Helen "Ginger" Alexander Nash

Helen "Ginger" Alexander Nash, 63, of Naperville, Illinois, passed away unexpectedly on August 11, 2016 in Petoskey, Michigan.

Helen was born December 8, 1952, in Springfield, Illinois, the daughter of James Alexander and Bettie Eaton. She grew up in Lawrenceville and Springfield, Illinois, attended Western Illinois University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Education, and went on to attend Northern Illinois University where she received a Master of Science in Education.

She is survived by her husband of 34 years, Carlton Nash, who she married on August 14, 1982, as well as her three sons Alexander, of Chicago, IL; Trevor, of  Westminister, CO; and Jeremy, of Madison, WI.   Also surviving is her brother James Alexander, of Jacksonville, IL; three sisters--Anne Alexander Morris, of Marshfield, MA; Betsy Alexander Parsons, of Chesapeake, VA; and Missy Alexander, of Springfield, IL; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Helen is remembered for her eternal optimism, selflessness, and commitment to helping all around her.  She did her student teaching on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana and continued her teaching career at Elizabeth Ide Grade School in Darien, IL and Kennedy Jr. High School in Lisle, IL.  She took a break between Elizabeth Ide and Kennedy to devote her time to raising her three sons but continued her desire to educate others by leading school tours at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL.

From a young age Helen was passionate about the outdoors and conservation through her participation in Girl Scouts where she traveled throughout the United States on camping trips and eventually went on to manage summer camps in Hawaii and Wisconsin.  A love of travel took her all over the world but she returned every summer to Walloon Lake in northern Michigan where she’d been going since she was a child and which held a special place in her heart.  Both at the lake and in Naperville, Helen was active in book clubs, outdoor groups, kayaking, politics, church, conservation societies, hiking, and spending time with her family.   

A Celebration of her life will be held on September 24, at 1:00 at the DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church, where she was a member, at 1828 Old Naperville Rd., Naperville IL 60563.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Walloon Lake Trust and Conservancy  (Post Office Box 621 Petoskey, MI  49770), or a local chapter of the Girl Scouts.

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