Family and friends will celebrate Donna Friday, January 20, 2023, from 4:00-6:30 at Stone Bru Headquarters (101 W. 3rd St. Sioux City, IA 51103).  In lieu of flowers please send memorials to Hospice of Siouxland.

Donna Lee Sandage passed away at home January 6, 2023.  She was 90 years old and a lifelong resident of Sioux City.  Born July 1, 1932, to Marlowe (Choppy) and Marjorie Benson, she graduated from East High and shortly thereafter married Vester (Sandy) Sandage. Together they had three daughters, Debbie, Cathy, and Julie.

Donna loved the outdoors and instilled that in her children.  She would do cartwheels in the yard, twirl the baton high in the air, search for four leaf clovers, and make us dolls from hollyhocks.  In inclement weather she’d teach us to play jacks and paint our fingernails.  Mom was a fabulous cook and magically could feed a family of five with only three pork chops.  In summer she would wake us up before dawn and take us to Stone Park where we played as she cooked breakfast on the park grills.

Mom loved music, but due to limited space her piano was housed in the garage.  She never complained about playing while wearing a coat and hat, but she did have an opinion on wearing gloves.  She played the organ at church which had less to do with her ability than the lack of other volunteers.  She’d often hit a few clinkers but always finished big with “Onward Christian Soldiers”!

Mom introduced us to the art of housekeeping early on.  Sunday was ironing night and she would lower the ironing board according to stature.  Beginners started with handkerchiefs and pillowcases but moved quickly into pleats and dress shirts.  During winter, laundry that couldn’t be hung in the basement was hung outside, later to be brought in and leaned against the wall.  Mom could sew a button on in five minutes and get anything off a face with a hanky and a little spit.  She helped us address both our first valentines and our wedding invitations at our dining room table.

Mom’s passion was fitting shoes at Walker’s Shoe Store, from which she retired.  In retirement she became the head lifeguard of her backyard pool and for her many grandchildren.  Her hobbies included her grandchildren and their children, going to “The Boat”, and spending time with friends, family, and her beloved dog Archie.  Donna never turned down a trip to the VFW or a CC water.

She is survived by Debbie Schramm, Cathy Sandage, Julie (Jim) Peck, Taylor (Jenny) Schramm, Seth (Stephanie) Schramm, Priscilla (Ronnie) Andersen, Hilary (Rich) Arndt, and Autumn (Tyler) Bos, 13 great grandchildren, and her favorite nephew Mike (Mitzi) Benson.

She was preceded in death by her husband Vester, her son-in-law Jack Schramm, and beloved dog Archie.