Elsie Christina Sailors

Elsie Christina Peterson Sailors passed away peacefully on July 4, 2022 at the age of 85. She was born in Canwood, Saskatchewan Canada at a midwife’s home on August 22, 1936 to Pete and Ethel Peterson. She was the youngest of four children. She attended elementary school in Dry Creek and went to high school in Shellbrook. She and her sister boarded at a home during the week and went to school. They came back to Canwood on the weekends. Elsie came to the United States and studied elementary education at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and got her degree in teaching. She met and married Dennis Sailors on December 22,1958. They were married for 59 years.

Elsie is preceded in death by her husband Dennis K Sailors, parents Pete and Ethel Peterson and brother Egnar Lundeen.

Elsie was a big cheerleader! She cheered on son Derek in high school and college at his basketball games. When he played professionally in Portugal she even made a trip to watch him play. She cheered on Shelley in swim meets. She loved cheering on grandsons Jesse and Jordan. She missed only a few of their basketball and football games at East High School and when they played in college.

She loved to travel and went to various countries in Europe and also went to Hawaii.

She worked for the State of Nebraska at the Nebraska State Historical Society and later on for the State of Nebraska Unemployment Insurance Office as an investigative agent. She retired and volunteered at Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital, where she loved helping people and seeing old friends coming in and needing directions.

Her greatest joy was being with her family. Jesse and Jordan were her world. She was so excited when they brought some “pink” into her world, wives Erin and Lacy and their daughters Teagan, Brooklyn, Hayden and Lennon!! She loved weekly phone calls from Derek in Arizona. She lived a block from Shelley and Randy before she needed to move to assisted living.

She is survived by son Derek, daughter Shelley (Randy) Bouwens, Grandsons Jesse (Erin) Bouwens, Jordan (Lacy) Bouwens and great granddaughters Teagan, Brooklyn, Hayden, Lennon and a fifth grandchild arriving at the end of the year! She has two surviving siblings in Canada, Evert Lundeen and Gertrude Lofstrom and three nieces and their families.

Elsie was a dear sweet lady and many people have commented about her kind heart and smile. Her last few years as her memory faded, she spoke all the time about going back to visit Canada and her parents. She will be greatly missed but we find comfort in knowing she is back with them now. Her kindness and love made this world a better place.

She will have a private family burial before her Celebration of Life. Her service will be Friday, July 15, 2022 at 10:30 AM at St. Mark's United Methodist Church 8550 Pioneers Boulevard, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Memorials can be sent to Alzheimer’s Association or American Cancer Society and her family would greatly appreciate your donations.