Nancy Lee Butsko went home to be with the Lord on July 30th, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of faith, love, laughter, and unwavering kindness.

Every obituary tells the story of someone who was deeply loved. They speak of kindness, family, and a life well lived. But with Nancy, those words aren’t just tradition, they are the truth we all carry in our hearts.

Affectionately known to many as “Fancy Nancy,” she truly lived up to the nickname. Her hair and nails always had to be done. She never met a stranger and had a remarkable gift for making everyone she met feel welcomed, valued, and loved. She was a spitfire with a feisty spirit, yet everything she did was grounded in God’s love. She could fill a room with laughter, brighten someone’s darkest day with a smile, and remind everyone around her that life was a gift meant to be cherished.

Nancy was born on June 25th 1945 to John and Lenora (Crapyou) Clark. She attended Central High School in Columbus before attending cosmetology school and becoming a hairdresser. In the 1960s, she met her husband William “Bill” Butsko. Together they built a beautiful life rooted in faith, family, and love.

Nancy’s adventurous spirit was just another part of what made her a true spitfire. While working at the Crawford County Airport, she decided to take flying lessons. She was always eager to embrace a new adventure. Later, she worked in the office at Timken, in Bucyrus where her strong work ethic and warm personality left a lasting impression

Nancy embraced being a homemaker and loved the simple joys of farm life. She found happiness in cooking meals for her family, tending her gardens, spending countless hours canning the fruits of her labor, and caring for the animals she loved so dearly. Whether she was checking on the property or simply enjoying a beautiful day, it wasn’t uncommon to find Nancy cruising around the farm on her golf cart, taking in everything she loved most. The farm wasn’t just where she lived it was where she was happiest.

Over the years, many beloved animals became part of the family, each with a story of their own. Sarah the cow became famous for chasing Nancy around a tree, creating a family story that would be told for years with laughter. Her faithful dogs, Mickey and Peanut, were constant companions who were never far from her side. Whether she was tending her garden, caring for her animals, or riding her golf cart through the property, Nancy found joy in life’s simple moments and made them unforgettable for those around her.

Nancy was blessed with two sons, Mike and Chris, who became the greatest joys of her life. She was the definition of a true boy mom. She spent years breaking up wrestling matches, settling arguments over who started it, patching up scraped knees, and shaking her head at whatever shenanigans the boys had gotten themselves into next. Through it all, she loved every minute of being their mom. In Nancy’s eyes, they could do no wrong, and she loved them fiercely every single day. No matter how old they became, they would always be her boys.

Just when you thought Nancy couldn’t possibly love anyone more than her boys, she became “Grandma.” Her granddaughters, Ellie and Laynie, daughters of Chris, quickly became the light of her life. Later, she was blessed with a bonus grandson, Jamyson, Mike’s stepson, whom she welcomed with open arms and loved as her very own. Whenever she could she would be found in the stands proudly supporting Ellie, Laynie, and Jamyson at their sporting events. To Nancy, family wasn’t defined by blood alone it was defined by love, and she had more than enough love to give.

If there was one place Nancy was truly in her element, it was at a craft show. She was a gifted crafter who poured her heart into every project she created. Nothing made her happier than seeing someone admire something she had made with her own hands. Her favorite tradition was the Prairie Peddler Festival. Every year she looked forward to setting up her booth, visiting with old friends and new faces, and watching people fall in love with her handmade creations. Her creativity was an extension of her heart beautiful, thoughtful, and made to bring joy to others. Don’t forget about her cheering on her Buckeyes!

In the final chapter of her life, Nancy faced an aggressive battle with cancer. Although her journey was far shorter than anyone had hoped or prayed for, she met it with the same strength, faith, and determination that defined her life. Even through the hardest days, her greatest concern was never herself it was the people she loved. While cancer may have changed the course of her life, it never changed who she was. It could not diminish her spirit, her kindness, her sense of humor, or the deep faith that carried her through every season. She fought with courage until the very end and is now healed, whole, and forever at peace in the presence of her Savior.

Nancy truly was that wonderful. Her life wasn’t perfect, but it was profoundly beautiful. It was woven with faith, family, creativity, resilience, and countless moments of joy. She leaves behind a legacy far greater than anything material a legacy written in the hearts of those she loved, the lives she touched, and the unconditional love she gave so freely.

Nancy is survived by her devoted husband, William “Bill” Butsko; her beloved sons, Mike Butsko (Corie Sholes) and Chris Butsko (Mikala Montgomery); her cherished granddaughters, Ellie and Laynie; her beloved bonus grandson, Jamyson; her brothers, Samuel Clark and David Clark; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends who will miss her beyond measure.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Lenora (Crapyou) Clark; her brothers, James Clark, John Clark, Donald Clark, and Joseph Clark; and her sisters, Mary (Clark) Raymer and Nellie Evelyn (Clark) Young.

Although our hearts are broken by her absence, we rejoice knowing she is home with her Savior, reunited with those who have gone before her, and finally free from pain. We will forever miss her laughter, her stubborn determination, her caring heart, the stories she told, the life she created, and the way she made every holiday, every gathering, and every ordinary day feel special.

To know Nancy was to love her, and to be loved by Nancy was one of life’s greatest blessings.

Heaven gained a little more sparkle with the arrival of our Fancy Nancy, she sure was a peach.

The family will be receiving friends at Munz-Pirnstill Funeral Home, Wednesday, August 5th, from 11AM-12PM. A graveside service to follow at Oakwood Cemetery at 12PM with Stan Young officiating. Mike asks that everyone bring their own flowers to leave with Nancy. The family invites everyone to gather at Baker’s after the service for food, fellowship, and a time to honor Nancy’s memory. Memorials may be made to Melanoma Research Foundation or to The James at OSU. Moments of remembrance may be left online at www.munzpirnstill.com