Mary Norelius Sander

Born November 17, 1933 in Carroll, IA Died January 29, 2016 in Louisville, CO Mary Norelius Sander passed away at TRU Hospice Care Center in Louisville, Colorado on January 29, 2016 at the age of 82 after a long, valiant fight with cancer.  Mary Elsie Norelius was born in Carroll, Iowa on November 17, 1933 to Everett Albert Norelius and Lucile Quinn Norelius.  She grew up in Denison, Iowa and after graduating from Denison High School in 1951, she graduated Grinnell College in 1955 with a major in English and Journalism.  She was then employed at the Des Moines Register for 1 year.  She graduated from the University of Iowa in 1959 with a Masters in Counseling and Guidance, and she was employed as Head Counselor of The Commons dormitory and Burge Hall while getting her degree. Mary married Daryl Sander August 19, 1961 in Denison, IA, and they moved to Boulder, Colorado where he was Assistant Professor in the School of Education at the University of Colorado.  Mary and Daryl lived in Bangkok, Thailand 1968-69 where Daryl had a Fulbright Fellowship and taught at Prasarnmitr University, and she taught English to Thai students through the American University Women.  When they returned to Boulder, they adopted their son William Dirck Sander in 1970.  In 1979-80, the family lived in Augsburg and Heidelberg, Germany where Daryl taught for Boston University.  Mary worked one year as Assistant to Dean of Women at University of Colorado.  She was active in the Faculty Women’s Club as well as being supportive and involved with her husband’s career and a full-time mother and homemaker.  Daryl retired as Professor in 1989 and they began spending winters in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Mary was a homemaker and care-giver when Daryl passed away in 2006. Mary’s interest in International Education led to the family hosting university students from Japan, Thailand, and Germany through the years.  She was also on the board of BFIS (Boulder Friends of International Students) as liaison to local schools.  Mary received the Alumni Award in 2005 from Grinnell College for her service as class agent (since 1975) writing newsletters and general devotion of time and energy to Grinnell.  She was a member of Chapter CZ, P.E.O. for over 60 years, a member of First Presbyterian Church in Boulder, and an inactive member of Order of Eastern Star having served as Iowa Grand Worthy Advisor, Order of Rainbow Girls.  Other interests through the years included world travel and taking cruises, genealogy, swimming, skiing, watching CU and Broncos football, playing piano, reading, creating photo albums, and scrapbooking.   Mary was proud of her family and their pioneering history in Iowa.  She lived a wonderful, full life, and she will be dearly missed by her family and many friends. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother William (Bill) Quinn Norelius, and nephew Erik Norelius.  She is survived by son William Sander and his wife, Lori of Eaton, Colorado, sister-in-law Diane Norelius of Denison, IA, niece Kris (Dan) Ertel of Eugene, OR, niece Juli Nelson of Evergreen, CO and her nieces’ and nephew’s children.  Per Mary’s wishes, there will be a private memorial service held for family in Denison, Iowa this spring.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers through the Boulder Community Health Foundation, P.O. Box 9019, Boulder, CO 80301.