The indomitable Nancy Lee (Martin) Maul passed away June 13, 2025. She was born March 6, 1936 on the family dairy farm near Goshen, Indiana, the youngest of 3 daughters of Joe and Mabel (Weaver) Martin. The family moved in 1944 to northwest Nebraska, to run the farm that Joe’s Uncle Henry Bashor homesteaded. In Gordon the family joined the Mount Pleasant community, where many friendships were forged. The girls worked in the fields, the garden and the house helping their folks build a beautiful prairie home.
Nancy excelled in 4-H, raising steers which she showed at the Aksarben Stock Show in Omaha and the National Western Stock Show in Denver. “Half Pint” was a favorite. At Gordon High School she enjoyed marching band, drama club, and journalism. Nancy chose to go to Colorado A&M (now CSU) and major in Animal Production. She was managing editor of the Collegian newspaper, and aspired to go into Ag journalism. The charms of a young veterinary student, Marvin, led to marriage after graduation in August 1957.
The newlyweds settled on the Maul ranch southeast of Kiowa, Colorado and started a large animal practice, Comanche Veterinary Clinic. Melanie was born in 1962. Nancy was dispatcher, field assistant, bookkeeper, wife, and mother. The hours were long, the worries many - so in 1967 they moved to Michigan where Marv joined The Upjohn Co. The family then moved to California in 1970 for Marv’s job with Syntex Corporation.
In Sunnyvale, Nancy was a happily busy wife and mother – entertaining, being a Brownie leader, volunteering politically, cooking, and sewing. She went back to school to study Accounting, then worked at Home Savings & Loan and the Syntex Corporation Credit Union. Trips throughout California and Hawaii were a joy while living in the Bay Area.
In 1990, the Mauls moved to Colorado Springs to be near Brooks and Melanie. They worked on the ranch, volunteered for the Cheyenne Mountain Lions’ Club, and attended Colorado Cattlemen’s Association meetings. Nancy continued sewing, and created wonderful Mennonite recipe-based meals. Soup and pies were among her specialties. She enjoyed genealogy research, and reading about history, especially that of the West. Her grandson Henry was a welcome arrival in 1994.
Marv and Nancy loved working outside; beautiful gardens were cultivated at every home. Family time as Henry grew up revolved around Nancy’s meals, playing dominoes and watching college (Husker) football and NASCAR. After Marv’s passing in January 2022, Nancy moved to Castle Rock, where she embraced her caring neighbors.
Nancy leaves her daughter Melanie Imperial, son-in-law Brooks, beloved grandson Henry, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Dr. Marvin Maul, and sisters + brothers-in-law Dorothy (John) Schultz and Phyllis (Troy) Green.
Condolences can be sent to the Imperials at 12300 County Road 118, Kiowa, CO 80117.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent (designated “in memory of Nancy Maul”) to the Castle Rock Police Department K9 Program, 100 Perry Street, Castle Rock, CO 80104.
