Nancy "Nan" L. (Eshmeyer) Gorbics

Nancy “Nan” Leah Eshmeyer Gorbics was born on December 26, 1932 and died December 5, 2017. She is survived by husband Steven Gorbics, son Mark Gorbics, sister Donna Gillian, daughter-in-law Pamela Mook Gorbics, son-in-law Thomas Dean, and numerous friends. Deceased are her daughter Carol Susan Gorbics, 1958-2008; sister Ruth King; mother Aurelia Caroline Dickman Eschmyer, 1896-1968; and father Reinhart Ernest Eschmeyer, 1889 -1989.

Nan was born in Tiffin, Ohio with the family later moving to towns of Bloomville, Cleveland and Akron, Ohio and eventually to Lansing, Michigan. After receiving her BA degree from Heidelburg College, she married Steven George Gorbics on September 5, 1954. As a young wife and proud mother of Carol and Mark, Nan was a church organist and choir director at Ingram United Church of Christ in Washington, DC. After earning a graduate degree in library science in 1971, she pursued a 20-year career as media specialist in elementary and middle schools in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Nan excelled in this work and was selected as one of the ten outstanding educators of Prince George’s County, Md. in 1977.  She retired in 1993 and remained active with book groups, bridge group, woman’s luncheon group, Macintosh computer group, and reed art especially antler basketry.

Nan’s father started a lifelong love of Camp Miniwanca on Stony Lake in Shelby, Michigan where he taught for 31 years as minister of the United Church of Christ. Nan shared her love of Camp Miniwanca with husband Steve on their honeymoon, and countless family vacations continued at the former Grover Motel and Butler's cottage. In 1979 the Gorbics became landowners on Stony Lake and subsequently made Stony Acres cottage, remodeled in 1995, their permanent home. It was in the serene Stony Acres setting that Nan and Steve fostered a deep sense of community, entertained countless guests, wove baskets and created art together, and shared dinners with friends and family.

Visitation will be held Saturday, December 16th, 1-3 pm at Harris Funeral Home in Shelby.  Memorial contributions: Camp Miniwanca, 6357 Clayton Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63117, the American Cancer Society, 129 Jefferson SE, Grand Rapids, MI  49503, the Oceana County Council on Aging Expansion Fund “OCCOA Expansion Fund,” 621 E Main St, Hart, MI 49420, or the charity of your choice.

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