Sara Ashley Nemecek

life story

A Journey Filled With Love

Sara's short battle with bladder cancer came to an end on Wednesday, August 2nd, 2023. She died peacefully, wrapped in the loving arms of her beloved wife Kim, surrounded by loved ones, just as she requested. The 42 days between her formal diagnosis and transition from this world were spent deeply in love and making the most of every single moment. Sara rallied all her strength and energy to travel to a favorite childhood vacation spot - Palm Island Resort on Don Pedro Island in Florida, accompanied by Kim, her sister Alicia, brother-in-law Doug and nephews Ethan and Ben. The week was spent playing a lot of cards, watching the sunsets, playing in the pool, celebrating her 51st birthday with lots of favorite snacks and a sunset beach photoshoot, and walking the beach in search of sharks teeth - Sara's most favorite vacation activity.

Sara had spent the majority of her life faced with significantly more than her share of medical issues stemming all the way back to her childhood. She lived daily with significant and often debilitating pain over the last few decades, yet participated in every moment of life with positivity. Sara sought to always see the good in both people and situations. Sara loved with a fierceness that was unprecedented and those who were fortunate enough to be on the receiving end of that love, knew without question how she felt.

Certainly not without faults, Sara was as strong willed and stubborn as they come, which played out to the very last moments of her life. Sara had strong opinions about things having a particular place or process, and often insisted that certain things happened in very particular ways. She was not above emptying and reloading a dishwasher if it wasn't done the way she liked and best of luck to anyone looking for logical organization in her kitchen.

Sara had an intense passion for fishing and took any and every opportunity along the way to throw a line in the water. Chartering boats in Alaska, Lake Superior, and Victoria Island, just to name a few, made her heart happy. She was a skilled card player, playing Pinochle (or Spades, Bridge, etc.) when ever she could. She particularly loved playing with her family but would try to convince anyone she encountered to learn and play. Sara loved animals. She and Kim were fortunate to live in a home with a backyard that hosted wildlife such a deer, fox, coyote, wild turkey, ducks, geese, ground hogs and bunnies. She could often be counted on to wake Kim in the predawn hours to "come look" at whatever might be grazing in the yard at the time. Sara adored the pack of fur babies she and Kim shared their lives with over the years; often giving in to 'just one more' at the whim of her wife. Sara loved and rooted for all the hometown Sports franchises, but football was her first love. A football enthusiast for certain, she was absolutely a lifelong Minnesota Vikings fan. From the early days of the Metrodome and Winter Park to the questionable off season moves over the summer of 2023, and all the heartbreaks in between, she lived and breathed the Vikes. While they didn't bring home the title during her lifetime in this world, her spirit will be with the team and cheering right along with the rest of us when they finally win the Super Bowl.

Sara was preceded in death by father John "Jack" Nemecek and her beloved Australian Sheppard Zoe. She leaves behind wife Kim O'Grady and their pack of fur babies Finn, Bella, Izzy, Luna and Androcles "Nugget", mother Barb (Harms) Nemecek, sister Alicia (Nemecek) Barber, brother in law Doug Barber, nephews Ethan Barber and Ben Barber, mother in law Linda O'Grady, and father in law Richard O'Grady as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and countless friends.

Sara did not want any formal services following her transition, but instead wished for a celebration of life, which will likely happen in the fall. Details will be communicated at a time closer to the event.