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Sandra ‘Sandy’ Eickholt, 58, of Le Mars passed away on April 28, 2025, surrounded by her family at Mitchell Hospice House in Sioux City.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 5, at Grace Lutheran Church in Le Mars. Visitation with the family present will be from 4-7 p.m., with a Prayer Service at 7 p.m., all on Sunday, May 4, at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars. Expressions of sympathy may be expressed to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Gospel Mission and the Warming Shelter in Sioux City.
Sandra Jean Lewis was born on March 19, 1967, in Lima, Ohio, to Carroll and Judy (Topping) Lewis. She was raised in Lima with her two younger sisters, Deb and Jenny, and graduated from high school in 1986.
Sandy was united in marriage to Donald Kestner Sr. They traveled the world while Donald was in the military; they spent one year in Korea and three years in Germany where she witnessed the Berlin wall falling. They had three children: Donald Jr, Justin and Lindsay, and later divorced.
Sandy then moved to South Sioux City where she met her future husband, Raymond, at the Stagecoach, where she asked him to dance. They were married on Nov. 27, 1999, and made their home on an acreage near Rembrandt.
Sandy graduated from WIT College in Sioux City with a degree in computer programming and worked her entire career in IT. She worked at Metabank and then at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center. In 2014 she moved to Le Mars to work for Wells Enterprises. Sandy and Ray officially relocated to Le Mars in 2022 and they celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in November 2024.
Sandy was a current member at Grace Lutheran Church in Le Mars. Her hobbies included thrifting and furniture restoration. She and Ray enjoyed going on motorcycle rides and taking cruises. While on their acreage, she loved animals and helped raise cattle, chicken, geese and turkey, as well as numerous cats and dogs.
Sandy was a proud wife, mom, grandma and employee. She gave her all in everything that she did, always energetic and smiling. She received the Vibrancy Award in 2013 while working at BVRMC.
Sandy is survived by her loving husband of 25 years, Ray; children: Donald Kestner Jr of South Carolina; and Lindsay (Craig) Neiderheiser of Spencer; sister Jenny (Jon) Gary of Ohio; grandchildren, Arlie and Hollis Neiderheiser; siblings in law: Randy Stoneburner of Ohio; Marilyn Eickholt of Sioux City; Marj Eickholt (Jack Donovan) of Sioux City; Deb Robinson of Westfield; Diane Dynes of Annawan, Ill.; and Joe (Penny) Eickholt of Hinton; many nieces, nephews and other extended relatives.
Sandy was preceded in death by her son Justin; sister Deb Stoneburner; parents, Carroll and Judy Lewis; paternal grandparents, Richard and Eva Lewis; maternal grandparents, Luther and Ruth Blue; and parents in law, Donald and Lola Eickholt.
