Ida M. Nadeau, 81, of Soldier, KS, passed away Sunday, June 7, 2026, at Holton Community Hospital. She was born April 7, 1945, in Atchison, KS, the daughter of Tom and Ruth (Bidding) Watson.
Ida attended Effingham grade and junior high school and graduated from Atchison County Community High School in 1963.
She was employed by United Tribes of Kansas and Southeast Nebraska, Inc. for 27 years as the Director of Employment and Training. At the request of Senators John McCain and Nancy Kassebaum, she testified before the Senate Committee to reauthorize the Native American and Indian Employment and Training Act. From 2002 until her retirement in 2011, she worked for the Prairie Band Potawatomi Education Department as K-12 Student Services Coordinator.
Ida was a member of Holton First United Methodist Church and the Soldier Ladies Coffee Club. For more than 25 years, she served the City of Soldier in multiple positions including Mayor, Council Member, City Clerk, and City Treasurer. She was the first female council member elected in Soldier and the first female Mayor in Jackson County.
She married Leo A. Nadeau on April 4, 1964, in Holton, KS. He survives of the home. Other survivors include three daughters, Julie Bahret (Earl) of Soldier, KS, Peggy Hankerson (Terry) of Soldier, KS, and Jackie Heideman (Bruce) of Corning, KS; two sisters, Cora Chamber of Atchison, KS, and Ruth Dillon (Dick) of Effingham, KS; brother, Tom Watson (Bonnie) of Texas; six grandchildren, JD Bahret (Emily), Erikah Bahret (Sean Lloyd), Elyse King (Marques), Alyxis Haug (John), Kevin Heideman (Shayna), and Trent Heideman (Kristen); and twelve great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Tom and Ruth Watson, and a great-grandson, Anderson Bahret.
Funeral Service will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, June 15, 2026, at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton with burial to follow at Soldier Cemetery. Family will greet friends one hour prior to the funeral service. Memorials may be made to the Soldier Fire Department or Soldier Cemetery Board, c/o Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436.
To leave a special message for the family, visit www.mercerfuneralhomes.com.
