As the Philadelphia 76ers prepare for the for the crucial Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs, coach Nick Nurse was hit with a personal tragedy. The Philadelphia Enquirer reported that Nurse left the team briefly after Game 1 to attend his brother, Steve Nurse’s funeral. He is expected to be back for Game 2 against the New York Knicks.
Steve Nurse, 62, passed away “unexpectedly” last Wednesday on April 29. A cause of death was not revealed in the report. No details have been revealed by either the Philadelphia 76ers or Nick Nurse’s representatives. His funeral was held in Ankeny, Iowa, the Enquirer reported.
However, it has sparked interest among Philadelphia 76ers fans and NBA fans in general about Steve Nurse and the family of Nick Nurse.
Nick Nurse Family: Who Was His Brother, Steve?
Steve Nurse was the older brother of Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse. An obituary published on the Memorial Services of Iowa notes that Steve Nurse passed away in Carroll, Iowa. It provides more details about the funeral, which was attended by Nick Nurse between Game 1 and Game 2 of the NBA Playoffs.
The visitation was held at Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart Catholic Church in Ankney. His burial was held at the church followed by the a service at the Ankeny Memorial Gardens.
Additionally, the obituary also provides more details about the family of Steve Nurse. It states that Steve Nurse was married to Lori Mueggenberg whom he met “while he was working as a lifeguard at the Breda swimming pool. They were married on August 12, 1988, in Breda, beginning a lifelong partnership together.”
It continues: “After graduating, Steve and Lori made their home in Council Bluffs for several years working at Eby’s Sporting Goods before returning to the Cedar Falls area. Steve dedicated 26 years to the University of Northern Iowa, serving as Athletic Equipment Manager.”
“While living in Cedar Falls, Steve and Lori welcomed their two children, Rachel and Andrew,” it notes, adding that they moved to Ankeny, Iowa, in 2020.
As of now, Nick Nurse has not officially reacted to the death of his brother. Notably, Nick Nurse has five older brothers—including Steve (four years his senior) and Jim (the eldest)—plus three sisters.
