William "Bill" Gillies Manson Sandison 1925 - 2018

SANDISON, OKEEFFE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen -Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/11/2018 at 14:27:50

Sioux City Journal
4 October 2018

Sioux City

William "Bill" Gillies Manson Sandison, 93, of Sioux City, passed away at home Monday, Oct. 1 2018.

Services will be 11 a.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Logan Park Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service time at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Online condolences may be directed to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Bill was born on July 3, 1925, in Mitchell, Neb., to Thomas and Agnes Sandison. Bill had an idyllic childhood growing up in Minatare, Neb., participating in theater and band. He attended Chadron State College and received his bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Nebraska. During World War II, Bill served in Europe with the U.S. Army Air Corps.

In August 1953, he married Marialice O'Keeffe. They lived in Omaha until 1967, when they moved the family to Sioux City.

Bill and Marialice raised six children, five boys and one girl. Times with dad included trips to the park, learning math at the dining room table, help on Sundays and Wednesdays with the paper routes and learning how to drive. He enjoyed treating his grandchildren to DQ (where he was known by name) and his favorite place for a birthday lunch was Milwaukee Weiner House.

He excelled at making cheeseburgers and root beer floats. While he was not a regular drinker, he would not say no to a red beer or a splash of scotch. He rode RAGBRAI twice, the last time at age 71.

Active in Y Indian Guides and Boy Scouts with his sons, Bill served multiple years as scoutmaster until his boys were grown. Bill was active in his church, serving for many years on boards, as a Sunday School teacher and as a mentor to confirmation classes. He volunteered with the American Red Cross and was active with West High Boosters.

He loved to laugh, always enjoying or relating a good story or joke. Most of all he modeled kindness, generosity and honesty.

Bill retired in 1996 after 26 years as chief chemist running the lab at Terra Chemical.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Marialice; children, Tom of Falling Waters, W.V., Bob (Sue) of Grand Rapids, Mich., Cathy Lenagh (Peter) of Golden Valley, Minn., Bill of Severna Park, Md., and John (Cathy) of Spirit Lake, Iowa; grandchildren, Robert, Kyle (Hanne), Chris (Emily), Katy, Sarah, Rachel, Lauren, Nick and Megan Sandison, and Ellen and Emma Lenagh; and great-grandchildren, Faith, Alexis, Christian and Abbey Babb-Sandison.

Bill was preceded in death by his son, Jim; brother, Jim; sister-in-law, Grace; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Byron and MA O'Keeffe.