Nancy Diane Brunette Kober passed away in her home, surrounded by her grateful and loving family, on January 19, 2026. She was 88 years old. Born to Diana (Machut) and Edward Brunette on May 7, 1937, Nancy lived her whole life in her beloved hometown of Sheboygan. Growing up on South 16th Street, she attended St. Peter Claver grade school and graduated from Central High School in 1955. After high school, Nancy began working at her family’s business, Brunette’s Hardware Store. From her office window one day, she spied an attractive young man pumping gas at Triangle Motors. Her brother Ron introduced her to Frederick E. Kober, and they were married May 17, 1958.
Nancy and Fred raised their four children on South 15th Street, and they joined the new neighborhood parish, Immaculate Conception, where their children attended school. Nancy maintained friendships from high school, and with Fred, formed new lifelong friendships with neighbors and fellow parishioners. The Kober home was a hub of activity and Nancy was a dedicated mother, sewing clothes for herself and her children, volunteering with the schools, and serving as troop leader for Cub and Girl Scouts.
As Nancy nurtured her beloved family, she also fulfilled her dream of higher education, earning a Bachelor of Arts from Lakeland College in 1989. She and Fred established Kober Heating and Cooling and enjoyed many years working alongside their daughter Catherine to grow the success of the family business. They designed and built a home for themselves with their son Randall, and it became the home base for family holidays and get-togethers. Nancy tended a beautiful garden while Fred cared for the lawn with equal joy and dedication. Their business afforded them new social and travel opportunities that they very much enjoyed. Along with regular trips to Kansas City to visit daughters Christine and Jacqueline and their families, Nancy and Fred enjoyed trips through the UP and Kettle Moraine, and to Aruba, Alaska, Hawaii, and ancestral Slovenia. Memorable family trips included seeing the pope in Rome and Christmases in Germany and Mexico.
After Nancy lost Fred in 2006, she moved to a condominium on the Sheboygan River with a stunning view of Lake Michigan. She shared her nest with Razzle, a ragamuffin little Havanese, who was her companion for over 17 years. They walked the boardwalk daily. Nancy embraced change and became a savvy user of FaceTime to keep up with everyone and remain a steadfast presence in her family’s lives. She was a resilient matriarch whose sense of humor, strength, and style will be greatly missed by family, friends, and neighbors.
She is survived by her children, son Randall (Andrea) Kober of Dinkelsbühl, Germany and their children, Lilly (Vladislav Seiler) and Tom Hertlein; daughter Jacqueline (Mike) Kelly of Kansas City, granddaughters Kathleen (James Vlieg) and Megan (Schuyler Gantert), great-
grandchildren Josephine and Oscar Vlieg; daughter Christine Kober of Madison and granddaughter Allie (Malcolm Callis). She is also survived by brothers Edward and Robert, sister-in-law Adeline, and a loving, multigenerational brigade of nieces and nephews.
Nancy was preceded in death by her husband Frederick, daughter Catherine, sister Priscilla Birkle, brothers Ronald and William, her parents, and cherished mother-in-law Anna (Zavrl) Kober.
A funeral Mass will be held at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, 1439 S. 12th St., Sheboygan, on Friday, January 23rd at 1pm, with visitation beginning at noon. Private interment will take place at a later date.
Ballhorn Chapels is assisting the family. Online condolences and memories may be shared by visiting our website at www.ballhornchapels.com.
Comments