Tandy, William Russell 1922-2002

TANDY, GODFREY, BLOM

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 8/7/2005 at 15:50:23

KNOXVILLE - William Russell Tandy, 80, of Knoxville, died Thursday, Oct. 3, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines.

His funeral service was held this morning, Oct. 7, at Bybee & Davis Funeral Home in Knoxville, Swann Juline officiating. Burial: Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville, with military honors by American Legion Baty-Tucker Post No. 168 and V.F.W. John Myers Post No. 3519. Memorials: Knoxville Athletic Booster Club.

William Russell Tandy was born on June 9, 1922 in Oskaloosa, Iowa the son of Ernest Calvin Tandy and Inez (Godfrey) Tandy. He was raised and attended school in Oskaloosa.

In 1943 he entered the United States Army. During his tour, Russ saw action in the Central Europe and Rhineland Campaigns and was awarded two bronze stars. He was honorably discharged and returned home to Oskaloosa in February of 1946.

On Aug. 30, 1946, he was united in marriage to Lenora Blom in Rock Island, Ill. The couple had several residences in the first years of their marriage, but primarily lived in Ft. Myers, Fla. and then Oskaloosa before moving to Knoxville in 1958.

Russ was a mechanic and a car salesman prior to moving to Knoxville, when he went to work for the V.A. Hospital. He retired from the V.A. in 1982 as a psychiatric nursing assistant. Russ was a family man and delighted in attending all of his grandchildren's sporting events and other extra-curricular activities throughout their school years. He was a member of the American Legion.

He is survived by his wife, Lenora; children Sheryl VanderSchoor of Des Moines, Vicki Hoch and husband Roger of Knoxville, Russell Tandy and wife Louann of Columbia, Mo.; William C. Tandy of Knoxville and Tanya Hopf and husband Wally of Knoxville; 14 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; three sisters: Violet Okerstrom of Mason City and Jean Barnhill and Thelma Buyert, both of Oskaloosa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Raymond; two sisters: Lucille Tandy and Ruth Saunders; a grandson, Patrick Tandy; and a great-grandson, Zachary VanderSchoor.

The Oskaloosa Herald, October 7, 2002