NANCY SANDERS
Nancy Sanders, age 97, of Sheldon, Iowa passed away on Monday, February 10, 2014 at Sanford Senior Care in Sheldon.
Private Family Funeral Services will be Thursday, February 13, 2014 at 11:30 A.M. at the Andringa Funeral Home Sheldon Funeral Service in Sheldon. Rev. Kevin Gingerich officiating. Burial to follow at East Lawn Cemetery in Sheldon.
Nancy Sanders was born on September 30, 1916 in Sheldon, Iowa. She was the daughter of Bart and Mary (Reekers) Van Roekel. She lived her youth in rural Sheldon where she attended a country school.
She was united in marriage to Ervin LeRoy Sanders of Sibley, Iowa on February 16, 1942 in South Sioux City, Iowa. Nancy lived in Sheldon while Ervin was overseas in the Army Medical Corp. They lived in Maryland while Ervin was working at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, DC.
Nancy worked at J.C. Penney in Sheldon and in Maryland. They retired in 1979. In 1986, they moved back to Sheldon, Iowa.
Ervin passed away on February 16, 1995.
Nancy enjoyed golfing and sewing.
She was a baptized member of the First Reformed Church in Sheldon.
Nancy passed away on Monday, February 10, 2014 at Sanford Senior Care in Sheldon.
Those left to cherish her memories are one brother and sister-in-law: Abe and Dorothy Van Roekel of Sheldon, IA; two sisters: Geraldine Brower of Sheldon, IA, and Martha Oester of Mesa, AZ.
She was preceded in death by her husband Ervin Sanders; her parents; one sister Rena Caldwell; one brother Art Van Roekel.
She was born Nov., 19, 1920, in Sheldon, Iowa, to Burt and Mary Van Roekel.
She was preceded in death by: her husband, Cedric Frank Caldwell, and son, Thomas Frank Caldwell.
She is survived by: a daughter, Jan Kennedy and husband Larry of Fayetteville; granddaughter, April Kennedy of Fayetteville; grandsons, Chris Caldwell of Jonesboro and Vincent Caldwell of Fort Worth, Texas; a great-grand-daughter, Christin Caldwell of Fort Worth; three sisters, Nancy Sanders and Jerry Brower, both of Sheldon, Iowa, and Martha Oester of Phoenix; and a brother, Abe Van Roekel of Sheldon.
Throughout her life she was an avid gardener and fisher. She prized education and the pursuit of knowledge, loving educational programs and crossword puzzles. Rena spoke her mind on most matters, yet remained intellectually curious on a wide array of topics.
She also loved dancing and took great pride in her physical condition and appearance, which were evident by her good looks until the end. Rena remained sharp in her mind and strong in her body until the final days. Those who knew her affectionately referred to her as "tough as boot leather."
A private family graveside service was held in Jonesboro.
Arrangements were under the direction of Nelson-Berna Funeral Home of Fayetteville.
Jonesboro Sun obits., Feb. 7, 2012.