Elaine Grace Sleek

Elaine (Pavlik) Sleek was born on January 31, 1937 in Newburgh New York, to Stephen and Grace (Toth) Pavlik. She graduated from Newburgh Free Academy in 1955 and went on to attend Vassar Brothers School of Nursing where she earned her degree as a Registered Nurse. Elaine married “Buddy” Sleek, her high school sweetheart, in August 1958, and together they built their first home in Newburgh.

In 1963, daughter Jennifer joined the family, and in 1965, son Adam arrived. In early 1966, Bud’s job at IBM brought the young family across the country to a sparsely populated part of Boulder County where the new IBM plant was located.

Elaine and Bud built a close community in their new neighborhood in Gunbarrel, and being far from family in New York, became like family with neighbors and members of their small church (which they helped build). Elaine and Bud also maintained very close connections with their family and lifelong friends back east, especially Martha and Jay Hasbrouck, and Jean and Charlie Homan who were “Aunt” and “Uncle” to their children.

Elaine dedicated herself to raising her two children, and returned to work as a nurse part time when they were in junior high. Over the course of her nursing career, she worked in a variety of settings including hospital, medical center, and private practice. Elaine was a dedicated and caring nurse. She also maintained a lifelong friendship with her nursing school classmates, and returned for annual reunions, and later planned a number of trips for and with her friends in a variety of locations in the United States and Europe.

Elaine loved her children, her son-in-law Stein Klevdal, and was delighted to spend time and share experiences with her grandchildren – Jordan and Christian Klevdal, and Devon Sleek. She watched Jordan and Christian twice a week from infancy until elementary school, and was close with all three of her grandchildren as they grew up. In 2004, Bud and Elaine purchased a home (and then another) in Montana and every summer the family would spend time together on beautiful McGregor Lake.

Elaine lost her son, Adam Sleek, in November 2004, and her husband Bud in May 2012. Her deep and personal faith in Christ, as well as her strong relationships helped her get through these very painful losses. Elaine was able to remain living in her home independently, and then with some support, until September 2023, when she moved into AltaVita Memory Care. Her journey of dementia was sad and painful, and yet she remained cheerful and animated, even if she could no longer use words. Elaine’s decline intensified in late 2025, and then when it became clear that she was in her final days in January 2026, Jennifer and Stein brought her to their home, where she peacefully passed from this life to the next, surrounded by her dearly loved ones including grandchildren Jordan and Christian.

Elaine is survived by her daughter Jennifer and son-in-law Stein of Niwot, Colorado; granddaughter Jordan Klevdal of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; grandson Christian Klevdal of Baltimore, Maryland; and grandson Devon Sleek of Denver Colorado. Her extended family members live in New York, North Carolina, California and France.

A service to celebrate Elaine’s life will be held on Saturday January 31 at 11:00 am at Rocky Mountain Christian Church at 9447 Niwot Rd, Niwot Colorado 80503.