IN MEMORIAM
EXPANDED EULOGIES
“In Memoriam” listings are expanded paid obituaries, phrased as the family requests.
Nancy Hoch
Nancy Hoch was born Oct. 10, 1936, in Nebraska City, Nebraska, to Clarence Lynn DeLong and Mary Irene (Davis) DeLong.
She died peacefully in her sleep in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, May 5.
Nancy grew up in Nebraska City and spent most of her childhood on horseback, as an accomplished and award-winning equestrian. She rode and showed competitively three gated horses all across the United States, winning numerous (way too many to count) trophies and ribbons, in prestigious horse shows like the American Royal in Kansas City, Lexington National in Kentucky, and many more.
Nancy graduated from Nebraska City high school, attended the University of Nebraska and graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in political science.
Shortly after graduation she married the love of her life and husband of 59 years, Richard Hoch of Marion.
Nancy’s family were early Nebraskans. She had two great-grandfathers who homesteaded in Otoe County and her family has always resided in the Nebraska City area. Those farms still remain in her family today.
In 1982, Nancy was the first woman elected to the University of Nebraska Board of Regents from the 4th District where she served for 12 years. She also served on the U.N. President’s Advisory Council for eight years, Director, U.N. Alumni Association and Executive Board six years, Chancellor’s Search Committee, Board of Counselors of the U.N. Medical Center; and several other university-related boards and organizations.
She was the 1983 recipient of the Nebraska City Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Citizen Award and was awarded “Woman of the Year” from the Business and Professional Women in Nebraska City. The first woman to join Rotary in Nebraska, Nancy was a member of the Nebraska City Rotary Club.
Nominated by the Nebraska Republican Party nominee for the U.S. Senate in 1984 and in 1986, Mrs. Hoch was also one of the first women to run for governor in the State of Nebraska.
She served 20 years on the Nebraska City Library Board and acted as its president much of that time. She was an elder in the First Presbyterian Church and headed numerous committees to promote fine arts, humanities and culture in her community.
Nancy served as the president of the River Country Economic Development Corporation in Nebraska City, resulting in important industrial economic growth.
Civic duty included service on the Nebraska Community Foundation, Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, the Nebraska City Housing Task Force, and other civic organizations.
In 2015, she was awarded the Henry Fonda Award, the state’s highest tourism award, representing leadership, vision and dedication to the tourism industry during her lifetime. Hoch’s tourism footprint included development of the Kregel Windmill Museum, Red Fox Run Sports Complex, the refurbishment of the historic train depot, Victorian streetscapes, the Nebraska City trolley system and as founder of the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center.
Nancy was a true and steadfast Nebraska Cornhusker until the day she died. Never missing a game whether in the stands at Memorial Stadium or on TV, in later years living in Mexico she and her husband, Richard rewatched countless bowl games on YouTube, cheering and enjoying the games as if it were the first time they’d seen them.
She is survived by daughters Sarah Hoch of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and, Hannah Hoch of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; son Richard Hoch II and his wife Kristie, of Tucson, Arizona; five grandchildren, Santiago, Nancy, Richard, Joshua and Coco; and two great-grandchildren, Eli and Johan.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Hoch; parents; and infant sister Patricia DeLong.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to the Nebraska City Veterans Memorial Building Project. For more information see www.VeteransMemorialBuilding.com or send to P.O. Box 121, Nebraska City, NE 68420.