Mardell June Sanders (Sanburg)

Mardell June Sanburg Sanders

January 17, 1932 – April 4, 2020

Montrose –  Mardell June Sanburg Sanders was born to a pioneer family who arrived in the Montrose area in the 1870’s. She was born in the home of her parent’s George Oscar Sanburg and Maude May Leonard Sanburg. Mardell was an adventurous child, who tagged along behind her older siblings, Russell Edward Sanburg, Evelyn Lane and Alice Hays. She told stories of how she road bareback on horses that the family raised for the U.S. Calvary, and she and older brother Russell would float on the ice in the Uncompahgre River.

As a child, she attended school in Montrose and graduated from Montrose High School, she then attended Western State College and Mesa College. She married Shirley Sanders, from the California Mesa area near Delta, Colorado in 1953. To this union they had 5 children, Elaine Kennedy, Randy Sanders, Janice Sanders, Robin Sanders and Marilyn Vigil.

Her spirit continues in her children, their spouses and her 13 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

We were all blessed to have known Mardell. She was a mother, a rancher and a real estate mogul.

We have many fond memories. She had a unique way of letting a sassy child or animal know they were on the wrong path. They might expect to see a rock coming their way and Mardell had a pretty good arm.  She loved animals including Robert the Bobcat, Bucky the Sheep and especially Huck the Wonder Dog. She loved to drive fast and a good cup of coffee. She had a great sense of humor and would light up and share that with her grandchildren even at the end. She was generous to a fault with family and even strangers. Her last wish was for everyone to be kind to each other.

She was loved and will be sorely missed. It breaks our hearts to have to say goodbye to her. She is preceded in death by her grandson, Jonathan Kuchler who passed away in 2014, and husband, Shirley passed away on January 27, 1985.

A graveside service for immediate family will be held Tuesday April 14. A celebration of her life will take place later this summer. In lieu of flowers we ask donations to be made to Hope West Hospice.

Arrangements are being handled by Crippin Funeral home.