Ardyce Virginia Sandberg

Ardyce Virginia Sandberg (Burnikel) passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 93 on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at the Burnett Medical Continuing Care Center in Grantsburg, Wisconsin. Ardyce was born January 7, 1932, to parents William and Esther Burnikel in Siren, Wisconsin, where she was raised on the family farm and graduated from Siren High School in 1950. On June 25, 1955, she married Cleo Lyle Sandberg at Bethany Lutheran Church in Siren and began a life rooted in faith, family, and devotion to those she loved.

Ardyce and Cleo made their home in East Bethel and later Columbia Heights, Minnesota, where they raised their four children and were active members of Our Lord and Savior’s Lutheran Church and St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church. Ardyce worked for many years as a bookkeeper at Northrup King Seeds, a career she took pride in until her retirement. Ardyce and Cleo lived a happy life together with lots of time spent with family at their cabin on Little Wood Lake. In later years, Ardyce and Cleo returned to Wisconsin, settling in Grantsburg. For the past five years, Ardyce lived with her eldest daughter, Cheryl, before moving into senior care. She found joy in caring for her family, reading a good book, and fishing. She especially loved looking for deer through the window of a slow-moving vehicle, watching the birds from the comfort of her favorite chair, and sitting by a crackling fire with good company. Ardyce never met a crossword that she couldn’t solve and had a unique talent for finding words of wisdom in any situation.

Ardyce is survived by her children Cheryl Chelmo, Cleone (Paul) Schreier, Connie (Richard) Anderson, and Roger (Dawn) Sandberg; 11 grandchildren Dan (Nicole), Tom (Allison), Rita (Kerrie), Lynnea (Mike), Lisa (Bronson), Ashley (Bobby), Brett (Leah), Mitchell (Brittany), Corey (Kelsey), Jonathan, Joel (Hannah); and 15 and counting great grandchildren: Charlotte, Henry, Lillian, Baze, Brenton, Kinsley, Kaiden, Laramie Jean, Rosalie, Eliud, Sequoia, Lainey, Addison, Penelope, and Oliver as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Esther Burnikel, her husband, Cleo, her sisters Genevieve (Fred) Shostedt and Maxine (Les) Lindquist, and son-in-law John.

A service will be held on Tuesday, December 23rd, at Trinity Lutheran Church of Falun (10394 WI-70, Siren, WI 54872), officiated by Pastor Tim Krieg. Visitations will be from 11:00 am to noon, with the service starting at noon, followed by fellowship. A private family interment will take place at Lakeview Mudhen Cemetery, where she will rest beside Cleo. Ardyce will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose quiet strength and deep faith shaped generations.

The family wishes to extend a special thanks to the Burnett Medical Continuing Care Center for their compassionate staff. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the family are preferred.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home in Grantsburg, WI. Online condolences may be expressed at www.swerdberg-taylor.com