Wilhelm Sandvik

1928 - 2018

Wilhelm L. Sandvik of West Chester, PA, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on February 1, 2018 at the age of 89. Wilhelm was born on September 13, 1928 in Bø, Vesterålen, Norway to William and Lotte Sandvik. He came to the United States with his mother in 1929 to join his father, who was fishing in Alaska at the time. Wilhelm grew up in Seattle, Washington and, like his father, spent his summers fishing in Alaska. After high school graduation he joined the Marine Corps and was called to active duty in September of 1950. Until May 1951, Sergeant Wilhelm Sandvik was a Machine Gun Unit Leader in the Seventh Regiment of the First Marine Division in Korea. He was wounded in action and awarded the Purple Heart. When he returned home, Wilhelm enrolled at the University of Washington and graduated in June 1957 with a BA in Accounting. He became a CPA and worked for Price Waterhouse in both Seattle and Baltimore. After a move to Los Angeles to join Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co. (now KPMG), Wilhelm was introduced to Diane. They married shortly thereafter and moved across the country to Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania in 1976. Wilhelm worked with KPMG in Philadelphia and then New York as Operational Partner for the U.S. Tax Practice until he retired in 1989. Wilhelm continued to work tirelessly at the things he was passionate about, and was President of the Executive Service Corp of the Delaware Valley for 13 years. He was actively involved in the Ardmore Rotary Club and served as President. Never one to rest on his laurels, he also got his Real Estate License in 2009 at the age of 80, and continued to stay active in the community. Wilhelm will be remembered for his impeccable character and integrity that permeated his personal and professional life, along with his smart sense of humor that could elicit a laugh when least expected. Wilhelm is survived by his wife of 45 years, Diane; his children, Dena Corry and husband Robert, Darren Sandvik, Matthew Sandvik and wife Cara, Christine Sandvik and wife Pam Sawyer; his siblings, Morten Sandvik, Robert Sandvik and wife Nancy; his grandchildren Benjamin, Jonah, Seth and Zeke Corry, and Beyer and Rosemary Sandvik, and many loving nieces, nephews and extended family. A funeral is scheduled for February 16, 2018 at 1:00pm at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Devon, PA, with a reception to follow at the church. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Wilhelm’s life. Memorial donations can be sent to the Semper Fi Fund at https://semperfifund.org/donate/.