Nancy Sauder

NANCY A. SAUDER, 89, passed away peacefully and free of pain Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at her daughter's home in Whittier, California. She led a joyous and full life and always cherished her family and many friends.

Nancy was born in Dallas, Texas, on August 4, 1935, to Hunt and Besse Pearl (Hopkins) Allen. She was the youngest of three children.

She had many fond childhood memories to share, but one of her favorites was serving during WWII as a mascot for the Dallas Guardettes - a group of young women who raised money to support the war, of which her older sister was a part.

Years later, in Dallas, Nancy was invited to a blind date and met Edward "Bill" William Sauder. Bill was stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base near Wichita Falls, Texas. They were married on June 21, 1952, and lived in Amarillo, Texas, welcoming two children.

They moved their family to Sedgwick County in 1955. The family farmed south of Sedgwick for 28 years and moved to the town of Sedgwick in 1963. Six children later, Nancy completed her High School education at Sedgwick High School. She graduated in late 1963 with her husband and five children sitting in the front row.

While caring for her young family, Nancy was also active in many community-based organizations.

Perhaps her favorite project was creating the Sedgwick Jailhouse Museum. With a passion for history as her guide, Nancy began her mission in 2015 to renovate Sedgwick buildings that previously housed the town hall. Nancy spearheaded the renovation of the buildings, wrote the grants to secure funding, procured the historical items, and skillfully and artfully arranged them for display. This effort was made possible by Nancy and other community members working with the Town of Sedgwick, the William Stretesky Foundation, the Campbell Foundation, Sedgwick County Rotary, and private donations.

Other organizations near and dear to her heart included the Hippodrome Arts Centre, Antiques & Artisans, serving on the State Family Community Leadership Board, Extension Homemakers, the Colorado Welcome Center, FHA Chapter Mother at Revere High School as well as 4-H leader and leader-advisor.

Nancy's other activities included the Sedgwick Sanitation Improvement Committee, which helped secure Sedgwick's sewer; the 1976 Sedgwick County Centennial Committee, which she chaired; the Sedgwick County Economic Development Board, being a board member of N.J.C. Women's Resource Center and was a U.S. Census taker in 1970. She was very involved in politics on the local and state level, supported her husband's 12 years of service as a Sedgwick County Commissioner, and was the Republican nominee for the same office.

She worked at the Sedgwick Post Office for many years, was a co-owner of Gingerbread Haus in Ovid, was a board member of the Fort Sedgwick Historical Society, and was a proud member of the Fort Sedgwick Daughters of the American Revolution. She was an active member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Julesburg. She was quite a talented artist and enjoyed scrapbooking, especially with her dear friends from "The Rowdy Scrappers." She also tried her hand at quilting, painting, sewing, and crafts in general. An avid reader, she enjoyed participating in area book clubs, genealogy, and stamp collecting.

Nancy is survived by her children, daughter Kathy Magill of Greeley, CO; son David and wife Konni Sauder of Big Springs, NE; daughter, Jeanie Sauder and fiance Don Holt of Whittier, CA; son-in-law Raymond Schneider of Denver, CO; daughter-in-law Margo Sauder of Haxtun, CO; brother-in-law Dick Sauder of Pine Island MN; brother-in-law Fred and wife Janice Sauder of Eau Claire, WI; sister-in-law Charlene Sauder of Chappell, NE; 11 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, extended family, and many, many cherished friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Hunt and Besse Pearl (Hopkins) Allen; husband, Edward "Bill" William Sauder, sister, Edra Jean Price, and husband Earl; brother, Hunt Allen, Jr., and wife Jeanie; brother Hunt Allen, Jr. wife Mary; daughter, Julie Gay Sauder; daughter, Patricia Melnice; son, Robert Allen Sauder, and son-in-law John Magill.

Her light-hearted spirit will be forever remembered by all that knew her. Whippie Zip!!

Memorial services will be on Saturday, November 30, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Julesburg, with Rev. Trenton D. Christensen officiating. Inurnment will be in the Chappell, NE, cemetery later in the afternoon.

In lieu of flowers, please consider an online donation to the Hippodrome Arts Centre, or to the Daughters of the American Revolution by calling 800-449-1776.

Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsjulesburg.com, where the services will be streamed live.

Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Julesburg is in charge of arrangements.