Nancy Kay Penzkover-Cooper, age 69, of Lac Courte Oreilles, Hayward, and formerly of Spooner, died Sunday, April 21, 2024, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Nancy was born October 18, 1954, in Shell Lake, Wisconsin, the daughter of Henry & Delores (Poirier) Penzkover and the granddaughter of Benjamin Poirier, a well-known cement mason in the area. Nancy grew up in Spooner, Wisconsin and was a 1973 graduate of Spooner High School, where she was elected and served as High School Class President. She was a graduate of University of Wisconsin – Barron County (Associate of Arts in General Education), University of Wisconsin – River Falls (Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, Minor in Health Education), and University of Wisconsin – Superior (Master of Science in Educational Administration, Thesis “Parental Expectations of Tribal Schools”).

Nancy was an Educator who worked and lived in many tribal and non-tribal communities including: Spooner School District; Lac Courte Oreille Ojibwa School; Crazy Horse School District at Wanblee, South Dakota; St. Croix Tribal Head Start; St. Francis Indian School at St. Francis, South Dakota; Marty Indian School at Marty, South Dakota; Viking Elementary School & Oak Grove Elementary School at Holmen, Wisconsin; Arbor Vitae Woodruff School at Woodruff, Wisconsin; St. Francis Solanus School in Reserve, Wisconsin; and Lac Courte Oreille Ojibwa Community College. Nancy has worked as a Council Planner for Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Lac Courte Oreilles Legal Department, Lac Courte Oreilles Food Distribution Program, and St. Croix Tribe in Health and Human Services Department.

Nancy believed in giving back and supporting her community. She was Director and Troop Leader for the Lac Courte Oreilles Girl Scouts, past Board Member of Lac Courte Oreilles Half-Way House, volunteer at St. Francis Solanus Mission School and Church, past Parent Advisory Board Member for Lac Courte Oreilles Head Start, Selective Service Board for Sawyer County, volunteer for Circle for Indigenous People’s Rights, Board Member of Native American Olympic Team Foundation with Olympians Suzy Chaffee and Billy Kidd, past Community Cents Board Member for Jump River Electric Corporation, Lac Courte Oreilles Drug Task Force, and Lac Courte Oreilles Elder’s Association. Nancy sang and played rhythm guitar in many Country-Western bands, including Whiskey and Lace, for which she and her sister wrote original music for her record album.

In her free time, Nancy loved to sing and play guitar, garden, spend time on the lake, fish, sew and bead regalia, design jewelry, and make birchbark baskets and wigwams with her husband and daughter. Nancy owned and operated local businesses of Blueberry Creek Stopping Place and DeMarie & Associates.

Nancy loved spending time with her husband and daughter, and they had many adventures traveling the United States and Canada together. Nancy presently resided on the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation and lived with her family at Blueberry Creek.

Nancy is survived by her husband Dale Cooper and daughter Dr. Mariah Star Cooper MD.

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, sister Ann Marie Penzkover-Cooper, and brother-in-law Duane Cooper.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, April 29, 2024, at Pineview Funeral Service in Hayward. Father Karunakar Madanu will officiate. Burial will be in New Post Cemetery. A Celebration Gathering for family and friends will begin at 5:00 p.m., Sunday, April 28th at the funeral home and will continue until the time of service on Monday.

Casket Bearers will be Jon Cooper, Darryle Cooper, Stephen Zanton, Dusty Kingfisher, Ricky St. Germaine, Mark St. Germaine.

Honorary Casket Bearers will be Dr. John “Little Bird” Anderson, Jack Gauthier, Steven Holm, Duane Cooper, George Morrow, Dr. Jordan Mallery MD, Dr. John Kelsey MD JD.

Last Update: Apr 28, 2024 1:12 pm CDT