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Wisconsin Public Television Remembers Nancy Zieman

Wisconsin Public Television is saddened by the death of Nancy Zieman, longtime host of Sewing With Nancy.

Erik Ernst

11/14/17

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Wisconsin Public Television is saddened by the death of Nancy Zieman, longtime host of Sewing With Nancy.

Zieman passed away at her home in Beaver Dam Tuesday morning after a long battle with cancer.

An educator, author, pattern maker, television producer, entrepreneur and innovator, Zieman inspired millions of sewing and quilting enthusiasts throughout her career. She hosted Sewing With Nancy, the longest-running sewing series on television, since 1982. The program continues to air on public television stations across the United States.

A careful, kind and generous presence, Zieman presented each of her programs in an engaging how-to format that empowered people of all skill levels to explore their own talents.

In addition to her TV program, Zieman was the founder of Nancy’s Notions, a Tacony Corporation company. Grown from her own kitchen table into a nationwide name trusted by sewers and quilters, the company offers thousands of products including sewing books, notions, videos and DVDs, fabrics and quilting products and embroidery designs through its website, retail store and Nancy’s Notions catalog.

In 2005, Zieman helped develop Quilt Expo with WPT in Madison. The event is a vibrant example of Zieman’s inspiration, now drawing more than 20,000 people from across the United States to celebrate the art and craft of quilting.

Zieman is survived by her husband, Richard, their two sons, Ted and Tom, and her beloved grandchildren.

“Nancy was an entrepreneur, a talented television host, a dear friend to so many people at Wisconsin Public Television, and a true Wisconsin treasure,” WPT’s Director of Television Jon Miskowski said. “During the time that she produced her series Sewing With Nancy with WPT, she made hundreds of hours of programs sharing her love of sewing and quilting – work that reflects the essence of Nancy’s legacy in passing the love of sewing, a passion she held very dear, on to the next generation. It was an honor for WPT to be a part of her story. We will all miss Nancy and share our condolences with her family and friends as we remember a life well-lived and a legacy that will continue to inspire for years to come.”

“I am proud to have worked with Nancy on Sewing With Nancy for more than 25 years,” Laurie Gorman, WPT’s producer of Sewing With Nancy, said. “She had the rare ability to take her passion – the love of sewing – and share it with a national audience through the medium of television. Nancy was a savvy entrepreneur, talented colleague, and dear friend. She will be greatly missed by the staff at WPT and her many viewers and fans across the country.”

Zieman’s work on Sewing With Nancy lives on in the hundreds of hours of television that she created, much of which is available online at wpt.org/SewingWithNancy as a lasting resource that is still used by sewing and quilting enthusiasts around the world.

A private funeral service will be held. Fans and friends hoping to share their memories of Nancy’s life and inspiration are welcome to leave comments at NancyZieman.com/blog. If friends, fans and viewers desire, information about suggested memorial gifts is also available at that website.

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Erik Ernst

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199 Comments

  • Cindy

    Thanks so much for giving us so much of Nancy today in her honor. She was such an amazing inspiring woman. It is still hard to believe she has left us.

  • Cynthia

    Such a lovely woman, such a great loss.

    I learned so much from her show. And she went above and beyond by showcasing people doing great charitable work with their sewing skills. Her show was a testament to her character as well as her skills.

    My heartfelt condolences to her family.

    WPT and Create, please keep airing “Sewing with Nancy,” so she may continue to teach after she has gone. She has left a wonderful legacy in her work.

  • Angela Radaci

    I’ve just learned of Nancy’s passing today as I watch her on our local public television Sewing with Nancy marathon. I will miss her very much and she’s always been such an inspiration. Many blessings to her family and friends.

  • Sissy Reeve

    Amen Shar. Couldn’t agree more. There will only be one Nancy. Prayers for her family for comfort and strength. Our loss but heavens gain.

  • Brenda McNulty

    Prayers and blessings to her family. This is such a difficult time for them. I’ve been a fan on Nancy for many years and learned a great deal from her. She was a pioneer in sewing shows on TV and will be sadly missed. Her legacy will go on!

  • Sylvester

    I turned on the tv this morning to listen to the news and just couldn’t take another morning of the so-called news. I noticed that Sewing With Nancy was on, and I found myself relaxed and learning something real. I had decided to break out the sewing machine and log on to site to read the news of Nancy’s death. God bless her and her family.

  • Rebecca

    As the New Year approaches, I finally caught up on reading my ASG Notions where I read of Nancy’s retirement. A quick internet search yielded a notice of her passing. What I always think of first when thinking of Nancy was her Bell’s Palsy. My Grandmother, who was a lifetime seamstress, had Bell’s Palsy later in life and as a family we always linked what she went through with Nancy who we knew had experienced the same. I have followed Nancy’s programs on PBS off and on through the years, used her pivot method of pattern adjustment and encouraged onward progress with the motto of “10, 15, 20 minutes to sew.” Her farewell touched me both in her low key, matter-of-fact approach to devistating news and her faith that was so gracefully touched upon. Nancy, you have run the good race…

  • M. Frost

    I am so sad to hear of Nancy’s passing. I have always enjoyed watching her on KET and have learned so much from her. Rest easy Nancy–you will be missed.

  • Dianne Diehl

    And I wept. Have watched her since she was a young woman . What a fine Christian woman. Very happy that her programs will continue.

  • Stanley Q. Mayer

    Your positive energy and enthusiasm radiate through your writing It’s obvious that you are truly passionate about what you do

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