Sandra Jo McDonald

Sandra Jo “Sandi” McDonald, 84, of Arthur, IL passed away at 5:37 AM on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon, IL.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, February 13, 2026 at the Edwards Funeral Home, 221 East Main St., Arcola, IL. Pastor Danny Powell will officiate. Burial will follow in the Arthur Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM on Friday at the funeral home.

Sandi was born on November 19, 1941 in Illiopolis, IL. She was a daughter of William Rinehart and Velma Eloise (Wright) Kilhoffer. She married Charles Robert McDonald on April 19, 1964 in Arthur, IL.

She is survived by her husband, Bob McDonald, two daughters, Michelle Schrock of Arthur, IL, and Shannon Lancaster and her husband Owen of McKinney, TX, four grandchildren, Abby Taylor of Chicago, IL, Maddie and Evan Lancaster of McKinney, TX, and Gabi Lancaster of Fayetteville, AR, one sister, Pat Joseph of DeBary, FL, one brother, Tom Kilhoffer and his wife Sally of Rantoul, IL and two sisters-in-law, Kathy Kilhoffer of Crestview, FL, and Mary Beth Condill of Arthur, IL.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one grandson, Ross Taylor, a son-in-law, Philo Schrock, and two brothers, Bill Kilhoffer and Kenny Kilhoffer and a brother-in-law, Bruce Condill.

Sandi graduated from Rantoul Township High School in 1959 and furthered her education at Eastern Illinois University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in Home Economics. It was also at this university where she met the love of her life, forever shaping her journey.

Sandi had brief careers both as an assistant home advisor in Shelby County and taught elementary school in various districts. After moving with Bob and the girls in 1976 to the family farm in Arthur, she was a substitute teacher in the Arthur and surrounding schools for many years. She took great pride in her role as a devoted farm wife, working alongside her husband Bob on their farm. Her commitment to her work and her family was evident in everything she did. She was an enthusiastic cheerleader on the sidelines for her daughters’ and grandchildren’s sports activities. Her “enthusiasm” almost resulted in her getting kicked out of a basketball game in Neoga when she thought the game was getting out of control when her youngest was playing.

Sandi enjoyed many special moments in her life, especially spending winters in DeBary, FL with Bob for nearly 20 years. This time allowed her to catch up with friends and family, creating lasting memories filled with joy and laughter.

Known for her thoughtful nature, Sandi had a unique talent for designing and decorating, always leaving a personal touch in her surroundings. She had a passion for shopping, continuously on the lookout for good deals, and loved fashion and jewelry, proudly showcasing her personal sense of style.

She also had an artistic side in which she created paintings, stained glass, woodworking projects, and also had insane sewing skills. She even made her own wedding dress along with matching outfits for her and her girls. She also had a bit of MacGyver skills as she would see a problem and find an out of the box solution that worked. She was always looking for a better way to do everything. She designed several pieces of furniture and home decor that were carried out by Freeman Beachy to make her dreams reality by making her house a home.

For the last few years, Sandi resided at Carriage Crossing Assisted Living Center in Arcola with Bob. While there she enjoyed the many activities and building relationships with people including the staff. She really thrived with the family atmosphere Carriage Crossing provided and never ceased to have stories to tell her family. Her family would like to thank Carriage Crossing staff, past and present, for loving our parents and putting our minds at ease knowing they were receiving exceptional care. We think everyone at Carriage Crossing would agree that mom was an extremely lovable, very unique, and occasionally outspoken presence during her time there.

She will be greatly missed by her family. She was a great confidant and never shy to offer advice on how she’d handle things.

Memorials may be made to Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research as Bob has been battling Parkinsons for the past several years.