Nancy Mulnix Tweddale

Nancy Mulnix Tweddale, age 85, of Grand Rapids, MI passed away peacefully on July 9, 2025, at Commonwealth Senior Living of East Paris. Born on November 26, 1939, in Flint, MI, Nancy was the beloved daughter of Robert and Margaret Middlesworth. She was predeceased by her parents, her son, Robert Bruce Mulnix, and by her husband R. Bruce Tweddale. She is survived by her daughter, Susan Kim Mulnix Wade and by Susan’s children, Nancy’s beloved grandchildren, Kevin Michael McPoland and Aubrey Elizabeth Wade. She is also survived by her wonderful Tweddale family: Dave and Sheri, Tim and Angie, John and Jenina, Paula Tweddale Dykstra and Rich Dykstra; nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Nancy’s friendship with Shawn Van Dyk and with her daughter, Ava, meant a great deal to her. She thought of them as family.

Nancy always considered her responsibilities as a wife and mother as most important, but she also worked for many years as a community volunteer. In 1967 she initiated the project that resulted in the acquisition of the Alexander Calder stabile, “La Grande Vitesse”, for Grand Rapids, MI in 1969. The Calder made art history for this city because it was the first time the US Federal Government and an American city had jointly commissioned an original work of art for a specific civic site. Today, likenesses of La Grande Vitesse show up throughout Grand Rapids, from official stationery to street signs to garbage trucks, and even the city's official logo.

In 1971, Governor William Milliken appointed Nancy to a four-year term on the recently formed Michigan Council for the Arts. 

Nancy also served as Chair and Vice Chair of the Grand Valley Colleges Foundation, volunteered at Mary Free Bed Hospital, the Grand Rapids Art Museum, the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, the Grand Rapids Junior League, the Little Folks Welfare Society, and as an elementary school tutor. She also co-chaired the children’s involvement area for the first 10 years of the Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts held at Calder Plaza.

Nancy graduated with a BA in Philosophy, magna cum laude, from Aquinas College, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Grand Valley State University, and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of Notre Dame. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Art from Grand Valley State University in 2017.

Professionally, Nancy began her career as a psychologist at the University of Illinois Center for Craniofacial Anomalies at the Medical Center in Chicago. That patient population consisted of children born with severe birth defects of their heads and faces. Later in Florida, she worked as the Bereavement Counselor for Hospice of Palm Beach County. She then was hired to provide psychological support services to the patients and families of Comprehensive Cancer Center associated with JFK Hospital near West Palm Beach. 

As per Nancy's request, no funeral or memorial service will be held. Memorial Donations may be made in Nancy Mulnix Tweddale’s name to The World Wildlife Fund, Inc. (WWF), at 1250 24th Street NW, Washington, DC 20037.