Nancy J. Doemel, 71, of Crawfordsville, died Saturday, June 18, in Indianapolis.
Born December 28, 1944, she was the daughter of Dale and Irene Walcutt.
Nancy graduated from Tiffin Columbian High School (Ohio) in 1963, received her Bachelor of Arts from Wittenberg University in 1966, and her Masters of Arts from Purdue University in 1975.
Nancy married William N. Doemel soon after her graduation from Wittenberg, and she worked as an English teacher in the Bartholomew Consolidated School District, Columbus, IN, while Bill finished his PhD.
From 1977 to 1979 she was a research associate at the Center for Science, Technology, and Public Policy at Indiana University. She authored a user’s guide to energy issues, “Energy in Indiana”, and coauthored reports on creating land use policy in the Hoosier National Forest and on the Garrison Diversion Project in North Dakota. She served as citizen advisor to the National Forest Service from 1976-78.
Nancy served Wabash College as Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations from 1979 until her retirement in 2010, and from 1979 to 1997 had the additional responsibility as part-time Director of the Great Lakes Colleges Association Scotland Program. In 31 years working at Wabash she raised more than $30 million for the college.
In June she was honored by the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance with the 2016 Hazelett Award in Grantmaking.
Nancy lived out her commitment to philanthropy and community service in many ways. She was a founding member of the Montgomery County Community Foundation (MCCF) and has served two terms on the Board of Directors for a total of 12 years. She advised the Montgomery County Free Clinic Board as they raised over $1.2 million to build a new clinic to serve medical needs of the low-income families and individuals. She worked with her church on a $308,000 capital campaign providing fundraising guidance and grant writing assistance to meet this goal. She was active with the League of Women Voters, first in Land Use and Environmental Issues, Planning and Zoning, and more recently in Economic Health.
“She was a tremendous leader who through her example showed what it truly means to be a volunteer community worker,” said MCCF Executive Director Kelly Taylor. “Her dedication, patience and hard work got results and set high exemplary standards for those with whom she worked. She made everyone better under her leadership.”
Nancy was also an accomplished quilter, but noted in an article in Wabash Magazine that her art “did not come easily.” The article’s writer concludes: “That’s surprising to hear from a woman so skilled at weaving together disparate people and organizations to make something good and lasting for others.”
Nancy was preceded in death by her son, Christopher Dale Doemel, who died March 9, 2016.
She is survived by her husband, William N. Doemel; her sister, Ann Kohler (John); a niece, Beth Kohler Brown, and nephew, Grant Kohler (Dr. Katherine); and three grandnieces, Megan and Hannah Brown, and Madelyn Kohler.
A memorial service for Nancy was held July 23 at 3 p.m. in the Wabash Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made either to one of these funds at the Montgomery County Community Foundation, PO Box 334, Crawfordsville, IN 47933
• The Dr. William and Ms. Nancy Doemel Fund—an unrestricted fund to benefit the Montgomery County Community Foundation
• The Women’s Legacy Fund—to provide support for nonprofit agencies that serve women and children of Montgomery County
• The William, Nancy and Christopher Doemel Organ Maintenance Fund for Wabash Avenue Presbyterian Church—to provide funding for major repairs of the organ located at the Wabash Avenue Presbyterian Church, Crawfordsville, Indiana.
Donations can also be made to the Nancy J. Doemel Fund for Study Abroad, Wabash College, PO Box 352, Crawfordsville, IN, 47933.
