Nancy Keller

Nancy W. Keller, age 79, of Oakwood, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 2, 2026. Born on October 31, 1946, in Teaneck, New Jersey, to the late Theodore and Nadine (Barry) Weltner, Nancy grew up in Teaneck and graduated from Teaneck High School in 1964. She went on to earn a degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Dayton, beginning a long and dedicated career as an educator in the Dayton area.

Shortly after college, Nancy met John Keller in the apartment complex where she lived with friends. Their shared enjoyment of poolside gatherings, card games, parties, and travel blossomed into a deep and lasting love. They married in 1972 and built a loving home in Oakwood, where they raised their three children. Nancy taught for more than 30 years in the Dayton Public Schools, earning two Master’s degrees during her career before retiring.

Nancy’s life was enriched by her love of travel, a passion that began with childhood summers at the Jersey Shore. She shared this joy with her family through annual trips to Hilton Head Island, frequent visits to Lake Cumberland, and summers at Camp Miniwanca in Michigan, where she volunteered for over a decade alongside her children at a leadership camp for high school students. She also embraced skiing, progressing from day trips at Sugarcreek to weekends in Michigan and eventually the mountains of Colorado. At home, she found pleasure in bridge groups, sewing, knitting, and greeting neighbors from her front porch on Lonsdale Avenue.

Above all, Nancy cherished her family. Her greatest joy came from her seven grandchildren, who were the light of her life. She loved them deeply, took pride in their every accomplishment, and created countless cherished memories with them. Her friendly, outgoing spirit touched everyone who knew her and will be deeply missed.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers-in-law Mark Keller and Ralph “Chris” McDonald. Nancy is survived by her beloved husband of 53 years, John Keller; her children, Corin (Mark) Hogan, Lindsay (Geoff) Lauterbach, and Adam (Tracie) Keller; her grandchildren, Ashley, Bennett, and Julia Hogan, Ryan and Laney Lauterbach, and Owen and Cecelia Keller; her siblings, Nadine McDonald, Theodore (Martha) Weltner, and Robert (Sharon) Weltner; and her siblings-in-law, Marinus (Laurie) Keller, Paul (Claudette) Keller, Mary Keller Welch, and Joyce Keller, along with many extended family members and dear friends.