SHARLA SANDER

SHARLA SANDER 04/24/1961 - 08/23/2025 Sharla Marie (Mack) Sander, 64, of Franklin passed away on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at Oak Hills Living Center in New Ulm after battling a terminal neurological disease. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at Minnesota Valley Funeral Home - SOUTH Chapel in New Ulm with Pastor Duane Sander officiating. Burial will be at a later date in Fort Ridgely Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to service at the funeral home. To leave an online condolence for the family or to sign the guestbook, please visit: www.mvfh.org. Sharla is survived by her son, Jamie (fiancée Amy Ahrens) Sander; daughter, Tracy Sander; sisters, Karen Albrecht and Wendy (Harold) Parsons; grandchildren, Kiana (Tristen), Logan (Shelby), Josephine, and Maverick; step-grandchildren, Baylee and Skylar; great-grandchildren, Malakai, Sayora, and Kyson; as well as many more family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rodney Sander; her parents, Orlin and Marjorie Mack; sister, Marlene Lewis; brother, Dale Mack; nephew, Jesse Edwards; and her partner, Paul Grote. Born on April 24, 1961, in New Ulm, Sharla was the youngest of five children born to Orlin and Marjorie Mack. She grew up on her family's dairy farm and attended New Ulm Public Schools. On December 15, 1976, she married Rodney Sander of Franklin. Sharla worked at Daktronics in Redwood Falls, where she made lasting friendships. Sharla enjoyed baking, flower gardening, curling up with a good book, and spending time with family and friends. She especially loved making memories with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Sharla will be remembered for her kind heart, quiet strength, gentle spirit, her smile and laughter, and for always being her family's biggest supporter. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the CJD Foundation or the Redwood Area Animal Shelter. The family would like to extend their gratitude to the wonderful staff at Oak Hills who cared for Sharla during her stay.