On Thursday afternoon, January 14, 2021 en route to her home in Florida, Mrs. Nancy J. Dahlberg, 77 of Galesburg, IL took a detour and followed her calling home. Nancy was born in West Brooklyn, IL on November 26, 1943 to Oliver L. and Thais P. (Meyer) Gehant Jr. After graduating from Mendota High School, Nancy attended Northern Illinois University where she met the love of her life, Marvin H. Dahlberg. The young couple married September 8, 1962 in West Brooklyn and she completed her Bachelor of Arts in English. Early in her career, Nancy taught junior high English at St. Anne’s Catholic School in Dixon, IL. The family relocated to Galesburg, IL in 1981 where she switched gears and spent over thirty years as a successful realtor making numerous friends along the way until she retired in 2015. Community and service were of utmost importance to Nancy. She served on the boards for Habitat for Humanity, Teen Court, Carl Sandburg Foundation, Galesburg Board of Realtors, the Landmark Commission, and Galesburg Business & Technology. She was an alderwoman on the Galesburg City Council from 1995 through 2001. Nancy cherished time with her friends and was a member of P.E.O. Chapter HO, Galesburg Business Network, many bridge clubs, and a longstanding book club. She specialized in spoiling her grandchildren Will and Ava. Family travel was a favorite pastime; she ventured to Alaska, Quebec, a European river cruise and many spots in between. She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.
Nancy is survived by her husband, Marv of Galesburg; 2 children, Jeff Dahlberg of Rockford, IL, and Julie (Dave) Dahlberg VonderHaar of Crystal Lake, IL; 2 grandchildren, Will and Ava; a sister-in-law, Gini Gehant of Edgerton, WI; 4 nephews: Brian, John, Jeff and Chad; and a niece, Jody.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Allen R. Gehant.
A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 30, 2021, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Galesburg. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, face masks, social distancing and limited occupancy will be enforced. No visitation is planned. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be to Habitat for Humanity https://www.habitat.org/us-il/galesburg/hfh-knox-county-il. Online expressions of sympathy and favorite memories of Nancy may be sent to the family at www.h-p-w.com. A celebration of life will be held in the summer in Galesburg.
