What a beautiful mass for Sandy!  Thanks to all.  Our celebrant Father Cory Rohlfing's homily brought it all together in what we all loved about Sandy.  Pastor Gordon Gathright, Chaplain at Cassia Hastings Campus and Park Ridge Apartments gave a wonderful and personal remembrance. He shared the scripture that Sandy and he prayed as she neared the end of this life and the peace she felt in leaving her loved ones behind.  They were in the loving hands of Jesus.  Pastor Gordon along with Mary Clare Melero and her sister Catherine Bryant shared the gifts of their voices and beautiful harmonies that Sandy loved and requested.

Thanks to Steve and Jacob Kohl for attention to the details that make a Funeral mass the loving memory that we needed.  Their service as a Funeral Home is a true vocation to the Kohl Family their reverence for their work and the needs of a  grieving family was such a comfort to our family.   Parker Kohl website is here.

Sandy's Funeral Mass

Divine Mercy Catholic Church - ​Faribault, Minnesota

Memories of Sandy

 Oh Sandy, how I miss you.  I will never forget how we first met when you first moved to Audubon.  You (the newcomer) called me the next day to come for coffee – you said, “I think we are going to be friends”.  I still use the rhubarb cake recipe you fixed for me that day.
 
That friendship has lasted through the years even after you moved to Detroit.

Memories are flooding my mind – the trips we took together, the visits back and forth each year, the many special family events that bonded our families.
 
Sam used to tell me you were my “Sandy Fix” Oh how I will miss you.
​
Rest in peace, my dear friend.

Sandy Utpadel - Remembrance Video

78 Years in the Making!

Sandy Kay (Thielbar) Utpadel ,78, of Hastings, MN came to the end of her joyful, family first life on November 12, 2020.  On October 19th, Sandy learned she was suffering from lung cancer. She chose not to seek treatment. Her remaining good days were with her family and friends near, and the compassionate care of Fairview Hospice.
​
Sandy was a woman of faith.  She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Roger; By her children, Brad (Mary) Utpadel of Faribault, MN; Jill Fox of Hastings; six  grandchildren, Daniel (fiancée Kristin Ellerman) Utpadel of Longview, TX, Brian Utpadel of Faribault, Lindsay (Matt) Albertson of Hastings, , Nathan Utpadel of Minneapolis,  Lauren (fiancé Jeremy LaVenture) Fox of Apple Valley, and Maria (fiancé Josh Esterholm) of Ladysmith, WI.  Great grandchildren, Zoey Petersen, and Tatum Albertson.

Sandy and Roger are 45-year residents of Hastings and the last 7 as residents of Augustana Park Ridge Senior Apartments.  The senior community at Park Ridge has added an extension to their good friends in Hastings. Sandy’s gifts of friendship and faith has brought forth many shared memories from all that knew her.  Her words of action were “I hope you find joy in your day”.  The Hastings community and her family will miss the joy she brought to each of their lives, but her legacy is secure in their hearts.

Sandy is also survived by her siblings; Connie (Ron) Reineke of Faribault, Kathy Boozell of Alexandria, David (Pauline) Thielbar of Madison, SD, Doug (Linda) Thielbar, Hilton Head, SC.  Brother-In-Law Curt (Lynette) Utpadel of Sun City West, AZ, and many nieces and nephews.

As a woman of faith, Sandy hopes to be reunited with her parents Ronald and Alma Thielbar; Brother Les Thielbar, Granddaughter Mikalya Fox, In-laws Eldo and Cordelia Utpadel, Elroy and Eileen Utpadel, Lavern and Sheree Utpadel, and Will Boozell.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers that memorials be directed to Divine Mercy Catholic Church, or Fairview Hospice Care in memory of Sandy.

My beloved sister Sandra Kay

My sister Sandy was 8 years older than I, and helped raise me since I was the “baby of the family”. She always let me know that I was a brat and was very spoiled. I’ll have to blame her for that, because of her selflessness giving, and all the love she gave to me. Yes, she spoiled me, like so many others that were part of her life. We were all spoiled by her positive attitude, great smile, unconditional love, and generosity for sharing her life with all of us. I thank you Sis! How beautiful you are.

There are so many memories I will cherish like for instance; when I was 7 years old my mom, Alma purchased a set of special gold lid pots and pans. I loved them so much I decided to scratch my initials DT in to the biggest lid I could find. Nobody was too happy with the baby of the family now. After 31 years of our mother passing away, my precious sister, still not forgiving me for the lid incident decided to give me that prize! The LARGE copper lid, with the initials DT, no pan just that lid. What a great sense of humor! 

