Sandra Whalen

Sandra Vogt Whalen, 76, of Davenport, passed away on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. Per her wishes, cremation rites have been accorded. Sandy was preceded in death by her parents Albert and Mabel Vogt and her sister Susan Kirik. She is survived by her brothers, Albert and William Vogt; Daughter Kimberly Lunn and son-in-law Joe Lunn; Son Kurtis Whalen and daughter-in-law Rachel Whalen; grandchildren, Nicholas Lunn, and William and Thomas Whalen; and her loving husband of 55 years, William Whalen.

Sandy was born November 6, 1945, in St. Louis Mo. She was the daughter of Mabel Kelly Vogt and Albert James Vogt of St. Louis. She has three siblings, Albert R. Vogt, Atlanta, GA. Susan Vogt Kirik, Rock Island, IL. and William K. Vogt, Huntington Beach, CA. She met her husband at the University of Missouri, where he was a "Mizzou" football player. She and William E. Whalen were married on June 17th, 1967 in St. Louis. Together, they were blessed with two children Kimberly Whalen Lunn (Joseph) and Kurtis William Whalen (Rachel). Kim and Kurt did many things to make them proud. She loved them both unconditionally, and will watch over them for eternity.

She was blessed with three wonderful grandsons: Nicholas William Lunn, William Kurtis Whalen, and Thomas Steele Whalen. They taught her a love that is unexplainable and wonderful. They always made her feel happy and loved. They were her most blessed gifts from God. Sandy graduated from Bayless High School in Afton, MO. in 1963. There she was involved in the school's band, orchestra, and concert choir. She played five instruments, specializing in the Bb clarinet where she played in the University of Missouri "Marching Mizzou" and the concert band. She was involved in girls' basketball, volleyball, and field hockey. In 2016, she was honored by her high school by being inducted into the Bayless Athletic Hall of Fame. She graduated from the University of Missouri with a BS. in Ed. Both music and athletics played an important part in her adult life. She participated in various golf leagues, winning the club championship at Midland Country Club, and participating in the Galesburg and Kewanee All City Women's golf tournaments for many years. She continued her athletics by becoming a regular swimmer at the Kewanee YMCA. Sandy was a member of the First United Methodist Church Choir and participated in the Galesburg and Kewanee Community Choirs. Sandy was a member of the Kewanee Ladies' Reading Club, and a member of Kewanee, IL. P.E.O., Chapter CS. She loved to write poetry and in 1978 she began the tradition of writing and illustrating a new Christmas poem for friends and family to send every year until 2015. After 34 years of teaching at ROWVA CUSD 108, she retired, having been the only teacher in the school's history to have taught in all five elementary schools in the district. During retirement, she became involved in painting and created many beautiful landscapes. She enjoyed the many friendships she formed through her activities and career as a teacher. She was a constitutional conservative and loved studying history and her own family's genealogy. Sandy especially loved singing in her church choir. The music brought her closer to Christ and helped her cope with the challenges she felt in her life. There were several times she truly felt that Christ was right there with her to protect her and lead her through each day.

Sandy wrote, "Bill, Kim, Kurt, Nick, William, Thomas, Joe, and Rachel, I may not have said it, or made you feel my love, but I loved you." All her life she was close to her sister Sue and her brothers Al and Bill. She held all of her nieces and nephews in her loving thoughts. She loved to make people smile and tried to make them feel good. She was a "performer" and loved being the center of attention. Her mother is quoted as saying, "Sandy never knew a stranger." Sandy wrote, "I hope you will forgive me for my mistakes and pray to God that He will forgive me as well. God bless all who are here in body and all those who are here in spirit. Whoever you are reading this, Thank you! I am giving you spiritual hugs and Kisses."

Funeral services will be held at Tanglewood Hills Chapel, 4250 Middle Road, Bettendorf, Iowa, on Sunday, December 4th. A visitation will start at 11:00 a.m. with the service to begin at 12:00 noon. A Celebration of Life luncheon will immediately follow the service. Memorials may be donated to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital (https://uichildrens.childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org). Online condolences may be expressed at (www.weertsfh.com).