Nierode, Sandra E.
Our eldest sister, Sandra E. Nierode, age 71, went to Eternal Life on Thursday, February 20, 2014 where she is now living with our Lord and God.
Sandy was born and raised in Cedarburg, WI where she attended First Immanuel Lutheran School and Church through eighth grade. She was blessed with a lovely singing voice which she used to sing in the choir and school functions. She then attended Cedarburg High School where she enjoyed various sports and choir, graduating in 1960.
After high school she knew she wanted to work with the public and became a top notch waitress at Smith Brothers Restaurant in Port Washington. Some years later she made a change to the Holiday Inn in Milwaukee where her job took her to head hostess. She loved working there, as she met and became friends with some of the performers and artists that stayed at the hotel while in town.
One of the things Sandy loved the most was to work. She just loved it! Sadly, in her twenties she became ill and struggled with her health until the time she died. This kept her from enjoying many of the things she would have loved to do. But…she rarely complained and was a true inspiration to all who knew her, always looking for a silver lining, but, above all, "counting her blessings" no matter how small they might have been.
Over the past year, as Sandy was in and out of hospitals and nursing homes she made many friends with her positive and caring outlook. Her last home was Harmony Living-West where she was happiest and loved the staff and care they gave her.
Sandy started to slip away on Friday, February 14, and for six days she was surrounded by all of her siblings. It was a true "family reunion".
One of her greatest blessings was her church. She just could not say enough about Deaconess Deb, Cindy Wigdahl, Sandy Roth, and Debbie Frick, who were true friends and helped Sandy however they could. What a shining example of Christian love.
We would like to acknowledge special people in her life…her cousin, Audrey (Jerry) Rasmussen whom Sandy always thought of as a sister and had a lifelong friendship with; Bev Gumm, her longtime friend from Family Services who always watched over Sandy and made sure she had everything she needed; Janet Landgraf, her loyal friend from the time she was a teenager who continually kept in touch over all the years with prayers and kindness; Cindy Prietzl, once her doctor who became her constant friend; and Donna from Sheboygan Housing Authority for always providing a place for Sandy to live.
Sandy is survived by her brother, Phil (Sandy) Nierode of Colorado Springs, CO; her sister, Jan (Dan) Warnke of Fond du Lac, WI; her brother, Mike (Tracey) Nierode of Atlanta, GA, and her brother, Jeff Nierode (Wayne Newmann) of Sheboygan; her aunt, Marge Nierode of Port Washington; and many nieces and nephews.
Those preceding her in death are her parents, Armin and Shirley (Dumer) Nierode and many aunts, uncle, and cousins.
A Memorial Service to celebrate Sandy's life will be held on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at First United Lutheran Church, 2401 Kohler Memorial Drive, Sheboygan, WI 53081. Deaconess Deb Ganser will officiate. A time of visitation and support will be held at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.
A memorial fund has been established in her name.
We wish to thank Dr. Brauer and Joyce from Marsho Clinic for Sandy's care. They were always a constant in a world that can be very unpredictable; Dr. Haller who performed a life-saving surgery in December of 2013; and all of her doctors, nurses, and caregivers at St. Nicholas Hospital and Sheboygan Senior Community that helped her over this difficult last year. And finally, a thank you to Maryann and the St. Nicholas Hospice crew who gave Sandy a very peaceful and restful final week.
To send flowers, light a candle, and/or sign the guestbook in memory of Sandra, visit www.ballhornchapels.com
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Published in Sheboygan Press on Feb. 23, 2014
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