402.476.1501 | 1600 West O Street | Lincoln, NE 68528 trumpmemorials@windstream.net

A memorial service for Sarah L. Fairchild, 58, of Lincoln, will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, at St. Mark’s on The Campus Episcopal Church, 1309 R Street, in Lincoln. A reception will follow at the church.
She died Monday, Oct. 30, 2017, at Bryan Health Medical Center in Lincoln.
_________________________________________________________

Sara Louise Sieler was born in Wahoo, Nebraska, June 24, 1959. After her graduation from Norfolk High School in 1977, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English in 1981 from Doane College in Crete, followed by a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing from the University of Nebraska in 1986. That same year she married Mark D. Fairchild, at which time she changed the spelling of her first name to Sarah.

Sarah was a poet and fiction writer from a young age. In 1976 she won the second place prize in the Bicentennial Commission of Pennsylvania’s “My America” national competition. While working as the special orders clerk at  Nebraska Book Store after college, she developed skills and connections with the writing community in Lincoln and greater Nebraska.  She worked for several years during the 1980’s as an editorial assistant for the Prairie Schooner Literary Magazine. She founded and owned  Black Star Press, and published the Nebraska Poets Calendar for many years.  In 2011, Sarah helped found the Collaborative Poetry Project.

Sarah was also active teaching composition, business writing, creative writing, and speech at various colleges in Lincoln including Kaplan University (previously known as Lincoln School of Commerce, and Hamilton College), Southeast Community College, The College of St. Mary’s, and Union College.
Most recently, Sarah was employed as a mentor for highly gifted students in the Lincoln Public Schools, facilitating their exploration of a great number of topics and interests, while honing their expressive skills.

Sarah was active in her church and world, officially as the Director of Christian Education at St. Mark’s on The Campus, and also as a member of both The International Order of St. Luke the Physician, and Camp Farthest Out spiritual association. Amnesty International and the Prairie Peace Park also benefited from her service.

Sarah was a beloved wife and mother, and friend. She touched many lives, for the better.

Sarah was preceded in death by her parents,  Hugo and Barbara (Packard) Sieler. She is survived by husband Mark of Lincoln, daughter Margaret (Eric Lauer) of Reston, VA, son Michael (Amy) and granddaughter Chloe all of Lincoln, brother Dave (Susan) Sieler, and sister Shirley (Mark) Klafter of Norfolk, NE, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Condolences may be sent in care of St. Mark’s on The Campus Episcopal Church, 1309 R St., Lincoln, NE 68508.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Heifer Project, Amnesty International,  or St. Mark’s on the Campus.

Please feel free to share your stories and memories in comments on this page for Sarah’s family to enjoy.