Gwendolyn Ruth "Gwen" Nash

      Gwendolyn Ruth Nash, age 71, of Elsie, MI, passed away Sunday, April 21, 2024, at her home. 

      Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Elsie, MI, at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, April 25, 2024, with Pastor Kathy Leydorf-Keck officiating. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 from 2-8 P.M. with family present from 2-4 & 6-8 P.M. at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie, MI with a rosary service prayed at 7:00 P.M. Visitation will be held on Thursday the hour prior to the funeral service. Burial will take place at Keefer Cemetery, Lyons Township, MI. 

     Gwendolyn was born in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan on December 3, 1952, the daughter of Edmund F. and Barbara R. (Smith) Dickman. She graduated from St. Johns High School with the class of 1971. Gwen married Dwight Nash on February 27, 1971, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Johns, MI. 

      Gwen was a para pro with Ovid-Elsie Schools for more than 25 years. She coached girls’ basketball and volleyball for several years between O-E & St. Johns. She grew a bountiful garden every year and enjoyed canning, cooking, baking, and sharing with her family & friends.  If you left hungry it was your own fault. She sewed clothing for numerous cowboys and cowgirls across the state and clothed her children in her rodeo fashions. She was a member of the MALP group visiting many South East Asia countries and traveling throughout the US. Gwen was featured as Michigan Farm Bureau's "Young Farm Woman of the Year" and was on the Farm Bureau Promotion and Education State Committee. She was also a member of the Maple River Rowdies and discussed up & coming farm topics and she enjoyed making meals for them. Gwen was a 4-H leader in Clinton County for many years and a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Johns. Gwen recently became involved with the Pregnancy Resource Center in St. Johns. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, adoptive mother, foster mom, and rodeo mom. 

     She is survived by her husband Dwight Nash of Elsie, MI; her children: Kevin and Pam Nash of Elsie, MI; Kim Zuidema of Alexandria, VA; Mandy and Ben Teachworth of Lyons, MI; Bryon Nash and Merijo Moore of St. Johns, MI; and Tracy and Olen Troyer of Stone Creek, OH; her grandchildren who referred to her as Grandma Gwen, Jandma Jen, and Grandma Cookie: Forrest and Miriah, Jessica, Josie, and Jolene Nash; Karel and Samantha, and Jake Zuidema; Samantha, Braxton, Natalee, and Auggie Teachworth; Kaylei, Shayla, Megan, and Morgan Nash;  Logan, Lane, and Landry Troyer. She is also survived by great-grandchildren: Noah, Cory, Armani, and Mila. She is also survived by her siblings: Jim and Krystal Dickman, Nancy and Jerry Fillwock, Bob Braveheart and Keira Duvernoy, and Tim and Laura Dickman; sisters and brothers-in-law: Sherry and Bill Thelen, and Teresa Horan; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Ed and Barb Dickman and father and mother-in-law Howard and Josephine Nash. 

     Memorials may be made to the wishes of the family. Online condolences can be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie, Michigan.