Sandra K. Schenck

Sandra K. “Sandy” Schenck, 63, of Grand Island, died Thursday, July 12, 2012, at her home, after fighting a courageous battle with ALS. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Peace Lutheran Church Life Center in Grand Island. The Revs. Terry Brandenburg, Michael Reiners and Mark Middendorf will officiate. Private family burial services will follow that afternoon in the Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul. Visitation will be Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Life Center. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Schenck was born on Dec. 1, 1948, in St. Paul, the daughter of Edwin and Nora (Miller) Kanter. She is survived by her husband, Gerald L. “Jerry” Schenck of Grand Island; two daughters and one son-in-law, Elizabeth Seitz of Rockford, IL and Sarah and Troy Piatkowski of Omaha; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Karen and Tom Slama of St. Louis, MO, Donna and Russ Kunze of St. Libory and Susan and Rick Vlach of Scotia. She also leaves to cherish her memory, five grandchildren, Katelynn Seitz, Donovan Williams, Bryson Williams, Paxon Piatkowski and Sutton Piatkowski; as well as numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews. Sandy grew up on the family farm east of St. Libory and attended Zion Lutheran parochial school in Worms. She graduated from St. Paul High School in 1967 and then attended Concordia University in Seward, graduating in 1971. She began her teaching career in New Orleans for one year and then accepted a call to teach in Glencoe, MN, where she taught from 1972 to 1973. She was united in marriage to Gerald L. “Jerry” Schenck on July 15, 1973, at Zion Lutheran Church in Worms. The couple lived in South Sioux City, where she was a substitute teacher. The family moved to Grand Island in 1977, where continued to substitute teach in Grand Island schools until both her daughters were in school. She then began teaching full-time at Trinity Lutheran School, where she taught for over 25 years, until her health forced her to retire. She was a member of Peace Lutheran Church and Lutheran Womens Missionary League. During the summer months she loved to garden, and always canned and froze the fresh produce for her family. Sandy loved educating children, but her greatest love is her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Her beautiful smile, educating talents, infectious sense of humor, and friendships to everyone will be missed, but never forgotten. She was preceded in death by her parents. Memorials are suggested to Trinity Lutheran School Tuition Program or to the family's choice.