Nelmarie “Nel” Epperley Sidlow joined her Heavenly Father on October 2, 2019 in Denver, CO.
Nel was born to Everett and Ida Epperley in Oklahoma City, OK on April 9, 1938. She attended most of her grade school in Haven, Kansas, and she graduated from Haven High School in 1956. She had a beautiful soprano singing voice and often sang solos at local high school musical concerts, and also played woodwinds and organ. She attended Fort Hays State College (now University), Hays, Kansas, where she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in May 1961. She taught English and Home Economics in Wichita, the Denver area, and other towns in Kansas and Colorado for much of her life.
Nel married, and she had two children, Danalynne “Dana” Sidlow (now deceased) and Michael Darren Sidlow. The family moved to the Denver, Colorado area, where we remember Nel and the kids would often take crafts classes (macramé, ceramics, etc.) together, and she would ferry Michael to his fly-tying classes. Fishing and backpacking were frequent family pastimes in those years, and Nel loved hiking and was always glad to be outdoors in the mountains.
Nel later divorced, and spent subsequent decades as an independent working woman in Denver. In August 1981, she received a Master of Science with a major in Gerontology from University of Northern Colorado. Nel worked several years for the Colorado Council on Aging, writing grants and establishing new programs for the aging while there.
While living in Colorado in later years, Nel changed her name to Anne Steele. During this part of her life, she helped many, volunteering at soup kitchens, donating items to charity, and giving the elderly rides to church and out for meals. Nel prayed for the whole family daily. The Bible was always by her nightstand. She trusted God’s will in all things.
Anne was preceded in death by her parents, and her daughter, Dana. She is survived by her son Michael (San Francisco, CA), granddaughter Christine Giebenrath, six great-grandchildren (all of Denver, CO), and her sisters Shirley (Wayne) Annsun-Donner and Marjorie Koenig (both of Wichita).
Nel was cremated. A private family graveside service and interment will be held this summer at Laurel Cemetery, Haven, KS. Anne’s wishes were to have her family and friends know that she loved them.