Keith ‘Gerard’ Nanz
- On December 18, 2021
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Keith ‘Gerard’ Nanz passed away peacefully on December 18, 2021, at the age of 79. Despite his more recent health complications, Keith showed us all what it means to live a life of gratitude and love.
Keith first met the love of his life, Lora ‘Ruth Ann’ Nanz(Pals), while students at Notre Dame and St. Mary’s. Whileit took many years and many turns for their paths to cross again, but once they did, Keith and Lora never left one another’s side. Together they built a family, with daughter Erika (Fred), and son, Jonathan (Jennifer). Family was everything to Keith and he bestowed his generosity andaffection on all, especially his five grandchildren, Gunnar, Asher, Addie, Colton and Wyatt, to whom he was fondly known as ‘Pops’.
Following Lora’s death in 2006, Keith often commented ‘I’ve had the best, everything else is a bonus’ and that mantra led him to many travels and adventures, with his loving companion, Patricia Fanelli. Keith spent his well-earned retirement happily cutting acres of grass and sipping Southern Comfort.
After suffering a severe stroke in 2016, Keith moved back home to Pittsburgh where his son, Jonathan, sisters, Janice Robbins and Joyce Sampogna and brother, Fr. Jack Nanz, devotedly cared for him. Prior to the pandemic, a bright spot in Keith’s week were his Saturday outings to his son’s house, where he sat by the fire, cheering on his beloved Fighting Irish. He also looked forward to the many FaceTime sessions with his daughter and her family in Florida and their visits to Pittsburgh to see ‘Pops’.
Keith’s family will miss his sharp humor, classic style, andenthusiasm for life, but most of all the love he gave.
Preceded in death by his parents, John and Dolores, wife, Lora, and sister, Judy Gill, a celebration of Keith’s life will be held in the new year. In lieu of flowers or a donation, please treat your family to a dinner out and tip your server generously, as Keith always did. The family would like to thank the staff at ProMedica (ManorCare) in Peters Township, for their compassion and care in the final years of Keith’s life.
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