Sara Marie Deitrich

Our beautiful mother, daughter, sister, niece, cousin, aunt, and friend passed away peacefully on October 20, 2023, at her home in Appleton, Wisconsin. Sara was born in 1968, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the daughter of Michael G. Mladejovsky and Gail L. Johnson. A few weeks after Sara celebrated her first birthday, she became a big sister to her beloved and only sibling, Michele. The two were inseparable from the very first moment. When Sara started kindergarten, Michele would wait outside every day, anxious for her to return—a pattern that continued for all their lives. When they were younger, Mike, Gail, Sara, Michele, and the girls’ cousin Aaron loved to ski at Taylor Mountain Resort in Idaho, camp, waterski, travel the world, and visit Lake Powell.

Sara attended Highland High School in Salt Lake City, UT (Go Rams!), and graduated from Lawrence University, Appleton, WI, in 1991 with a B.S. in Chemistry. While at Lawrence, Sara was the president of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and made many life-long friends. In 2016, Sara graduated with honors from Rasmussen College with her Professional Nursing Degree. Sara was also Wound Care Certified by the National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy. Sara had a brilliant mind and an even bigger heart. She was a dedicated and excellent nurse who cared for her patients with skill and endless compassion.

Sara’s greatest accomplishment in life was being the mother of three amazing sons: Connor, Sam, and Jack. Sara adored her boys. Sara and the boys’ dad, John, enjoyed watching the boys excel in swimming and other sports and were so proud of college- graduates Connor and Sam, and now Jack as he attends college in Arizona. One could not stop Sara from talking about the three boys’ adventures and pursuits and about what wonderful young men they have become. She loved them beyond measure.

Sara is survived by her children: Connor, Sam, and Jack Deitrich; sister: Michele Christiansen Forster (Daniel); parents: Michael Mladejovsky (Diana Atkins) and Gail Johnson (Steven); maternal aunt and uncle Kay and Keith Krebs; cousins: Aaron Weil (Linda) and Dasha Mladejovsky (Bill Ayzin); nieces: Adison and Cate Christiansen; and many friends.

Sara was preceded in death by her grandparents: Miloslav and Marie Mladejovsky and Clifford and Ada Gartmann; and her paternal aunt and uncle, Jindra and Lou Miniver. Sara had a special place in her heart for her Grandpa Cliff—he taught her to be gentle, loyal, and unfailingly kind.

Sara’s family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to her incredible friend and neighbor, Heidi Anderson. Thank you for caring so much and so well for our mother, daughter, aunt, cousin, niece, and sister. A celebration of Sara’s life will be held at a later time. In honor of our sweet Sara, choose the road to joy.