Page created by: Melissa Gesing

Sandy Kay Schulz of Durant, Iowa, passed away peacefully on the evening of October 23, 2022, in Davenport, Iowa, after living a full and blessed life. Her last ten years were notably courageous as she battled the effects of Parkinson’s disease with dignity and grace. Sandy was surrounded by family at her passing. She was 65 years old.

Sandy was the fourth child born to Irvin and Marion (Mundt) Fosaaen in Decorah, Iowa, on October 30, 1956. As a child she resided in Ossian, where she enjoyed a lot of time cooking and baking with her mom and grandmother. In her teen years, Sandy was remembered as being athletic, friendly, and always smiling. She played basketball and was active in the Stavanger Lutheran Church LYO. Sandy graduated from South Winneshiek High School in 1975.

Sandy had a daughter Melissa Sue with her first husband in 1979. The couple later divorced. As a working single mother, Sandy began attending classes at Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar, Iowa, and graduated with honors in 1984 with an associate degree in accounting.

Sandy married David Schulz on September 9, 1983. The couple resided in Fredericksburg, Iowa, where they raised Melissa and additional children Sarah and Mitchel. The family relocated to Durant, Iowa, in 1997, and Dave still resides there. Throughout her adult life, Sandy worked in various bookkeeping and accounting positions, including at Supersweet Feeds in New Hampton, Liberty Trust and Savings Bank in Durant, St. Ambrose University in Davenport, and Schumacher, Inc. in Durant. Perhaps Sandy’s most pride-filled position was helping to care for and raise her six grandchildren part time from 2011 - 2019.

Sandy was known for her kindness, determination, grit, pride, love of family, hard work ethic, and love of houseplants and gardening. Sandy was never without a smile or a full cookie jar to offer something sweet to anyone who stopped by the house. Sandy also made amazing bread and buns from scratch - a recipe learned from her time spent baking with her mom and grandmother.

Sandy took immense pride in keeping a beautiful and loving home and celebrating her children’s and grandchildren’s accomplishments. Sandy’s green thumb was evident in her flowers, gardens, and houseplants that were her pride and joy, secondary to her grandchildren. Sandy preferred time at home but also enjoyed attending and hosting monthly card club with a group of friends in Fredericksburg, attending sporting events, cheering on the Hawkeyes, and planning outdoor family activities and get-togethers. Sandy was active in the school booster clubs, Durant Lioness club where she had perfect attendance for seven years, and Gloria Dei Lutheran Church activities.

Sandy also loved walking, biking, pulling her grandchildren in the wagon, and keeping physically active. When first learning of her Parkinson’s diagnosis, Sandy became committed to keeping physically active and fit to live her best life moving forward.

In her most recent years, Sandy enjoyed immense time with her family who were honored and humbled to care for her.

Sandy will be incredibly missed and cherished by her husband Dave; children Melissa Gesing, Sarah (Jeremiah) Costello, Mitch (Hannah) Schulz; grandchildren Gabriel, Lucy, Amelia, Ruth, Kateri, and Mary Costello; brothers Irv Fosaaen, Stan Fosaaen, and Randy Fosaaen; sisters in law; brothers in law; aunts; uncles; nieces; nephews; cousins; and friends. She was preceded in death by her mother Marion Fosaaen, father Irvin Fosaaen, sisters Lynn Fosaaen and Nancy Fosaaen, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

Visitation to greet the family was held on Friday, October 28, 2022, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Durant, Iowa. Funeral services were held on Saturday, October 29, 2022, at 11:00 - also at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church - with a luncheon afterward at the American Legion in Durant. A private family burial was held on Sandy’s birthday, Sunday, October 30, 2022.

The family thanks caregivers Joann Garlough and Tyona Baylor, the staff and nurses of the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Dr. Jennifer Aanestad and Dr. Stephen Sorensen, the staff of Cedar Manor in Tipton, and Sandy’s entire team of doctors and staff who cared for and guided her through her journey with Parkinson’s disease.

Donations continue to be collected for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in hopes that someday a cure will be found.