Nancy A. Soda

Nancy Soda, age 87, of Princeton, passed away with her children by her side on Monday, February 10, 2025, at Ripon Community Hospital in Ripon, WI. She was born on July 24, 1937, at Berlin Memorial Hospital in Berlin, WI, the daughter of Jerome and Bonita (Warmbier) Lesniak.

Nancy grew up in the Neshkoro area and graduated from Wautoma High School in 1954. On October 6, 1956, she was united in marriage to Robert Soda at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Wautoma. Nancy was a proud and dedicated homemaker and mother. She was employed as a rural mail carrier for the United States Postal Service for over 20 years and was the first female rural mail carrier in the area. 

A devout Catholic, Nancy lived her faith every day. She was a faithful member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church of Princeton, a member of the Rosary Society, Council of Catholic Women and was the funeral dinner coordinator for many years. She was very proud of her renovation of the Crucifixion Statue at the entrance to St. John’s Catholic Cemetery.

Nancy enjoyed a fulfilling life filled with a variety of passions including gardening, bird watching, cross stitch, crocheting, picking hickory nuts, her chickens, and watching sports, especially Duke men’s basketball. Her greatest passion was cooking and baking. She took great pride in perfecting her recipes and reading and collecting cookbooks.

Her greatest legacy will be her dedication and devotion to her family, especially the joy her grandchildren and great grandchildren gave her.

Those Nancy leaves behind to cherish her memory include her children, Kimball (Tracy) Soda, Bradley (Kim) Soda, Natalie (Scott) Sondalle all of Princeton, Monica (Marty) Moldenhauer of Ripon, Trina (JO) Ostram and Rhonda (Chip) Horvath of Brandon; 13 grandchildren, Eric (Monique) Soda, Vanessa (Eric) Baumgartner; Samuel (Matt O’Brien) Sondalle, Lydia Sondalle; Chelsea (Jordan) Kastein, Brock (Kenna) Moldenhauer, Ava (fiancé Joseph) Moldenhauer; Emily (Tyler) Bahr, Morgan Ostram; Abigail (Dan) Fenton, Lucas (Kaeli) Horvath, Maria Horvath, Gabriel Horvath; great grandchildren, Lexia and Brecken Soda; Callahan Fenton; Collins and Haven Kastein; Lainey Bahr and Baby Bahr due in April; Blake Moldenhauer; brother, Jerome Lesniak of Sebring, FL; sister-in-law, Beatrice Mashuda of Mars, PA; other relatives and friends. Nancy was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Soda; daughter, Colette Ann Soda; parents, Jerome and Bonita Lesniak; brother, Pete Lesniak, sisters-in-law, Jeanne Lesniak, Shirley Lesniak, Virginia Rozek, Phyllis Bornick, Isabel Golz, Loretta Seman.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Nancy Soda will take place on Friday, February 14, 2025, at 11:30 a.m., with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m., at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 1211 W. Main St., in Princeton. Father Eric Nielsen will conduct the service. Burial will conclude the service in St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery. Please visit our website www.wachholzandsons.com to send a condolence or to share a memory of Nancy with her family. 

Nancy didn’t just pass through life; she left an indelible mark on every person who had the privilege of knowing her. She had a unique way of making everyone feel as if they were the most important person in the room. She could recognize the good in everything and everyone, even when the rest of the world could not. To the very end, she was more concerned about others than herself. To know her was to love her. May she fly with the angels and watch over us all.

Wachholz and Sons Funeral Home

Sunset Cremation Center in Princeton

Serving the Family, 920-295-6631

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