Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Nancy J. Handgen, 90, of Warsaw, passed away the morning of Sept. 2, 2025, at Cedar Creek of Warsaw with additional care from Heart to Heart Hospice.
She was born on Oct. 4, 1934, to Joseph R. Godshalk and Edith Allegra Dewart Godshalk Ferguson, in Milford. Nancy was a lifetime resident of Kosciusko County. She graduated from Leesburg High School, Leesburg, and attended Manchester College in North Manchester.
On Dec. 19, 1954, at the Leesburg Methodist Church, Leesburg, she married her love, Edward A. Handgen. They were blessed with 56 years together before Edward passed away on Sept. 2, 2011.
She held various roles at United Telephone Company and at Federal Land Bank. Nancy spent her life as a homemaker, caregiver and business partner with her husband. Together they owned and operated Handgen Equipment Company where she worked until retirement in 1996.
She will be remembered for her love of family, never missing an opportunity to cook and celebrate holidays and special days. She was a loving caregiver throughout her life and was always there to provide help to anyone in need. Her caregiving extended to injured animals found around her house. One such rescue was a baby dove named Theodore. Theodore learned to fly and spent the summer hanging around the house occasionally flying down out of trees to land on her shoulder.
She will be lovingly remembered by her daughter, Sabrina (Jay) Johnson, Davenport, Fla.; son, Erin (Debra Williams) Handgen, Fort Collins, Colo.; four grandchildren: Benjamin Johnson, Kissimmee, Fla.; Catherine (Benjamin) Moree, San Antonio, Texas; Paige (Devin) Lesondak, Fort Collins, Colo.; Jennifer Handgen, Denver, Colo.; and one great-granddaughter, Jane Moree. Also surviving are two sisters, Janice “Sue” Neibert, Leesburg; and Judith “Judy” Neibert, Sebring, Fla. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her brother, Jerry “Steven” Godshalk.
A private graveside memorial service to celebrate Nancy’s life will be held at Oswego Cemetery, Leesburg, at a later date.
The Handgen Family requests that no flowers be sent. You may give to the First Baptist Church of Oswego, 2985 E. Church St., Warsaw, IN 46582; or a charity of your choice.
Her funeral arrangements were entrusted with Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw.
Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s website at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com.
