Alisha Steele

Alisha Jean Criner Steele was born January 3rd, 1979, in Fairbury, Nebraska to parents Barbara and Delbert. She was coming home to two anxious big brothers, Chris age nine, and Curt age almost seven.

Alisha was baptized at Grace Lutheran Church at age three on November 29th, 1981. Confirmation was on May 2nd, 1993. School days were spent in Fairbury playing basketball as a freshman. Alisha was on the honor roll consistently, a member of the national honor society, voted prom queen, and graduated in May 1997 as co-valedictorian.

Alisha Criner and Nate Steele were united in marriage on March 6, 2006, in Maui, Hawaii, and divorced in 2010. The immediate family flew to Hawaii to watch the couple unite in a beautiful oceanside setting at dawn.

Alisha began her working career as a clerk at Ray’s Apple Market in Fairbury and was friends with many of her colleagues and customers. Nate and Alisha’s first home was in Hallam, Nebraska where they grew a large garden for the farmers market in Lincoln. Alisha commuted to work in Lincoln at several banks and eventually took a job she loved at the Lancaster County Assessors Office. She remained there for over 18 years because of the wonderful coworkers, who she considered as close friends.

It was her genuine love of animals and interest in the Nebraska Humane Society that led to her adopt and rescue her two beloved fur babies, Hazel and Rosa. She drove home from work every day to feed and care for them.

Alisha had a bright, beautiful smile that could melt hearts. She loved family and friends deeply. Alisha easily befriended people and she seldom referred to others as strangers. Her family was very close and had a long tradition of annual reunions at Camp Jefferson that had gone on for 50 years.

Alisha loved to listen to jazz music and even traveled to concerts in New Orleans and San Francisco. She was happy to have a picture taken with John Legend, to watch Muddy Waters, and liked to brag that Aretha Franklin looked her in the eye and smiled. She held these memories close to her heart.

Alisha was preceded in death by grandparents Bill and Marge Rentschler of Fairbury and George and Leona Criner of Endicott and uncles, Joe Troxel of Fairbury, Nebraska, and Dallas Criner of Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

Survivors include son Anthony Hockman of Melbourne, Florida. Alisha selected loving parents Brent and Heather Hockman in open adoption at birth in 2003 through the Nebraska Children’s Home Society. Mother Barbara Criner of Fairbury, Nebraska and father Delbert Criner of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and brothers Chris (Erinn) Criner of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Curtis Criner of Fairbury, Nebraska. Nieces and Nephews are Carah Criner (fiancé Dylan Cavey) and Kellyn and Kynley Criner, all of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Kazz Hyson of Fairbury, Nebraska. Aunts and uncles are Bill and Kathy Rentschler of Lincoln, Mardy, and Karlene Rentschler of Omaha, Jan Troxel of Fairbury, and Don and Connie Criner of Gillette, Wyoming. Alisha had numerous cousins on both sides of the family, with whom she was very close.

Alisha Jean Criner Steele died on January 5th, 2024, and her death was self-inflicted. Services were postponed because of inclement weather. Services will be held at a later date.

Memorials may be sent to the Nebraska Children’s Home Society, Lincoln, Nebraska, Nebraska Humane Society, Lincoln, or your local shelter in Alisha’s name.