Mary E. Sandberg

KEWANEE – Mary E. Sandberg, 98, of Kewanee, died Thursday, November 24, 2022 at the Kewanee Care Home.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 2 at Zion Lutheran Church with Pastor Mara Ahles-Iverson officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services at the church. Burial will be in Pleasant View Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Zion Lutheran Church or to the Henry County Humane Society. Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee is in charge of arrangements.

She was born September 3, 1924 in Kewanee, the daughter of Nels Victor and Luella (Thackery) Johnson. She married Kent B. Sandberg on February 15, 1946 in Palmyra, MO and he preceded her in death on April 21, 2012. Survivors include her children; Jan (Tom) May of Kewanee, Debbie (Jim) Allard of Waukesha, WI, Nancy Sandberg of Mesa, AZ, Suzi (Jim) Heberer of Kewanee, Laurie (Mark) Schaller of Mesa, AZ, Lisa (Barry) McMean of Phoenix, AZ and Lynn (Bob) Heberer of Kewanee, twenty-two grandchildren, twenty-nine great grandchildren and a great-great grandson. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her son, Steven Kent Sandberg and her grandson, Nicholas Young.

Mary graduated from Kewanee High School in 1942 and had worked at the Wanee Drive-in and at JC Penney. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and had been an election judge for many years. Family was the most important part of Mary’s life. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. They vacationed in Wisconsin every summer, picnicked at Windmont Park for every special occasion, just being together was always full of fun, laughter and love.

She was an excellent cook, who cooked for 11 at every meal. Sitting at the table together was expected and the basis of their family life. She loved to travel and enjoyed visiting her children, going to ship reunions all over the United States with her husband and traveling to Europe 5 times with her daughter, Jan and her German students.

Mary was the true definition of “Mother.” She will be greatly missed by her family and they are truly blessed to have had her in their lives for so long.

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