Schaeffer, Helen J. "Sandy" (Sand) 1925 - 2020

SCHAEFFER, SAND, FORDE, SWENSON, GOLDEN, PINCH, EVANS, BRAINARD

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:38

Helen J. Schaeffer, age 94, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away Sunday evening, June 7, 2020 at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah.

A Private Family Graveside Service will be held at Hillside Cemetery in Ossian, Iowa.

Helen “Sandy” Schaeffer was born November 2, 1925 at the Sand Farm near Ossian Iowa, the daughter of Sylvia (Forde) Sand and Nanfred Sand.

She had a deep love for the Sand Farm and willingly participated in the outdoor work: milking, driving the tractor, and harvesting crops.

She attended the Ossian Public School and graduated in 1943. After completing a certificate for Teacher’s Training at Luther College, she was proud to have the first Kindergarten class at Ossian. She continued summer school and received her BA from Luther in 1961.

Helen taught other grades at Linn-Mar Community Schools in Marion. She met and married a fellow teacher, Wm. Dean Schaeffer.

They were active members of Lutheran Church of The Resurrection until retiring in 1992. They moved to Decorah and became active members of Decorah Lutheran Church. Helen enjoyed writing hymns and poetry.

Sandy is survived by her children, Teresa (Scott) Swenson, Iowa City, Timothy (Kimberly) Schaeffer, Otho, and Jeffery (Patti) Schaeffer, Anamosa, and her grandchildren, Kristine Swenson (Zachary) McBeth and Finley, Jacob (Jessica) Swenson, Erin Schaeffer, Jeffery Jr. (Nielie) Schaeffer and children, Nicholas Schaeffer, and special friends Arlene and Daryl Lang and children.

She is also survived by her sisters and brother, Marjorie (Thomas) Golden, Janet Pinch, Jacob Sand of Henderson, Nevada and Sylvia Elaine Evans (Robert) of Indianola, Iowa.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband Dean, parents, sister Shirley Brainard, and four brothers, Robert, Gregory, Richard and Nanfred, Jr.

The family would like to give special thanks to the Hospice Care at Aase Haugen Home, her nephews and their wives, Alan and Cara Sand, Kevin and Leslie Sand, Dan and Carole Sand for their many kindnesses to her. Also special thanks to her Decorah family at the Magpie Coffeehouse and of course the the Hometown Taxi guys for all their help!

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Decorah Lutheran Church Youth Ministry, 309 Winnebago St., Decorah, IA 52101 or Winneshiek Medical Center Hospice, 901 Montgomery Street, Decorah, IA 52101.

Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database

Hillside Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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