Nancy Lynne Foster Warnick December 5, 1943 - July 11, 2026

Nancy Lynne Foster Warnick passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by family on July 11, 2026.  Nancy (Nance, Gramma Nance, Ancy) was born on December 5, 1943 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Ivan James Foster and Hildred Tavia Aycock. She grew up on 700 East in Sugarhouse until the street was widened and the family bought a newly built home on Jasper Street and 2700 South. She graduated from South High in 1962, participating in the a cappella choir, theater (as the bear in Calamity Jane), Southern Belles pep club, and yearbook committee. She attended the University of Utah then was called as a missionary to Vienna, Austria, where she served honorably and met her future husband and father of their five children, George Russell Warnick. They married and she transferred to Utah State University, graduating with a degree in Math Education. After returning to Utah later in life, she took classes at BYU and was proud that she had attended all three major Utah universities. All her children graduated from BYU as well and she enjoyed many years of supporting her children, grandchildren, the arts, and athletics at BYU. When watching sports with her sisters, she would change her jacket from red to blue, depending on which team was winning.

As a young family, the Warnicks moved from Utah to San Antonio, Texas then San Francisco, California, then settled in Issaquah, Washington. Nancy loved music, art, literature, cooking, gardening and especially her family – her five children and their spouses, 21 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren. She taught piano lessons for many years, including to her own children and grandchildren, and was a math teacher at Issaquah Middle School. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she served in many church callings and loved teaching. She taught Seminary, Sunday School, and Relief Society, and her lessons were beloved and remembered by many. She served as the organist in her congregation for most of her life and her children remember many Sundays when mom would be at the organ to start and end the service, leaving ample opportunities for naughty behavior from the unattended children. She’s always been independent, maybe even a bit feisty, and set a precedent especially for her daughters and granddaughters to be confident and dream big. After a divorce and moving to Spanish Fork, Utah, Nancy’s home was a central meeting place for many joyful family gatherings with children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and friends. We will always remember her Sunday family dinners, road trip snacks whenever we left, including carrots and apples sliced just her way, and the sparkle in her eyes every time she smiled.

Nancy loved travel, adventure, and was a woman of great faith, service, and devotion. One of the many meaningful experiences of her life was a mission to Johannesburg, South Africa with her sister Kathy. They lived in Nelson Mandela’s neighborhood and she was always proud to share his story and the history of South Africa.

Preceded in death by her mom and dad, brother Bob Foster, and sister Marilyn Wright, she is survived by her sister Kathy Gehrke, her children Karl Warnick (Shauna) of Spanish Fork, Utah; Kristan Warnick of Salt Lake City, Utah; Maren Longhurst (Larry) of Valleyford, Washington; Kathryn Jones (Shannon) of Pullman, Washington;  David Warnick (Sarah) of Sundance, Utah, their father Russ, and her beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren.  

Nancy died just as she lived: organized, practical, and efficient, preparations made, checklists checked, burial dress ironed and hanging ready in her closet – loving and surrounded by the love of her precious family.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to mom’s oncologist of 15 years, Dr. Rich, to her many devoted friends, and to the members of the Aspen Heights 2nd Ward for the exceptional love, kindness, and support they provided over the years.

“The only way to take sorrow out of death is to take love out of life.” ~ President Russell M. Nelson

A visitation will be held in Nancy’s honor on Tuesday, July 21, 2026 from 3:45 – 4:45 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 1911 East 1850 South, Spanish Fork, Utah. Her funeral services will follow at the same location, beginning at 5:00 p.m. Burial will be at Memorial Mountain View cemetery in Cottonwood Heights, Utah.