Catherine Elaine Crose, 70, Lincoln, passed away November 16, 2018. She was born in Rawlins, Wyoming, on September 19, 1948, as the first of three children to parents Darrel Duane Crose and Janice Eleanor (Slagle) Crose.
Cathy attended elementary school in Sioux City, Iowa, until age 13, when the family moved to Lincoln, Nebraska. She attended Culler Junior High and Lincoln Northeast High School, graduating in 1966. Forever a Rocket, Cathy participated in music activities and pep club, and enjoyed time with her friends.
Cathy began her college years at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, but after a year, transferred to Peru State College, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Education. She was particularly drawn to elementary education and had a genuine fondness for her students and the learning process.
At Peru State, she met Michael J. Nannen, a college baseball player she met through her brother, John. The couple dated during college and married on December 4, 1971, at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, in Lincoln Nebraska.
The couple started their married life in Peru, Nebraska and welcomed their first daughter, Christine Elaine, in July 1972. Mike and Cathy moved to Weeping Water in 1974, where Cathy taught first grade.
In January 1977, they welcomed Carin Rae, the couple’s second daughter. They moved to Red Cloud, Nebraska, in 1978, and Cathy got a teaching job in the nearby community of Guide Rock, teaching a combined classroom of third and fourth grade for several years. Cathy put her energy and professional focus into her students, hosting elementary school fair activities, investing her own money into her classroom’s supplies when necessary, and even brought personal food and clothing items from her home to school to help feed and clothe her students in need.
Mike’s coaching career moved the couple to Yutan in 1987, where she substituted and worked in non-teaching positions to help support the family. In 1992, the family moved to Columbus, Nebraska, until 1994, when the couple divorced. Cathy then moved with daughter Carin, to Lincoln, where she lived close to family and childhood friends until her death, November 16, 2018.
Cathy searched to satisfy her love of teaching and learning. She earned several graduate hours towards a master’s degree in education from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Although she was never again able to teach full time, she substituted in Lincoln and surrounding area schools for several years and tutored students in need through Southeast Community College. Cathy found joy from working with the very young.
Music, faith, and learning were pillars of Cathy’s life experience. She was involved in St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church throughout her life in Lincoln. She enjoyed the congregation like a second family. She was confirmed in that church, married her husband and baptized her first child throughout her life at St. Andrew’s. In later years Cathy loved singing in the church choir, teaching Sunday school, vacation bible school, and participated in a several music activities over the years.
Cathy is preceded in death by her parents, Janice and Darrel, and her brother, Darrel Jr. She is survived by her daughters, Christine Nannen Vanderford (of Lincoln), and Carin Nannen (of Lincoln), her grandchildren, Michael-Kyle Troutman and Caden Troutman (both of Lincoln), and her brother John Crose (of Lincoln.) She is also survived by several cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
A Memorial service for Cathy will be held Saturday, November 24, 2018, at 11:00am, at St. Andrews Lutheran Church, 1015 Lancaster Lane, Lincoln, NE 68506, with lunch to follow; burial at a later date with immediate family only.
The family asked that memorials be directed to support the St Andrews Church Music Fund for support of adult and small youth choirs.
No Visitation/Cremation.