Obituary of Gary Sande

Gary Sande was the first of six children born to Raymond and Maxine Sande of Roland, IA. He was born at home on the family farm on January 8, 1939, and passed away on December 21, 2024. He grew up in a family with deep Norwegian roots. In high school he was on the basketball team, active in 4H and would proudly say he helped thrash oats. Gary graduated from Roland High School, Waldorf College, Forest City, IA and Concordia University, Moorhead, MN. He earned his master’s degree in health education from the University of Illinois, Urbana. At Waldorf College he met Deanna Kruger from Grafton, IA. They married on September 3, 1960. Under the auspices of the Lutheran church, they went with their six-week-old son, Stephen, to northern Nigeria in 1963. There Gary worked as a teacher and in school management until 1969. Their second son, Rod, was born in Nigeria. The year 1971 was very eventful with the arrival of their daughter, Teresa, and their settling in St. Paul after short stay in Bemidji. Having treasured his relationships in Nigeria, Gary returned multiple times working on health projects with Global health Ministries and the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria. For three years, Gary was a graduate student and instructor at the University of Minnesota. After that he was director of the West Side Health Center and together with Deanna was owner of Saint Agnes Baking Co. He was an active member of St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church serving in a range of capacities. For more than a dozen years he tutored reading with first graders at Johnson and Maxfield elementary schools. He was an avid reader and enjoyed all sports, especially the Minnesota Twins. A quiet man, he was greatly admired by family and friends for his kind, caring and thoughtful nature. Among his most treasured times were annual trips with his five siblings to Branson, MO. And, of course, he loved his entire family deeply. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Deanna, their children, Stephen (Deya), Rod (Robin) and Teresa and grandchildren Jared (Michelle), Breanne (DaVida), Robert, Renee, Cooper and Spencer and great grandchildren, Jaden, Vida and Lazer. Also surviving are his siblings, Rosemary (David) Hilton, Judy (Carol) Tungesvik, Kathy Quam, Dennis Sande (Diane) and Deborah Nelson and a host of cherished relatives and friends. Memorials may be given to the church and Global Health Ministries.