Sara Gail Sevey

Sara Gail (Zeilinger) Sevey was born on October 23, 1944 to Thomas and Sylvia Zeilinger in David City, Nebraska. She grew up on a farm in David City and graduated from the local high school. After graduating, Sara received her bachelor’s degree from Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, graduating summa cum laude. On June 12, 1965, Sara married Norman Lewis in Cedar Rapids, and before their union ended in 1985, they were blessed with two children, Tiffany and Brian. Sara was later married to Myron “Mike” Sevey on June 20, 1992, in Cedar Rapids, and they were together until his passing in 2016. Sara dedicated her career to helping others at Toyota Motor Insurance Services. Her true vocation, however, was being the heart of her family. She was a woman of remarkable quiet strength and such deep humility that it was only recently, while going through old photos, that her family discovered she had been both her high school’s valedictorian and prom queen; she was so focused on the achievements of others that she never felt the need to brag about her own. Sara was a woman whose life was a masterclass in selflessness, and those who knew her were lucky to know her. Sara enjoyed life to the fullest, being a mom to everyone while always finding ways to keep her creative side shining. She was a talented seamstress who lovingly sewed her daughter’s clothes and passed that passion down through the generations; she spent hours crafting intricate outfits for her grandchildren’s Barbies and eventually taught her great-grandchild, Myra, how to sew, always finding ways to use her hands to care for others. Even the family pets were recipients of her endless thoughtfulness; one of her favorite ways to show love was baking homemade pumpkin treats for her daughter’s dog, Tucker, who absolutely adored them. She cared deeply for every family member, frequently traveling to visit her sister Marty in Seattle, her son, Brian and daughter-in-law Hilary, in Michigan—where she even tried kayaking in her 70s—and her granddaughter, Nicole, in Illinois. Sara enjoyed the outdoors, fishing, and gardening, but most importantly, she enjoyed her time spent with family. The family’s fondest memory was receiving a watercolor card for every birthday and holiday, showing Sara’s love and gratitude for family through art. Her devotion reached its peak with her great-grandchildren, whom she saw every single day; she was instrumental in their lives, teaching them their ABCs, how to read, ensuring they ate their fruits and vegetables, and constantly finding ways to bring them joy. A few years ago, she welcomed her cat, Pumpkin, into her life. Pumpkin kept her feeling young and happy, ensuring she always had a loyal companion by her side. There were no dull moments in that house; she made everyone feel loved and welcomed. Sara made a difference in everyone’s life. She didn’t just make a difference in the world; she made the world a softer, brighter place for everyone she loved. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mike Sevey; her parents, Thomas and Sylvia Zeilinger; her brothers, George, Ernest, and Philip Zeilinger; and her grandson, Christian Beer. Her legacy of immense kindness is carried on by her children, Tiffany (Andy) Beer and Brian (Hilary) Lewis; her stepchildren, Brian (Ruth) Sevey, Michael (Christie) Sevey, and Julie (Donald) Ringheisen; her siblings, Marty Ford, Joanne Owen (Steve Aderhold), and Dave (Sharon) Zeilinger; her grandchildren, Courtney (Phillip) Gammel and Nicole Beer; her great-grandchildren, Myra Johnson and Cassandra Gammel; her step-grandchildren, Andrea and Trevor Sevey, Jamie and Adam Ringheisen. A visitation will be held from 2-3 PM on Monday, May 11, 2026 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Elkhorn. A memorial service will follow at 3 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to: Doctors Without Borders, PO Box 5030, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5030 https://give.doctorswithoutborders.org/campaign/727211/donate Nebraska Humane Society, 8929 Fort Street Omaha, Nebraska 68134 https://nehumanesociety.org/give/give-in-honor-or-memory/

Sara Gail Sevey

October 23, 1944 - May 3, 2026