Nancy Held

Nancy ("Nan") Theuerkauf Held

Nancy (Nan) Theuerkauf Held, 80, a lifelong Erie resident active in the community passed away at St. Vincent Hospital on September 18th after a brief illness.


She was born September 10, 1935 in Erie to Dr. Frank J. Theuerkauf, Sr, and Margueritta McCormick Theuerkauf and graduated from Villa Maria Grade School and Mercyhurst High School.  

After graduating from Marymount College in Tarrytown, NY, with a bachelor's degree in psychology, she returned to Erie where she did social work before marrying and starting a family with the late John J. "Jack" Held.

In 1975 she embarked upon a career as a real estate agent, first working with her sister's firm Jane Theuerkauf, Realtor and after Jane's retirement founding her own business, Nan Held Realtors.  Motivating a team of agents she built a highly successful, award-winning business and was named Realtor of the Year in 1996.

Nan was a parishioner at St. Peter's Cathedral but attended Mass regularly at St. Andrew's church, St. Jude's, St. Joseph's and St. Patrick's.

Over the years she was a counsel and comfort to many, as well as a board member and active participant of many Erie-area charities.

Nan spent her retirement volunteering, traveling, and enjoying her grandchildren and friends. Even late in life she was always ready for adventure and always quick to help others, whether on an individual basis or through numerous local organizations.  Her deep love of Erie always came through.

Nan's lifelong passion for music started when she learned the piano and harp as a child and extended to her regular attendance at the Erie Philharmonic.  As late as last month she was helping her grandchildren with their music projects.

This year she took trips to France and South Africa and enjoyed a week-long 80th birthday celebration in Erie during August with all her children and grandchildren (some from as far away as Germany). Her last summer was emblematic of the way she lived her life:  with family; with verve and energy; with generosity of spirit; and in the sun!

We will miss her laugh, wisdom, caring gentleness, wherewithal, competitiveness (especially at board games!), get-up-and-go, intrepid spirit, organized mind, love of musicals, always-there-for-you-ness, endless supply of candy (in the kitchen drawer), hugs, and the words"you can do anything."

She is survived by her children, Ivan Held and his wife Patricia of Montclair, NJ; Andrew Held and his wife Maria of West Hartford, CT; Paul Held and his wife Wera of Mannheim, Germany; Margueritta Estes and her husband Richard of Erie; and Susan Zimmerman and her husband Dan of Erie, as well as 18 grandchildren.  She is also survived by her siblings, Dr. Frank J. Theuerkauf, Jr and his wife Millie; Jane Theuerkauf; John J. "Jack" Theuerkauf; and Mary Ree Travers; all of the Erie area.

Friends may call at John J. Quinn Funeral Home, W. 9th and Liberty Street on Monday from 2-5 and  7-9 pm and are invited to attend Prayer Services there Tuesday at 11:30 AM followed by a Funeral Mass at 12 noon in St. Patrick's Church, 130 E. 4th St.

Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Emmaus Soup Kitchen, 218 E. 11th Street, Erie, PA, 16503 or to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 5031 West Ridge Road, Erie, PA, 16506.