Nancy Ann Scanlon, 70, of Leavenworth, passed away with her sisters by her side Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, after a long illness. She was born July 20, 1952 to Thomas M. and Delores M. (Zink) Scanlon, the fourth of nine children.
Nancy grew up at the family home at 110 Shawnee Street, graduated from the Old Cathedral Grade School and attended Immaculata High School with the Class of 1970. She was quite the accordion player in her youth and won first place in a Kansas wide competition while in high school.
After high school, Nancy married Ronnie Parks, and she had a son, Kevin Alan Parks. They later divorced. After her divorce, Nancy moved to Colorado Springs, California and then Denver, working at various odd jobs. In the late 1990’s, Nancy moved back to Leavenworth, and attended Northeast Kansas Area VOTEC in Atchison, graduating as an LPN. She worked briefly at the SCL Motherhouse and various Leavenworth skilled nursing facilities, until being hired at the Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center. In 2006, she traveled as a VA nurse with the National Veterans Wheelchair Games to Alaska, accompanied by her Mom. She retired from the VA in August 2020, due to health issues. She loved the nursing profession and caring for our Veterans.
Nancy loved everything Irish and traveled to Ireland twice. She rarely missed an Irish Fest in Kansas City, booking a suite in the hotel for the entire weekend so any other family members that wanted to attend could stay with her. She loved gambling at the casinos, and didn’t do too badly at it, was one who actually came out ahead! Nancy also enjoyed spending time at Lake of the Ozarks in Katie and Katie’s late husband Steve’s cabin. And wherever Nancy went, you were SURE of a good time!!
Nancy is survived by her siblings, Pat (Susie) Scanlon, Mike “Whiz” Scanlon, Colleen (Rick) Rogers, Katie Rainey, Tim (Beth) Scanlon, Mary (John) Wheaton all of Leavenworth, and Rosie (Joe) Ilmberger of Wever, Iowa; her son, Kevin Alan Parks; her nieces and nephews, Stephanie, Patrick, Chris and Sean Scanlon, Jeromy Scanlon and Katina Root, Brian, Spencer and Chad Rogers, Luke Rainey and Maggie Harris, Ian, Evin and Audrey Wheaton, Katlin Spain and Cheyenne Lednicky; several great nieces and nephews with another on the way; her aunt, Georgia Scanlon; and a host of cousins.
The family would like to thank the staff at Homestead Assisted Living and the staff of Catholic Community Hospice who provided Nancy with love and excellent care in her final days.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023, at the R.L. Leintz Funeral Home. A funeral service will begin at 12 p.m. Saturday, at the funeral home, with Rev. William McEvoy as celebrant. Inurnment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Meals on Wheels or Catholic Community Hospice. You are encouraged to wear your Chiefs apparel in anticipation of their Superbowl victory, as Nancy was an AVID Chiefs fan.