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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

  • Renee

    I loved watching her show. My thoughts and prayers are with her family. She will be missed.

  • Laura Halvorson

    Nancy’s passing is the loss of a dear friend that you got to visit with every week. Her show taught me to much about quilting. I can’t thank her enough. Rest well dear lady. Bye for now❤️

  • Patsy Warren

    So sad that she has left us. I watched her shows everyday when I got off from work. I would race home thru the traffic so I would not miss her programs.

  • Jeanne M Cameron

    She was to sewing as Julia Child was for cooking, she took the fear and mystery out of it and made me feel I could make my own clothes and I did. Although I didn’t make many of my own I did make some that I was confident wearing because of the techniques she shared.
    God bless her and her family, thank you PBS for believing that her talents were of value and should be shared.

  • Susan

    I am so saddened by this. I have never met her, but she was so open and friendly in her shows that I felt she was a friend and would be over for coffee, sharing of ideas and more. Cherish every day…

  • Ann Marie Wilson

    I will always remember her. I have her book of her life. My mom and I used to watch her shows together. My prayers are with her famoly. She will be missed so much.

  • Mary Blaha

    Oh nooooo….I’ve watched her for so many years! What a shame for this wonderful, talented lady and her family to have to suffer with cancer! Thanks for all her years of informing and sharing of her talents and others!

  • Martha Pullen

    The sewing world and I cannot thank Nancy enough for her contribution to making the world a better place. Heaven has a new resident for sure. Nancy I will always love you and remember all of the times we were at events together.My heart hurts so badly. Praying for her beloved family.

  • Caro Clark

    My heart is broken. She taught me so much though her shows on PBS. You just knew she was a kind and caring person. She will be missed so much.

  • Chris Leonard

    Sewing worlds loss, beauty and grace, that is what Nancy was. I learned so much from her programs. Heaven has just received on very special lady.

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