Sandra Kay Whittenberg

Throughout her career, Sandra excelled at the jobs she held. Starting as an Administrative Secretary in Memphis, she eventually relocated to Carbondale, IL, where she worked for Southern Illinois University, starting as a supervisor of registration data in the registrar's office, eventually obtaining the role of Office Manager for their School of Medicine.

After this, she became an Administrative Secretary for the United Methodist Church in Evanston, IL, serving the Council on Finance and Administration.

Between 1974-1976, Sandra completed her Bachelor's Degree in Economics and Business Administration at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, IL, while working as a secretary to Chairman of the Music Department there, and then graduating cum laude.

After graduation, Sandra was a Vocational Instructor for the Jacksonville Mental Health and Developmental Center, a Title XX Program Manager for Kankakee County Training Center for the Disabled, and a Rehabilitation Counselor for the Cass County Training Center for the Disabled.

In the early 1980s, Sandra's career shifted briefly and she took a job as the Office Manager for Radio Station KHND in Harvey, North Dakota.

Soon after her career in radio, she took a job as an agent for Northwestern Mutual Life selling all types of insurance.

In the late 1980s, Sandra's career in Healthcare started to accelerate. After becoming the Activity Director for Pleasant View Luther Home in Ottawa, IL, she eventually became the Coordinator of Special Projects for the American Red Cross of Ottawa.

Throughout the 1990s, she became a Nursing Home Administrator in Illinois, Tennessee, and also Indiana.

It was in 2000 Sandra became General Manager of a retirement facility in Terre Haute, IN, but when her husband was offered a job too good not to accept, they relocated to Bloomington, IL.

After working so many years, Sandra took a "retirement job" as an Administrative Secretary II, working for two Federal Grant Programs in Kentucky. Then when her husband retired, she decided it was her time to retire as well.

While enjoying retirement, Sandra stayed active in volunteer work by starting the H.E.L.P Program and the Community Kitchen at First United Methodist Church in Murray, Kentucky. She also served as a board member for United Methodist Women, the Murray Woman's Club, Board of Pensions, Memphis Conference, and the United Methodist Church.

It was in 2012 the family decided to leave Kentucky and they moved to Sun Lakes, Arizona. Once there, Sandra continued her volunteer work with the VFW.

Sandra is survived by her husband of 58 years, Thomas Wittenberg; her daughter Stephanie Withrow (Doug Withrow); and her daughter Monica Owczarzak (Mike Owczarzak); her sister Cheryl Riedel; her grandson Dustin Withrow, her granddaughter Brianna Withrow, her granddaughter Emily Withrow, her granddaughter Grace Withrow and her grandson Cooper Withrow.