Tenacious athlete, lover of animals, Shelli Wagner dies at 49
Shelli Kay Wagner, a passionate athlete, successful business owner and lover of animals, died June 26 in her home surrounded by her family and close friends. She was 49.
A celebration of her life will be held at 4 p.m., July 11 at The Barn at Evergreen Memorial Park.
Born April 13, 1964 to Gene and Judy Wagner of Sterling, Wagner graduated from Sterling High School in 1982. She then attended Northeastern Junior College for two years and played for both the women’s basketball and softball teams. She continued her education at the University of Northern Colorado and graduated with a degree in education. It was during her tenure at UNC she was diagnosed with MS. And while she was unable to continue playing herself, Wagner soon found herself teaching and coaching basketball in Eaton.
Wagner later went on to work for K-Mart and own her own massage therapy business, Loosen Up!
Among her other accomplishments: she conquered the Bolder Boulder, traveled across the U.S. and Mexico and became a Master Diver.
Wagner died due to PML, a brain infection caused by her MS treatments. She is survived by her partner Heather Nanstiel, father Gene Wagner, sister and brother-in-law Mindy and Jeff Stewart, brother and sister-in-law Tyler and Shelly Wagner, niece MacKenzie Stewart, nephews Ryley Stewart and Ryan, Caden, Kye and Reese Wagner and many, many beloved friends. Shelli is preceded in death by her mother Judy Wagner, paternal grandparents Muriel and Gilbert Wagner, and maternal grandmother Anna Star.
Wagner had an immense love for all animals. A special fund has been created in her name at Canine Partners of the Rockies. The organization trains and places service dogs for people with disabilities in Colorado. The ShelldiKay Fund, (ShelldiKay was a nickname bestowed by Wagner’s grandmother) was formed specifically to help pay for emergency veterinary services for service dogs whose human partners cannot afford to pay for them. The Fund will also help puppy trainers cover the veterinary costs associated with raising great service dogs. Memorial contributions can be made to the ShelldiKayr Fund at Canine Partners of the Rockies, caninepartnersoftherockies.org.
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