Nancy Highly

Nancy Highly, 67, of Moline, IL, passed away Tuesday, September 12, 2023, in Moline. She touched countless lives and will be deeply missed by family and friends. A Celebration of Life will be Sunday, September 17, 2023, from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. at The Wunder-Y, 2316 16th Street, Moline. Memorials may be made to the family for a fund to be established for her grandchildren or QC Paws (www.qcpaws.org).

Nancy was born into life on August 22, 1956, to Ira Keith and Sandra (Haylock) House. She married her loving husband Tom Highly on July 12, 1975, in Maquoketa, IA, and together they had two children. 

She had worked at Village Inn (1982-1995), the former John Deere Health Care (1996-2007) and most recently Advanced Radiology, S.C., Moline, retiring in April of 2023.

Nancy found great joy in being a wife, mother and grandmother and found true passion in life; she expressed this in the way she lived. She was her husband Tom’s whole world and the relationship they shared was a true definition of pure love. She thrived on “making it happen” and that led to her finding true happiness in pool parties, vacationing, dive bars, cheeseburgers, dancing with her husband and giving directions to people to get things done, mainly to those closest to her.  She lacked the ability to sit still and invited all those she loved to cook for, making sure everyone was fed.  With her welcoming nature, you could always get a meal at Mom’s house. Among Nancy’s many loves was the time spent with her cherished grandchildren and her gravity toward all animals, especially dogs.

Nancy is survived by her husband, Tom; daughter; Amber Highly, son and daughter-in-law, Brett and Melissa Highly; grandchildren, Chelsey Highly, Quentin Nickerson and Alyssa Highly; sister, Louanne Clark; many cherished friends, including cousins, Jane and Lorin Steines, her neighbor, Jane and her sweet fur babies, Sammy, Abbey and Layla. Her parents, Ira and Sandra and mother and father-in-law, Lee and Arlene Highly preceded her in death.


Family and friends are invited to share memories and express condolences at www.deroofunerahome.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Nancy Highly, please visit our floral store.