Tanya Chidsey

Tanya Jo Clow Chidsey died unexpectedly on May 15, 2019 at home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She was born June 12, 1969 at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Tanya married John Chidsey in August, 2017; and they lived in Fort Lauderdale. She graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor's degree in 1992 and from Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids in 1987. Along with her brother Nathan, she attended the first Montessori Preschool in Cedar Rapids. During high school and at at Tanya's urging, her family had a wonderful year hosting Salome Menendez Diez, a foreign exchange student from Spain; and due to their friendship, Tanya in turn spent the next summer with Salome's family in Spain.

Prior to her marriage with John, Tanya lived in Fort Lauderdale for several years. She travelled extensively during her years as Vice President of Client Solutions at the Expert Global Solutions (EGS) company. She extended that sense of adventure that began soon following college spending several months in Kenya; and in subsequent years, she was able to use vacation time in Israel & Jordan, birdwatching in Costa Rica, skiing in Argentina, hiking in Iceland, and horseback riding on a mountain in Ecuador where she unfortunately broke her back! Nevertheless and irrespective of periodic setbacks, Tanya remained able to enjoy nature and the outdoors throughout her life including water and snow skiing, hiking, butterflies and birdwatching. She so enjoyed the time she and John spent together camping, boating, fishing, skiing and being with friends.

Tanya loved her roles as aunt to Sage Clow and Addison Jones and as stepmother to Dani, Stephi, and Grace Fleckenstein. She remained close to them all until the end of her life. Tanya nurtured an appreciation of nature in many ways in each of them through her enthusiasm and active support of fostering orphan animals through the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Organization. She always had pet dogs, kitties, and a bird if possible in her home. Thankfully, John loved them too!

Tanya loved their ski home in Angel Fire New Mexico where she developed lifelong relationships. enjoyed snow skiing hiking, whitewater rafting and especially the wildlife, deer, elk, bears, and the wild birds. She was looking forward to the building of their new ski house house right next door. Tanya loved camping in their camper, riding their Harley, boating and Kayaking which they never did without each other. Tanya was so excited to be part of "Pooches and Kitties of Hollywood" an organization created by Johns animal control officers in Hollywood Florida , endorsed by the City Commission, to build and run a No Kill animal rescue shelter for abused, abandoned , and injured animals . Tanya's love for animals was obvious with three Australian Shepherds, two siamese cats, one calico and one mane coon, and tweety

Tanya leaves behind husband John Chidsey, parents Donald and Toni Clow, brother Nathan and spouse Melissa Clow, step nephew Addison Jones and niece Sage Clow, stepson Jeffrey Chidsey and step granddaughter Marlee Chidsey, and many dear family and friends.

Tanya was preceded in death by her grandparents John and Hyla Clow and Merle and Dorothea Wirkler.

If people wish, donations might be made in memory of Tanya Chidsey to a charity of your choice or to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust: web server [emailprotected]; or Pooches and Kitties in Hollywood https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=3W6F5B6H5D7F2&source=url