S. Kay Thaden-DeBoer
S. Kay Thaden-DeBoer
Dec. 6, 1948 – Dec. 10, 2018
S. (Sandra) Kay Thaden-DeBoer of Seward was born to Homer Oscar Thaden and Esther Emma (Osborn) Thaden on Dec. 6, 1948, in North Platte. She was the the fraternal twin to William Kent Thaden. She entered eternal life on Dec. 10, 2018, at age 70.
Kay grew up in Paxton, attending Paxton Consolidated Schools and graduating high school in 1967. After her father Homer passed in 1965, Kay spent an extra year caring for her still-grieving mother and graduated from North Platte Beauty School in 1968, acquiring her Nebraska Cosmetology License. She frequently used her skills for family and friends, although she never worked in a salon. Kay then graduated from Southeast Community College in Milford in 1970 with an associate’s degree in computer science. She took classes off and on at Concordia College (now University) starting in 1986, but was too busy with her job to complete her bachelor’s degree.
On Aug. 23, 1973, Kay married Warren Ray DeBoer in Lincoln, and to them two children were born, Titus Del in 1978 and Silas Aaron in 1980. The couple divorced on Sept. 27, 1985. She never remarried.
Kay enjoyed employment in the following settings: Steven’s Cafe in Paxton (where she learned to become a dump cook); Southeast Community College and Milford Rest Home in Milford; Saga in Palo Alto, California; Woodman Accident and Life in Lincoln; and the County Assessor’s Office and Walker Manufacturing in Seward. Taking pride of place, however, were the decades she spent working for Concordia University, starting July 28, 1981, through April 30, 2012, when she retired for health reasons at age 64. Kay began working in the bulk mail room in Brommer before being transferred to the Development Office in Weller, where she used her computer science degree as a data processor for gifts. Kay worked long hours during donation drives and holidays and even worked second and third jobs on the weekends at a grocery store and gas station to provide for herself and her two sons when finances grew tight in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Kay was an active member in the work of the Body of Christ, involved in various women’s groups, attended the United Methodist and Indian Hills Churches in Lincoln, the Evangelical Free Church in Seward and found her home at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward from 1984 until her death. When she could no longer attend services in person, she continued to be blessed by St. John’s DVD and Stephens Ministries. In the 1970s she volunteered as a youth leader for Sea Cadets and served in the Naval Reserves from 1974 to 1980. She was active in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League as well as the Seward chapter of Habitat for Humanity, serving as secretary and volunteer (while also volunteering her sons’ labor).
Kay’s joys were being active in her sons’ activities, from her role as an assistant Cub Scout Pack Leader to head cheering section for their various athletic, social, dramatic and religious activities. Kay had a zest for life, sharing laughter and the love of the Lord with everyone with whom she came in contact. She often sought out the people in the background to lift up and cheer, as she considered herself a background person. After her sons were out of the house Kay became a foster parent to help others as her house was empty, and she touched many lives with her concern and genuine friendship. She had a lifelong love of learning, always with a book in hand during leisure time and was immensely proud of her immediate and extended family’s accomplishments.
Kay was preceded in death by her father, Homer Oscar Thaden; her mother, Esther Emma (Osborn) Thaden; her nephew, Gary Dale Pugh; and her sister, Barbara (Dell) Pugh, all of Nebraska.
Kay is survived by her sons, Titus Del DeBoer and Silas Aaron DeBoer; her daughter-in-law, Carrie Jeanne Miller-DeBoer, Ph.D.; her grandsons, Levi, Audric and Torin; her siblings, Kent (Dorcas) Thaden of Nebraska, Ron (Karen) Thaden of Colorado, Don (Wanda) Thaden of Texas; her nieces and nephews, Brandon (Ingrid Jordon) Thaden Ph.D. of Wisconsin, Brooke (Tom) Thaden-Koch Ph.D. of Minnesota, Brent Thaden of Nebraska, Brian Thaden of Oregon and Brie (Adam) Pirkle of Oregon, Lonnie (Moana) Thaden, Landon (Tawnya) Thaden and Julie Thaden, all of Colorado, Donna Land-Jump, Tina-Marie Bowman, Annette Lea Davis and Allen Keith Bowman, all of Texas; her uncle, Gene (Mary) Osborn of Nebraska; and many dear relatives and friends.
While she was in the hospital from Aug. 1, 2018, until her death she enjoyed a succession of visitors, often remarking, “I never knew I had so many friends.”
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018, at Zabka Funeral Home in Seward. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 17, at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward, with the Rev. Dr. Brian Friedrich and the Rev. David Rempfer officiating. Memorial contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to the St. John Lutheran Church Tape Ministry or Concordia University. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.zabkafuneralhome.com.
