Nancy Jane Dayton

Nancy Jane Dayton, 69, of Milwaukee, passed away Jan. 25, 2025. She was born Aug. 29, 1955, to the late Sylvester and Regina Kuligowski. She is survived by her husband, Patrick; son, James; daughter-in-law, Chia Vang; and her soon-to-be-born grandson. She is further survived by her twin brother, James Kuligowski; sister, Susan Rohde (Ken—deceased); and older brother, Dan Kuligowski (Debbie), as well as numerous nieces, nephews and extended in-laws. 

Nancy worked at Central Library downtown for nearly 40 years and made countless friends. She often worked the registration desk, where her smile and warmth would have welcomed those signing up for a library card. She and her coworkers Sharon Koier, Nancy Wardin, and Cathy Markey held regular girls nights for many years, even after the others had left the library. Nancy often spoke of Central’s camaraderie during the 1980s, and it is here that she met Patrick.

Patrick and Nancy were married in 1991 and honeymooned in Door County. They made annual visits to Las Vegas with Nancy’s family across the late 1980s and early 1990s, where she had no luck on the slot machine. In 1994, she gave birth to her son, James, whom she called Jimmy. This fulfilled her lifelong dream to become a mom.

For years, Nancy accompanied her mom and sister to the Wisconsin State Fair for baking competitions. She won multiple blue ribbons for carrot cake, banana bread, and more. Other desserts, such as her peanut butter bars or cherry pretzel torte, became family favorites at holiday gatherings and other special occasions.

Nancy cared deeply about her health. She walked frequently at county parks and in different Milwaukee neighborhoods. She knew the specific health benefits of different foods and incorporated them into her meals and snacks as much as she could. This made her pancreatic cancer diagnosis all the more surreal.

Still, Nancy fought the disease with all her energy. She kept a positive attitude and relied on her faith. A devout Catholic, Nancy prayed daily, not only for herself but for others. Her selflessness and concern for others’ well-being remained a constant throughout her life. 

Most importantly, Nancy was a kind and gentle soul. Those who met her one time felt like they were longtime friends. She was welcoming and made everyone feel important. Nancy had no enemies. Yet, she was a fierce defender of those she loved and was willing to speak out if she felt they were being mistreated. Her joy, generosity, and radiance will be sincerely missed.

A visitation will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, followed by a church service at noon, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 3100 S. 41st St., Milwaukee. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Froedtert Hospital Cancer Center or American Red Cross.