Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Nancy Weigelt Hitzemann was born on March 23, 1941, in The Dalles, Oregon, to Gus and Lily Weigelt. An only child, she grew up surrounded by books and stories in her family’s bookstore, “Weigelt’s Bookstore & Stationers,” reportedly the longest privately owned bookstore “West of the Rockies.” Nancy grew up to be quite independent.
At The Dalles High School, Nancy was crowned Sweetheart at the Valentine’s Ball, played the bugle with the Booster Girls and was a member of the Ushers. Summers were spent at the “Nat,” where she swam on The Elks Swim Team. She won numerous trophies — and she was good — really good!
After high school, Nancy and her friends, Sally and Glenda, discovered that the University of Idaho had a favorable ratio of men to women. Naturally, they headed to Idaho. Nancy earned a degree in elementary education, and won an award for having the best legs on campus — a distinction she surely would have wanted remembered.
In 1982, Nancy married Jim Hitzemann and became stepmother to Deric and Krista (Todd). After brief stays in Bellevue, Washington, and Rancho Bernardo, California, where Nancy became a substitute teacher for the Poway School District, Nancy and Jim made their final home in Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii. She volunteered with AdvoCATS, a rescue organization dedicated to saving, spay and neutering feral cats. Nancy and Jim had three cats of their own, and fostered many, many more. Their love of cruising also benefited their friends, who were frequently recruited to cat sit.
Fun, adventurous, independent, generous and warm-hearted, Nancy lived fully on her own terms. Her life included swimming, teaching, traveling with Jim, family, lifelong friendships, laughter, books and more cats than anyone can reasonably count.
Nancy returned to The Dalles and moved to The Springs where she passed away on Sept. 21, 2026. Her ashes will be scattered, together with Jim’s, off the beach in Kona, Hawaii, returning them together to a place they loved.
Donations in Nancy’s memory may be made to: Columbia Gorge Humane Society, 200 River Road, The Dalles OR 97058 and indicate in memory of Nancy Weigelt Hitzemann.
Columbia Gorge News, Oct. 14, 2026
To plant a tree in memory of Nancy Hitzemann as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
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