter, Cheryl, sadly passed away in 2023, Nancy was lonely for family.

With her daughter, Lynn, husband Marshall, and all her grandchildren with their partners living in California and Oregon, Nancy courageously decided to take one last exciting adventure and boarded a flight to San Francisco, California. She moved to Atria Tamalpais Creek, a warm and caring assisted living community. Here she was able to have many special days with daughter Lynn, son Doug, son-in-law Marshall, all the grandchildren and their partners and many dogs. They all surrounded her with much love, music, stories and laughter during many family visits. It was a precious time together that they all cherished.

Nancy said that she would like to be remembered as a loving and generous person who was never too busy listen. For those of us who knew and loved her, this is all very true. She loved bluebirds and angels. She would like us to remember her whenever we see either one. She is our angel now. Remember to watch for bluebirds

Nancy is survived by her daughter, Lynn Behling and her husband Marshall; her son, Douglas Kauffman; her granddaughter, Amy Rossetti and her husband David; and her grandsons, Andrew Kowalski and his partner, Taylor Haynes, Elliot Behling and his wife Ruby, and Dillon Behling. She also leaves behind many beloved in-laws, nieces, nephews, extended family, and two great-grandchildren on the way.

Nancy was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Kauffman, and her daughter Cheryl Kauffman Kowalski.

There will be a graveside memorial service on Wednesday August 6, 2025, at 11 am at the East Delavan Union Cemetery, located at 2901 Theatre Rd, Delavan, WI 53115. Arrangements made through The Derrick Funeral Home, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

Memorial contributions can be made on Nancy’s behalf to the Lakeland Animal Shelter in Delavan, WI, one of her longtime favorite charity organizations.

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Derrick Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the Kauffman family.

Lakeland Animal Welfare Shelter
3551 State Road 67 P.O. Box 1000, Elkhorn WI 53121
Tel: 1-262-723-1000
Web: http://www.lakelandanimalshelter.org/donate