Elwood “Woody” L. Nauss, of Harrisburg, PA, passed away in Harrisburg, PA, on September 8, 2023, at age 85 from complications due to dementia. 

Woody is survived by his daughter, Jennifer “The Kid” Nauss, of Mechanicsburg, PA. He was Pepop to his granddaughters, Rhiannon Fendrich (husband Andy) and Savannah Bellem (husband Jon); and five great-grandchildren. Woody is predeceased by his wife, Delores (Foster) Nauss, mother, Luella (Edwards) Young; step-father, John Young; father, Elwood C. Nauss, and children, Susan, Robert, and Jeannette. 

Woody was born in Harrisburg, PA, on July 7, 1938. He attended John Harris High School. Woody retired from TRW/Chromolloy where he was a parts inspector. He also operated Woody’s Body Shop in various garages on the East and West Shores. Woody was a life-long Phillies fan, even though he always bitched about them. His love was freestyle roller skating. You could find him at Rainbow, Hagy’s, and Fountainblu. He had the greatest sit spin ever until a broken ankle in his 40s that never healed right ended his skating days. He enjoyed riding rollercoasters and vacationing in Wildwood, NJ.

There will not be a service. Instead, Jennifer and family will take Pepop's remains/urn to Wildwood, N.J., for a walk on the boardwalk, Skee-Ball, riding the Tram car, and sitting in the sand. 

You can make memorial contributions to Jennifer’s Harrisburg Walk to End Alzheimer’s campaign at http://act.alz.org/goto/thekidwalks4woody. Your donations will help in the fight against the horror that is Alzheimer’s and dementia-related diseases.

From Jennifer: My father was ravaged by dementia, leaving him a shell of a man in a journey that lasted three years through the severe dementia stage. In 2021, in the midst of his severe dementia, this previously hardworking, hard playing, always bull-headed man suffered a severe stroke that left him paralyzed on one side, in even greater cognitive decline, and unable to feed himself. I then put him on comfort care through hospice as he was not expected to live more than six weeks. He survived for two more agonizing years even though he had zero quality of life, other than being pain-free, and despite getting COVID-19 a second time. I am forever grateful that while I went to see him weekly, I was able to see him almost every day in the week leading to his death. I was with him until about an hour before he passed and will treasure him reaching for me, and I was able to hold his hand against my cheek. 

While my Dad's journey is over, and he is whole again in mind, body, and spirit, I will continue to Walk to End Alzheimer's in my Dad's memory (this year carrying a purple flower) so that someday other families and their loved ones don't have to experience the horror of this disease.

Many thanks to the caring staff at Spring Creek M4 for always treating him with dignity.