NEBRASKA CITY – Funeral services will be held for Nancy and Richard Hoch on Saturday, May 8, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in San Miguel de Allende. The services will be streamed live on Facebook for those in Nebraska.
Due to pandemic restrictions, a service was not possible for Richard last January, so the service will be for both.
The family is planning a burial at Camp Creek Cemetery at Nebraska City.
Nancy Hoch was born on October 10th, 1936 in Nebraska City, Nebraska, to Clarence Lynn DeLong and Mary Irene (Davis) DeLong. She died peacefully in her sleep in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico on May 5, 2021.
Nancy grew up in Nebraska City and spent most of her childhood on horseback, as an accomplished and award winning equestrian. She rode and showed competitively, three gated horses all across the United States, winning numerous (way too many to count) trophies and ribbons, in prestigious horse shows like the American Royal in Kansas City, Lexington National in Kentucky and many more.
Nancy graduated from Nebraska City high school, attended the University of Nebraska and graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in political science. Shortly after graduation she married the love of her life and husband of 59 years , Richard Hoch of Marian, Kansas.
Nancy’s family were early Nebraskans. She had two great-grandfathers who homesteaded in Otoe County and her family has always resided in the Nebraska City area. Those farms still remain in her family today.
In 1982, Nancy was the first woman elected to the University of Nebraska Board of Regents from the 4th District where she served for 12 years.
She also served on; the U. N. President’s Advisory Council (8 years), Director, U. N. Alumni Association and Executive Board (6 years), Chancellor’s Search Committee, Board of Counselors of the U. N. Medical Center; and served on several other university related boards and organizations.
She was the 1983 recipient of the Nebraska City Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Citizen Award and was awarded “Woman of the Year” from the Business and Professional Women in Nebraska City. The first woman to join Rotary in Nebraska, Nancy was a member of the Nebraska City Rotary Club.
Nominated by the Nebraska Republican Party nominee for the U.S. Senate in 1984 and in 1986 Mrs. Hoch was also one of the first women to run for governor in the State of Nebraska.
She served 20 years on the Nebraska City Library Board and acted as it’s president much of that time. She was an Elder in the First Presbyterian Church and headed numerous committees to promote fine arts, humanities and culture in her community.
Nancy served as the President of the River Country Economic Development Corporation in Nebraska City resulting in important industrial economic growth.
Civic duty included service on; the Nebraska Community Foundation, Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, the Nebraska City Housing Task Force, and other civic organizations.
In 2015 she was awarded the Henry Fonda Award, the state’s highest tourism award, representing leadership, vision and dedication to the tourism industry during her lifetime. Hoch’s tourism footprint included; development of the Kregel Windmill Museum, Red Fox Run Sports Complex, the refurbishment of the historic train depot, Victorian streetscapes, the Nebraska City trolley system and as founder of the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center.
And just in case you thought she was only career focused, well no. She set an elegant table and prepared gourmet dinners almost every night. Children were expected to be seated ?at 6:00pm sharp, no excuses. Her Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving decorating put even Martha Stewart to shame. On cold Nebraska mornings Nancy was downstairs by ?5:00am ironing Richard’s suit, heating coats and mittens in the dryer and making the family homemade bran muffins served hot out of the oven to send them off on their day. Her impeccable grooming and sense of style created a persona well known and appreciated by everyone she encountered.
Nancy was a true and steadfast Nebraska Cornhusker until the day she died. Never missing a game whether in the stands at Memorial Stadium or on TV, in later years living in Mexico she and her husband, Richard rewatched countless bowl games on YouTube, cheering and enjoying the games as if it were the first time they’d seen them.
She is survived by her 3 children: Sarah Hoch of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, Richard Hoch II and his wife Kristie, of Tucson Arizona, Hannah Hoch of San Miguel de Allende, México and 5 grandchildren: Santiago, Nancy, Richard, Joshua and Coco and 2 great grandchildren: Eli and Johan.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Hoch, parents, and infant sister Patricia DeLong.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to the Nebraska City Veterans Memorial Building Project. For more information see www.VeteransMemorialBuilding.com or send to P.O Box 121, Nebraska City, NE 68420.
