Tammy Van Sickle

Tammy Van Sickle, aged 64 of Yankton, South Dakota, died Thursday, November 27, 2025 at Avera Sister James Care Center in Yankton, South Dakota.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Yankton, South Dakota.

Tammy Van Sickle was born June 27, 1961 in Yankton, SD to Robert and Darlene (Aisenbrey) Kunde. She grew up on the family farm west of Yankton. She began her schooling at Lakeport #13, graduating from Yankton High School in 1979. While in high school, she started working at Heilman’s Bait Shop. She always liked to say that during the five years she worked there, she earned her honorary M.B. degree. She attended the University of South Dakota graduating with a degree in Music Education going on to teach band in Kadoka and Vermillion, South Dakota and Belfry and Bridger, Montana. While in Montana, she was set up on a blind date to meet a co-worker’s brother, Jay Van Sickle, and they were married on November 25, 1995. In 1997, they relocated to Parker, Colorado, where Tammy taught at a private music academy in the evenings, as well as working the morning shift at the Perfect Landing Restaurant at the Centennial Airport, culminating as the Dining Room Manager. Wanting a change, Tammy went back to school and became a medical coder. She worked for the Orthopedic and Spine Doctors at the University of Colorado Hospital. In June of 2019, Tammy and Jay moved to Yankton, SD where she continued her medical coding remotely, then transitioned to support work at the Yankton Medical Clinic. In April 2021, she was diagnosed with CNS Lymphoma of the brain. She fought bravely for four and a half years, undergoing many treatments and setbacks along the way.

Tammy had a great sense of humor and was always able to lighten the mood on any occasion with her funny stories and quick wit. As her family would say, she put the FUN in funeral. She had a strong work ethic, often working two or three jobs at a time. She enjoyed crocheting afghans and would always look for ways to give them to others for any occasion. She enjoyed traveling with Jay all over the United States, as well as several trips to Europe visiting family.

Survivors include her husband, Jay Van Sickle of Yankton, mother Darlene Kunde of Yankton, three sisters: Twila Kunde of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Carol (Ronald) Place of Sioux Falls, and Cathi (John) Darcy of Yankton; two sisters-in-law: Vicki (Eli) Damjanovich of Bridger, Montana and Linda (Bill) Hebrank of Aurora, Colorado; as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, Bob Kunde, as well as father and mother-in-law: Jim and Tammy Van Sickle.