Ms Amanda Dawn "Mandy" Stahl

November 28, 1982 - March 5, 2016

Mandy was a very special girl, one-of-a-kind, and has touched so many lives in so many ways. She lived life to the fullest as one grand celebration after another. Mandy absolutely loved to plan the family reunions, birthday parties, Halloween, and Christmas. She would create elaborate fantasies where she was planning to go on a world tour, be a pop star, and become rich and famous. She included her loved ones in these scenarios and told numerous people that she would take them on the road. She had a way of saying things that made mundane jobs sound glamorous, such as her Dad being a roadie! She loved performing her concerts and would choreograph her own dances for the family reunions and practice it for the whole year. She would also perform her concert at her own birthday parties if you would let her. She would talk about her birthday months ahead of time, give you a long list of what she wanted for her birthday, and after her birthday in November, she would give you a Christmas wish list. Sometimes, Mandy would ask for unusual things that might be hard to get (if they even existed), like a time-turner from Harry Potter or a functioning medical tricorder from Star Trek or a script from her favorite movie, but somehow we found ways to get them for her. We loved indulging her because she loved being indulged. She was always thrilled over each and every gift she opened. She loved giving gifts too. She would present the gift saying, "This is going to make you cry like a baby." She would get her mother lots of little gifts and then wrap them up in two or three layers of boxes, wrapping paper, and tape so it would take longer to open. Sometimes, she would give someone a piece of coal at Christmas as a joke, but then she would request it back for the next year's recipient. She always told us that if we couldn't think of anything else to give her just put some cash money in a box. She has always said that her computer, TV, iPad, and her music were her life. She loved to be on Pinterest and organize her boards. She also loved Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus, and almost everything that had to do with Frozen. Saving Yu-Gi-Oh! cards was another passion of hers. She loved living in her own apartment and grew to be fiercely independent. Mandy and her best buddy, LexAnn, would always be organizing, cleaning, shopping, or making something. They enjoyed making Halloween costumes and gingerbread houses every single year. She loved competing in Special Olympics and looked forward to going to the competitions. She was very competitive and was disappointed if she didn't get first, but followed the Special Olympics oath that says "Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt." She was thrilled at the honor of leading the oath at the opening ceremonies during the Nebraska Fall games this last summer and meeting sports anchor, Kevin Sjuts. Amanda Dawn Stahl was born at the Rock County Hospital in Bassett, Nebraska on November 28, 1982 to John and Bev Stahl. She was known as "Mandy" by all of her friends and loved ones. She moved to Ainsworth, Nebraska in 1983 with her parents. She attended grade school and high school at Ainsworth Community schools. She graduated from high school in May of 2001. She continued to live with her parents until 2009, at which time she moved to her own apartment at Park Homes. She worked at Subway for 11 years. She always said that Subway was her dream job. Mandy passed away, on March 5, 2016, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. She was preceded in death by her brother, Kevin. Survivors include her parents, John and Bev Stahl, of Ainsworth, Nebraska, sister Kendra Sibbernsen, brother-in-law Michael Sibbernsen, and nephews Matthew and Lucas Sibbernsen, from Papillion, Nebraska, numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. Funeral Services were held on March 9, 2016 at the Evangelical Free Church in Ainsworth, Nebraska. Officiating the service were Pastor Mick Thornton and Pastor Bruce Beebout. Music was provided by Faye Smith. The congregational hymn selection was "Mansion Over The Hilltop", as well as two of Mandy's favorite CD selections of "Let It Go" by Idina Menzel, and "Life's What You Make It" by Hannah Montana. Casket bearers were, Todd Stahl, Tony Stahl, Michael Macaluso, Tom Parrish, Doug Gustafson, Paul Gustafson, and Jay Gustafson. Honorary bearers were the Ainsworth Special Olympic Athletes. Burial followed in the Bassett Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth. In lieu of flowers, memorials were suggested to the family in her name or to the Ainsworth Special Olympics Program. 236 N. Wilson St. Ainsworth, Nebraska 69210.