Sandra Lee "Sandy" Crnic

Sandra Lee "Sandy" (Banaka) Crnic, age 76, died on Saturday, October 18, 2025, in St. George, Kansas.
Sandy was born on September 20, 1949, in Holton, Kansas, the daughter of Lloyd and Betty (Barnes) Banaka.
On June 6, 1970, she was united in marriage to Gary Crnic in Sedalia, Missouri. They were married for 52 years before his passing on May 11, 2023.
Sandy's educational journey included attending grade schools in Holton and Manhattan, Kansas, Manhattan High School through a portion of her junior year, Shawnee Mission North High School in Merriam, Kansas for the remainder of her junior year, and graduation from Afton High School in St. Louis, Missouri. She furthered her education through attending Southeast Missouri State University, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and Missouri Southern State University, earning her bachelor's and master's degrees in dental hygiene.
She met her future husband, Gary Crnic, in Sedalia, Missouri while attending college. They married on June 6, 1970, in Sedalia, Missouri, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Upon completion of their degrees in 1971, they moved to El Paso, Texas, after Gary joined the military. After several years of service, they moved to Houston, Texas, and had their daughters, Tarrie and Tracy. After several other moves they ended up in Russell, KS where they opened their own dental clinic called Gary Crnic D.D.S. Family Dentistry in Russell, Kansas. Sandy worked alongside Gary as a dental hygienist and office manager of the practice. Prior to this she had practiced hygiene at several other dental practices.. Outside practicing hygiene she also imparted her knowledge by teaching dental hygiene at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Missouri. Her commitment to her work was matched by her dedication to her family and her community. She was very self-sufficient and social. She took leadership roles when called upon. This included serving on the hospital board in Russell for several years and presiding over the RHS band booster club during Bob Dole's presidential run in 1996. She contributed much of her free time and efforts to better her community.
Sandy's interests were diverse; she was a sports fan who enjoyed following the Royals, Chiefs, and KSU. She loved to read and was deeply involved in her community and church through her membership in the Daughters of Isabella. She also was a member of the cherished "lunch bunch" with her close friends. They met every Tuesday in Russell where they shared good conversation and celebrated special occasions together. Additionally, she was a member of the Alpha-Kia-Omega sorority while in college, connecting with friends and nurturing relationships in her life.
Sandy is survived by her daughters, Tarrie (Paul) Grosdidier, and Tracy Crnic; her sister, Janet (Gary) Nail; her brother, Greg (Robin) Banaka; her aunt, Sharon Carl; and many extended family members.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Gary King Crnic, and her parents, Lloyd and Betty Banaka.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, October 25, 2025, at 10:30 am at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Wamego with Fr. Michael Peterson officiating. Interment will follow in the St. Bernard Catholic Cemetery in Wamego.
A visitation will be on Friday evening, October 24, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Campanella & Stewart Funeral Home. A Rosary Service will follow at 7:00 pm.
Family suggests memorial contributions payable by check to Fairy Godmothers and can be made in memory of Sandy, or online at https://www.fgfund.org/donate.cfm. Those may be sent in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 48, Wamego, KS 66547. Online condolences may be made at www.campanellastewart.com