Nancy Suzanne Hauger

Nancy Suzanne Hauger, a woman of deep faith, joyful spirit, generous heart, and boundless love for family and friends, passed away on October 9, 2026, at the age of 89. She is reunited with her beloved husband, Jay, with whom she shared 60 years of marriage.

Born May 7, 1937, in San Diego, California, to Juanita (Wilkinson) Lee and Lloyd Lee, Nancy spent her childhood exploring Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks, on her family's 10-acre farm in Encanto, CA, and discovering her lifelong love of the ocean. In 1950, two years after her father's death, Nancy moved with her mother and sister, Jackie, to Portland, Oregon, where she attended Kenton United Presbyterian Church, and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1955.

Nancy met Jay Hauger at Willamette University. Upon seeing him stand up at a freshman class meeting, she turned to her friend and declared, "I'm going to marry that man." And she did! After two years at Willamette, Nancy and Jay transferred to Valparaiso University in Indiana. Nancy graduated from Valparaiso University in 1959 with degrees in Religion and Sociology. She and Jay married on August 22, 1959, and began a life together filled with faith, adventure, music, service, and family.

Jay and Nancy spent the first three years of their married life in Valparaiso where they had their first child, Deborah (Deb) Karen, then moved to Beaverton, Oregon, in 1962, where their next two children, Christine (Chris) Marie and Jay Douglas (Doug), were born. Nancy spent these Beaverton years devoting herself to raising her young family and serving as choir director at Pilgrim Lutheran Church.

In 1969, Nancy and Jay answered a call from the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod to serve as missionaries in Africa. They spent a year in Jos, Nigeria, followed by four years in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where Jay worked at Radio Voice of the Gospel and Nancy served as choir director and secretary at Good Shepherd School. Nancy often said those years with her family in Africa were the best years of her life.

Returning to Oregon in 1974, Nancy and Jay settled on their beloved tree farm near Cannon Beach and Seaside, which they lovingly named "Hauger Mountain." After five years as a teacher's aide, Nancy earned a master's degree in education. She then spent 16 years as a much-loved third- and fifth-grade teacher in Seaside. After retiring in 1995, she served another 12 years on the Seaside School Board.

Nancy's interests and commitments reflected her curiosity, creativity, faith, and love of life. She delighted in singing in choirs, playing piano, attending church, planting beautiful gardens, reading, knitting, participating in community theater, skiing, and spending time in the quiet beauty of Hauger Mountain and along the ocean. She and Jay loved traveling together, taking cruises, spending winters in Arizona, singing duets, and welcoming friends and family to Hauger Mountain. Nancy treasured her Bible study group and the many friendships she maintained around the world. Nancy's faith was central to her life, and she remained an active and beloved member of her church communities throughout the years.

In 2015, Nancy and Jay moved to Seattle to be closer to their children and grandchildren. She delighted in attending her grandchildren's concerts and other events, spending time with friends, walking in Lincoln Park, participating in Bible study, and being part of the Peace Lutheran Church community. She loved singing hymns each Sunday in her strong, beautiful alto voice. For her final seven years, she had the special joy of living with her daughter Chris and her family.

Nancy was a radiant, light-filled woman whose life was shaped by faith, grace, generosity, and love. She was a devoted wife, a deeply loving mother and Oma/Grandma, a cherished sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. She was caring, supportive, welcoming, forgiving, and joyful. She embraced each day with optimism and an eagerness to connect with others. Her life was rich and full, blessed with adventure, meaningful work, lasting friendships, and an abundance of love. Above all, she shared the grace and goodness of God with everyone fortunate enough to know her.

Nancy was preceded in death by her husband, Jay, and her oldest daughter, Deborah Karen Hauger, whose loss in 1994 brought profound sorrow to the family.

She is survived by her daughter, Chris Kindem, and son-in-law, Erik Kindem; son, Doug Hauger, and daughter-in-law, Christine Trigg; sister, Jacqueline Farah; grandchildren Indigo and Aiden Trigg-Hauger and Kai and Naomi Kindem; step-grandchildren Nathan Petersen-Kindem (Deyhdra) and Megan Webber (Tyler); great-grandchild Zephyr Prodinger Trigg-Hauger; niece Lisa Titan (Aaron); nephew John Farah; and great-niece Eden Hakala and great-nephew Isaac Hakala.

Nancy's life will be celebrated Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Peace Lutheran Church, 8316 39th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA 98136.

The service will also be livestreamed: https://youtube.com/live/qdn_ouYZePk?feature=share

Please visit EmmickFunerals.com for a more complete obituary and to share memories of Nancy.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Nancy may be made to one of the following organizations that reflect her faith, values, and life of service:

Peace Lutheran Church

206-935-1962

https://www.peacelutheranseattle.org

Ethiopia Reads

612-354-2184

https://www.ethiopiareads.org/get-involved/donate/

Lutherwood Camp and Retreat Center

360-734-7652

https://www.camplutherwood.org