Nancy Ann Pairolero Sherk

Nancy Ann Pairolero Sherk, born in Wakefield, Michigan, to Frank Joseph Pairolero and Vivian (Robbins) Pairolero, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family, having enjoyed a long life marked by deep faith, service, and love for family, community, and creation.

Nancy graduated from the University of Michigan with a nursing degree in 1959 and, that same year, married Dr. Douglas Dafoe Sherk. They shared 57 years of marriage until Doug’s passing in 2016. Nancy worked as a nurse first at the University of Michigan Women’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and later at Crystal Falls Community Hospital in Crystal Falls, Michigan. After moving to Marquette, Michigan, she managed her husband’s medical practice while they raised their three boys. During this time, she also obtained an associate degree in culinary science. After closing the medical practice, they retired to Eagle Harbor Township, Michigan, on the shores of Lake Superior in the Keweenaw Peninsula.

Following her husband’s passing, Nancy lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan, remaining closely connected to her family as she developed new friendships and contributed to life at Clark Retirement Community.

She is survived by her siblings Frank, Marlene, Annette, and Tom; her sons Eric Sherk (Mary), Ben Sherk (Rebecca), and Jon Sherk (Tatyana); eight grandchildren (Andrew, Peter, Emily, Harley, Sarah, Tabitha, Josiah, and Nika); and two great-grandchildren, Milo and Chandler.

Family and community were at the center of Nancy’s life. She was a member of St. Stephen's Catholic Church, P.E.O. International, and the University of Michigan Alumni Club. Throughout her life, she gave generously to causes that helped people in need and worked to preserve the wild beauty of the places she loved, especially the wilderness of her beloved Keweenaw in the Upper Peninsula.

Nancy set a lifelong example of courage, independence, loyalty, generosity, encouragement, and love, blazing trails and winning admiration everywhere she went. Her bright smile, strong voice, enduring faith, commitment to preserving the wild beauty of the Upper Peninsula, and incredible love for her family will endure through generations. She loved and was loved deeply.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Keweenaw Land Trust (https://keweenawlandtrust.org) or Feeding America West Michigan (https://www.feedwm.org), both of which she generously supported.

She is the Queen.