Nancy Kisting

Nancy Ann Kisting, 80, of Waunakee, WI, passed away at Avina Healthcare of Sun Prairie on Saturday, November 8, 2025, surrounded by her loved ones. She was born on May 23, 1945, in Bloomington, Illinois. Nancy was the eldest of three daughters born to John (Jack) Mirl Oder and Margaret Magdalene Oder. She attended Richland Center High School, where she graduated in 1963. She participated in a science fair with her paper, “Progression and Exploration of the Trisection of an Angle.”

She attended the UW–Madison for a semester and had earned a scholarship for school and housing. While attending UW–Madison, she participated in a symposium on disproving Einstein’s theory of relativity. She ultimately chose not to present her findings at the event.

She later married her husband, Ronald Kisting Sr. While he was on active duty in the Navy during the Vietnam War, they were stationed at the Oakland Naval Base in Oakland, California. This is where she became a mother for the first time to her twin girls, Sandra and Rhonda. Eventually, she and her family moved back to Richland Center, Wisconsin, where they had three more children: Melody, Ronald Jr., and Rosemary.

Her life was one of many travels, including a journey to Norman, Oklahoma, to train at the USPS Training Center, where she earned a Bachelors in engineering. Nancy was also a boiler inspector for the State of Wisconsin for several years.

As the kids grew older, Nancy moved the family to Waunakee, Wisconsin, where she bought her house on 2nd Street.

During this time, Nancy worked as the Manager of Maintenance Operations for the United States Postal Service in Madison, WI.

She started her USPS journey on the mail loading docks, working her way up to Maintenance Supervisor. In this role, she accomplished many feats, while also raising a family.

One such accomplishment was overseeing the building of a new post office in downtown Madison in record time and managing maintenance and engineering for over 200 local post office buildings from Rockford, Illinois, to Green Bay, Wisconsin. She was also recognized by the Madison Local Postal Carrier Union for her advocacy for union postal employees. Nancy stayed with the USPS for 31 years until she retired in 2006.

Nancy enjoyed participating in animal rescue, collecting Coca-Cola memorabilia, listening to country music, reading, and hosting holiday meals for her large extended family. She also enjoyed discussions about science and politics and making sure every inch of her home sparkled and shined. Nancy was most at home surrounded by her family, both human and animal alike.

Nancy leaves behind her five children: Sandra Kisting, Rhonda (Greg) Kisting, Rosemary (Dale) Grosz-Kisting, and Ronald (Lorie) Kisting Jr.; step-son, Joshua (Steph) Turner; 11 grandchildren: Drea (Doug) Chapman, Amber (Drew) Sneddon, Andrew Grosz, Kristina Kisting, Autumn (Zach) Newmerickson, Brandon Grosz, Paul, and Kellie; granddaughter-in-law, Victoria (David) Hagey-Grosz; 10 great-grandchildren: Dustin, Riely, Annabelle, Savannah, Oceana, Natalia, James, Temperance, Niklaus (Niko), and Tyranny; nieces: Melissa (Doug) Gifford, Beckie (Kyle) Gifford, Teresa (Cam) Honer-Gifford, Robin Wolfe, Michelle Knight Arentson, and Dawn Brehmer; brother-in-law, Mike Kisting; and nephews: Jackson Dearborn, Louie Gifford, and Pat Knight.

Nancy was preceded in death by her former spouse, Ronald Kisting Sr.; infant daughter, Melody Kisting; grandchildren, Dustin Kisting, Alexander and Stephen LaMore; great-granddaughters, Kashmir Kisting and Elizabeth Newmerickson; parents, Jack and Margaret Oder; sisters, Florence “Kay” Oder and Mary (Oder) Mueller; and her beloved animals, Cujo, Pupsie, and many more.

A visitation will be held from 4:00pm to 7:00pm on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at Ryan Funeral Home, 2418 N Sherman Ave, Madison, Wisconsin. A second visitation will take place on from 10:30am to 11:30am on Friday, November 21, 2025 at St. Patrick Loreto Catholic Church, S8280 County Rd G, Plain, Wisconsin. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30am on Friday, November 21, 2025, at the church, with Fr. Luke Syse presiding. A burial will take place following the service at St. Patrick Cemetery. To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com.

Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services
2418 N Sherman Ave
608-249-8257