Sandra Marie Stegen

Sandra “Sandy” Stegen, nee Hammond, 69, died peacefully in Phoenix on April 4, 2024. Sandy, and twin sister Susan, were born in Davenport, Iowa, on October 15, 1954 to Kathleen and Jesse Hammond. She worked in her dad’s camera shop growing up. She graduated from Central High School in Davenport in 1973. She attended several colleges, and achieved a business degree from Iowa State. She spent summers during college working as a Girl Scout Camp staff member at Camp Conestoga with the nickname “Raisin.” She followed her older brother, Thomas, to sunny southern California. Sandy moved to Phoenix and began a long career at Graybar Electric Company. Her hobbies in this era included skydiving, gardening and live music. She met husband Mike at work and they married June 18, 1990. Daughter Anne was born in 1991, and daughter Jesse came along in 1992. After a short-lived move to St. Louis, Mike and Sandy raised their daughters in north Phoenix. They attended All Saints Lutheran Church. Sandy encouraged Mike as he took on several leadership positions in Camelback Daylight Lodge #75, F & AM and York Rite. After Anne and Jesse joined Job’s Daughters International Bethel #19, Sandy agreed to leadership roles, including Arizona Grand Guardian. Sandy served as President of the Social Order of the Beauceant Assembly #213 and Worthy Matron of Stars of Paradise #56 Order of Eastern Star. She was a long-time volunteer at the Autism Spectrum Alternative Program, supporting equine therapy for children. She loved driving her big trucks while chauffeuring her daughters between church, school, band, Tom’s house in New River and dozens of other activities. She turned 60 and signed up for a half marathon, completing many races with her daughters. At 65 she was diagnosed with a blood disorder that progressed to leukemia. Her daughters and sister were by her side at Mayo Clinic when she passed into her eternal life with Jesus. She was preceded in death by her father, Jesse Hammond, and mother, Kathleen Hammond. She is survived by husband, Micheal Stegen; daughters Anne James (Jesse) and Jesse Stegen; her twin sister, Susan Hammond Frederici (Noel); brother Thomas Hammond (Carol); sister Patricia Hammond (Gail) and Michael Hammond (Priscilla).