Sandy lived her life with power and grace; power to love and grace to forgive. She was humble and treated everyone with respect and dignity. Sandy never forgot what our family taught us as children; value, love and respect. I’ve lost my sister, my friend and the women who helped shape my life and played an important role in who I am. I will never the forget times, all the time we spent together through the years, sharing our lives. Memories fade over time, but my sister Sandy isn’t a just memory to me; she is part of me.
Love, DT

Every time I saw Sandy she was a breath of fresh air , happy go lucky with a big smile . I never heard her have a negative response; always so positive and fun to be around. I will miss her but have her memories.
          Ron Reineke

So many wonderful memories come to mind that I will cherish with my favorite Aunt Sandy! I wouldn’t even know where to begin, from the many vacations, weekends visiting Sandy and family to all the holiday get togethers. Our Thielbar family sure did know how to spend holidays no one wanted to miss! Sandy was our light that kept shining, her and my mom always wanted to continue these precious get togethers to follow in Grandma Almas tradition. Family is and was most important to Sandy. She adored her grand children and great grandchildren. Both Jill and I always thought we were sisters and had two moms; as we both felt Sandy and my mom were both of ours! Sandy always had a smile, it was infectious to all. I will miss her dearly! With All my love, Love to you Dear Aunt Sandy!
          Deb Salmonsen

Sandy was always a very important person in my life. She was always caring and would offer help either by words of advice or by just lending a hand. When my brother Roger suffered severe health problems he required a lot of help and words of encouragement. I told Sandy that if not for her and her effort to care for him he would not be here today. I called her Roger’s guardian angel and she continued that duty right up to her last day. She will be truly missed by all.
          Curt Utpadel

She always, always had a smile on her face. I’ll miss you, Sandy. Until we meet again!
          Alexis Ball

Oh sandy you were my closest aunt ! You and roger were so good to me growingup . So supportive and caring along with always asking me how is life and knowing so much of what was going on in my life your are thoughtful caring and always positive. Miss and love always,
​          Chris Reineke

To hear her voice is  what you miss first and then all the little things. This clip is from Sandy's speech at her father, Ronald's 75th birthday party.  This clip lets us remember her personality, love of family and her sense of humor.  She truly cherished her time with family and friends.  This clip is from 28 years ago and now is so precious in this time of remembrance.

When your birthday is on Halloween everyone remembers your birthday. On Sandy's 50th birthday the family was able to pull off a surprise costume party in Hastings.  The ruse was that Jill's softball team was having a costume party and even Roger had needed a costume.  The images are grainy and the memories may have faded but watching this video from 1992 brought back the joy of that night.

Facebook has become an integral part of how we stay in touch. These images are from Sandy's years on Facebook.  When she was tagged these became the archive she could look back on  whenever she needed and be reminded of how she is loved. If you watch the video full-screen, you can also pause and read some of the comments and see who the frequent taggers were. :-) You might want to grab a tissue for this one.

Sandy was special to us. We will always have fond memories of the week they spent with us in Texas and our shopping, partying, dining in Mexico, and all the other crazy things we did that week along with Sam and Lois Kauffman and Chelle Sornson Madsen. Then we all got together again in MN for Rog’s birthday. I, Kathy, did not get to know Sandy like Chuck and the others did but loved her fun spirit and her laugh. ❤️
          Kathy and Chuck Sornson

My Sister Sandy What Is there to say, I still can’t believe she is gone, so many great times we shared with Sandy and Roger. It seems like yesterday when she was sun bathing in Mexico with a 4-foot iguana lizard also soaking up the sun not 6” from her head. I wanted to wake her up but I was afraid she would jump off the balcony. I have a great photo to giggle over. Pauline and I had our three boys, that would rather be at Sandys house with a swimming pool than to stay home. I am afraid we took advantage of that and took plenty of vacations knowing the boys were in good hands. I loved her unconditionally and will deeply miss her. I am sure she is smiling down on us now as she is reunited with mom and dad and brother Les.
          Dave T

Our thoughts and prayers are with you Roger and your family.
          Randy Stricker

Dear Roger, Jill and family. We are so very sorry to hear of your immense loss. Sandy was such a wonderful, caring and giving woman. My mom, Pat Serres considered Sandy her very best friend. They had a lot of fun together in the great years they shared at Park Ridge. Mom truly loved Sandy and Roger. Who didn’t? God rest her soul as she is waiting for you at heaven’s door. Love and peace to you.
          Kathy Reamer

I am so sorry for your loss. I will always cherish my memories of Sandy. I recall the time she and Rog met Doug and I at Lone Pine Golf course. Sandy forgot her golf shoes...her comment was "chit" and proceeded to golf without them. I can still see those little bare feet on the putting green. Such a fun person to be around, she reminds me so much of Alma. I will miss her a lot. Please know that I share your sadness and loss and wish you Gods peace.
          Love, Linda Thielbar

Blessed are women whose hearts and souls are joined together by laughter & tears shall be known as sisters. These words are so true with Sandy & I.  I will miss the opportunity in the future to share our happy moments with our children, the weddings of our grandchildren & the birth of our great grandchildren this was so important to us, the love of our families.  I will miss our talks, dinners, clean up and that famous drink we shared at the end of the evening we shared.   I am thankful for all the memories.  I am thankful to be able to share your last days on earth with you, your faith helped me to accept the fact I was losing you, & I must hang on to all our good memories & there was no way being the big sister, I could save you from this deadly disease.  I will miss you so much.
          Connie Reineke

What a touching video! Brad , you did a great job! Your wonderful Mother would be very proud.
          Len Fox

Sandy certainly brought joy into my life. Although I didn’t see her often, she greeted me like I was the only one in the room each time we ran into each other❤️ I’ll never forget how warmly she greeted when I moved to the Brittany Rd/15th St neighborhood. Rest In Peace Dear Sandy. Til we meet again...
          Colleen Youngquist