Obituary of Nancy Kaye Dahlgren

Beloved wife, mother, and Grandmother Nancy Kaye Dahlgren (Arnes), 78 of Maplewood, MN passed away Saturday, August 17, 2024, at M Health Fairview Hospital in Edina, MN.  She was born January 2, 1946, in Cumberland, WI to Ercle and Joyce (Wallace) Arnes.  Nancy graduated from Shell Lake High School in June 1964 and just a few days later, married her high school sweetheart, Eugene (Gene) Allen Dahlgren, at Salem Lutheran Church in Shell Lake, WI on June 6, 1964. 

Just days after their marriage Nancy and Gene moved to MN and settled in a small apartment on Marshall Avenue in St. Paul, MN.  Nancy began working for Midway Medical Center as a medical secretary to 4 doctors.  Two years later Nancy and Gene learned they were expecting their first child and moved into more of a family neighborhood in Como Park.  There they rented an upstairs apartment in a home from Gene’s coworker, Donny Moser.  Donny and his wife Mimi Moser became Mom and Dad’s dearest friends in our family. 

Not too long after their daughter, Tammy, was born, Nancy and Gene bought their first home directly across the street from their little apartment and lived there for many years.  There, Nancy and Gene had 3 more children, all boys.  Nancy and Gene were members of Como Park Lutheran Church.  On Sundays, Nancy volunteered in the church’s Child Care Center during Sunday School Classes.  Nancy was also her son David’s Den Mother for his Cub Scout group. She would have weekly Den meetings, help Cub Scouts earn their badges, and incorporate the core values of Cub Scouting with all the kids.  Mom also had a little side hustle where she bred poodles for a few years.

Mom and Dad outgrew their home in Como Park and moved to the Roseville area.  As their children got older and settled in school, Nancy then took a job with Pacific Mutual Door Company in Roseville as a receptionist and later was promoted to warehouse manager.  In 1983, Dad’s job took the entire family to Lexington KY where they stayed for a few years but eventually, they moved back to Minnesota.  Sadly, Mom’s husband and the love of her life passed away on August 19, 2015.  Mom then sold her home in Minnesota and moved to their smaller home in their hometown of Shell Lake WI.

Mom did not drive so she relied heavily upon her brother Matt and Sister-in-Law Rita Arnes of Barronett, WI.  Rita (Sis) would take Mom shopping every two weeks and to her many medical appointments.  Mom’s son Jason, devotedly, spent every weekend with her so she did not feel alone.  Jason also took Mom shopping, out to eat, mowed her lawn, and shoveled/blew snow in the winter.  Mom was able to stay in her Wisconsin home until her health began to worsen in 2022.  Sadly, their Shell Lake home that was in our family since the early 1970’s was sold and mom moved into her son Jason’s home in Maplewood where she remained until her passing. 

Mom was affectionately known as the ‘Martha Stewart of MN’.  Everything had a place, nothing was out of order.  Cupboard pantry items were properly stored and meticulously labeled and alphabetized.  Her homes were spotless, all clothing and linens were starched and ironed, and living room furniture was only used for holidays. Mom was an incredible cook and baker.  Every deer hunting season the deer hunters looked forward to mom’s homemade lasagna to bring to the hunting shack.  All Holidays were filled with decorations but Christmas was her favorite.  We had Christmas trees in every room and lights and decorations filled every nook and cranny.  Mom would spend weeks making homemade Christmas cookies, breads, and fudge.  Christmas presents would take weeks to wrap and made you feel guilty to open because they were painstakingly wrapped and decorated. 

Mom's yards were perfectly manicured with trimmed hedges and beautiful flowers. Mom would spend every day in her yard tending to her flowers.  Mom and Dad always had vegetable gardens.  In her younger years, she would spend countless hours at the end of each growing season canning fruits and vegetables.  She would make homemade applesauce, canned pickles, tomato sauces, and varieties of salsas, jellies, and jams.   

Our mother loved all of her grandchildren deeply, every one of them.  But most importantly mom played an integral role to her grandson Zachary.  Zach’s father, Mike, was a single father who solely raised Zach.  She assisted Mike making sure Zach got on the school bus each day.  Mom made sure Zach got his homework done after school before he could watch TV or spend time with friends.  Mom provided much-needed grandmotherly guidance, stability, and support for Zach and his father Mike. 

Nancy is survived by children, Tammy (Tom) Keran of Lino Lakes, David (Lisa) Dahlgren of Lino Lakes, Michael Dahlgren of Braham, Jason Dahlgren of Maplewood; five loving grandchildren, Travis, Katelyn, Zachary, Hannah, Maddie, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Nancy is preceded in death by her life-long sweetheart Eugene Allen Dahlgren, parents Ercyle and Joyce (Wallace) Arnes, six-year-old sister, Katie Arnes, and brother Matt Benjamin Arnes. 

A brief prayer service will be held at noon on Saturday, October 19, 2024, and a celebration of life will be shared with her beloved “little” brother Matt Arnes, who passed away on August 9th of this year, at the Barronett Civic Center until 5 PM.