Nancy Kish

Nancy Kish (Barcheck), 70, of Columbia, died Aug. 14, 2016, at St. Anthony’s Medical Center, St. Louis.

She was born March 9, 1946, in Pittsburgh, Pa., daughter of the late Ignatius J. and Helen Barcheck nee (Orisick) of Uniontown, Pa.

Nancy was a 1964 graduate of Mt. St. Macrina Academy of Uniontown, Pa. She graduated from secretarial school in June 1966, and was recruited by the Department of Defense to work in the Pentagon. In July 1972, she transferred to work in Wiesbaden, Germany, at Headquarters USAF in Europe. There she met her husband, who worked in the Command Staff Judge Advocate’s Office. They were married May 22, 1973, in Basil, Switzerland, and in keeping with European tradition, were married again Sept. 1, 1973, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Columbia.

In 1976, Nancy became sick and in 1989 was finally diagnosed with Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. Within four years of diagnosis, Nancy was bedridden. She suffered tremendously, without complaint, for 27 years.

She resided for 18 years with her husband at their home in Fairview Heights, until he was severely injured caring for her. She then moved to Columbia Convalescent Center in June 2007, and remained a resident there until her death.

She is survived by her husband Dennis of Columbia; sister Doris (David) Scott of Uniontown Pa.; and brother Edward (Mary) Barcheck of Uniontown Pa.; brothers-in-law Gerald, Michael (Jeanne), Thomas, Steven (Debbie), Patrick, and Albert Jr. (Patresa) Kish; sisters-in-law Mary (John) Olsson, Susan Settle, Margaret (James) Burns, and Joanne Stahlmann. She is also survived by 32 nephews and nieces, 21 grand-nephews and grand-nieces, aunts Pearl (Schmidt) Mueller, Florence Kish, Julie Schmidt Gregory and Betty Schmidt, uncle Richard (Sue) Schmidt, and numerous cousins.

She was predeceased by her parents, brother Charles Barcheck, of Uniontown, Pa., and a child who died by miscarriage.

Nancy donated her body to Saint Louis University Medical Research Center, to help continue research and find a cure for the terrible disease of Multiple Sclerosis.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated Sept. 3, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Eugene J. Schorb — Immaculate Conception Parish Fund for Catholic Education, or the Immaculate Conception Education and Activity Center Fund.