Sarah Lee Sear, 40, of Garber, died Monday, February 23, 2009, at Central Community Hospital in Elkader following a long illness. Sarah was born in Guttenberg on January 24, 1969, to Rodger Cletus and Norma Jean (Gillam) Sear. She graduated from Ed-Co High School and then attended college in Dennison for two years. She moved back to Garber and lived at home. Sarah was employed at Ertl's in Dyersville for a few years, Guttenberg Industries for ten years, MPC in Prairie du Chien, WI and Monona Wire in Edgewood several months before she became ill. Sarah loved cats and dogs, enjoyed reading and was especially interested in writing.

Survivors include her father, Rodger (Carla) Sear of Garber; her mother Norma J. Sear of St. Louis, MO; brother, Warren C. (Angela) Sear of Garber; half-brothers Rodger C. Sear III and fiancée, Stacy Davies of Garber and Bill D. Sear of Garber; half-sister Tanya (David) Drips of Elkport; aunts, Mary Lue (Edward) Huseman of Dubuque, Betty J. Foley of Uba City, CA, Jeanne Hansel of Edgewood; nieces and nephews, Holly Sear, Kyle Sear, Treavor Sear, Tyler Drips, Kaleb Drips, Cerria Drips, Savannah Drips and Cayden Davies; many other special aunts, uncles and cousins.

Sarah was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Rodger W. Sear; paternal step-grandmother, Mary A. Sear; maternal grandfather Wendall B. Gillam; maternal grandmother and step grandfather, Leonard Hansel.