Nancy Sterkel passed away peacefully at her home in Northglenn on July 11, 2024 at the age of 80 following a brief but difficult battle with lung cancer. Throughout her illness she remained funny and positive and enjoyed her family, friends, and bucket list events.
Nancy was born in Evanston, Illinois to Dewey and Alice Erickson. She grew up as a proud Yooper in Marquette, Michigan with her parents and brother Larry. After graduation from high school, her family relocated to Aurora, Illinois, where she met and married her husband of 59 years, John Sterkel. In 1969, she and John moved to their new family to Northglenn, Colorado. In her late 20s, Nancy worked as an elementary school lunch lady at Wyco Elementary School, which allowed her to be home afterschool with Jeanette and Doug. John opened Automotive Alignment in Arvada and soon Nancy worked in the office and later as the office manager. When they retired and closed the alignment business in 2005, she went back to work as a lunch lady at Federal Heights Elementary, retiring in 2016.
Nancy had a brilliant and bright personality and loved to support and care for others. She spent many years as a parent and adult leader in the local and state chapters of the International Order of Job’s Daughters, serving as both a Bethel Guardian and Grand Guardian for the State of Colorado. Nancy was also a strong supporter of her children and grandchildren’s activities. You would always find her cheering the loudest at drag races, soccer games, football games, baseball games, scouting, marching band competitions, concerts and theatre performances. Everyone Grandma Nancy met, knew, and loved her. In her ‘free time’ you would find her gardening, baking, camping, traveling or just sitting in the sunshine.
Nancy is survived by her husband Richard (John) Sterkel, her children Jeanette Hensel (Dave) and Doug (Kimberly) and her grandchildren Jessica (Brandon), Daniel, Benjamin and Andrew. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Gloria Sterkel and numerous nieces, nephews, and their families.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Dewey and Alice and brother Larry, along with many aunts, uncles and in-laws.
A Celebration of Life and Reception will be held on Monday, July 22, 2024 at 2:30pm at Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary & Cemetery, 7777 W. 29th Ave in Wheat Ridge, CO. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lung Cancer Research Foundation at https://www.lungcancerresearchfoundation.org
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