Johnnie Fate Nance, 94, of Decatur, Tennessee, passed away after a short battle with cancer on Sunday, April 23, 2017 at his residence.
Johnnie was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church and a life time member of the American Legion, Amvets and the VFW and served as the commander and held many other offices in the VFW. Also a member of the Meigs County Veteran Honor Guard and was so proud to serve with his veteran friends. He served his Country with great pride. He was a medic in World War II and served in France and Germany and was in the Battle of the Bludge. He was wounded as he tried to save others and received two purple hearts.
After the war he worked most of his adult life in Michigan as a journeyman carpenter and worked on many bridge projects for the state of Michigan. His company sent him to Colorado to help build a dam. He was very knowledgeable in his trade and helped members of his family to find work in Michigan. After Retirement in 1982 he moved back home to Decatur.
He was born July 18, 1922 in McMinn County tothe late Ernest and Ida Carter Nance; and was also preceded in death by his wife, Juanita Nance; brothers,Thomas Nance and Clarence Nance; sisters, Naomi Wright, Bessie Holt and Pearl Elder; grandson, Timothy Francek; and great-grandson, Steven McCoy-Letner.
Survivors include his son, John Nance; daughters, Mary Jo Francek, Sarah Jane Magro and Thelma Kester (Larry); sisters, Edith Bahles of Arizona and Myrtle Bryant of Decatur; grandchildren, James Margo, Sarah Stokes (Chris) , Roseanna McCoy and Eric Kushnir; great-grandchildren, Katie Stokes, Mark Letner, Christopher McCoy, Cameron Francek and Devon Francek; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Services will be 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 26, in the chapel of Bowers Funeral Home. The Rev. Jimmy Lewis and Rev. Harold Dotson will be officiating. Internment will follow in the Shiloh Cemetery with family and friends serving as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends Tuesday, April 25, from 5-8 p.m. at Bowers Funeral Home, who has charge of the arrangements.