Tom Sandell, 76, of Fort Dodge, died peacefully on Wednesday, August 8, 2012 at the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home with his family around him. Interment will be held in North Lawn Cemetery at 10:00 AM and services will be 11:00 AM Saturday, August 11, 2012 at the First Presbyterian Church in Fort Dodge with the Rev. Dr. Nancy A. De Vries officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM today at the Celebration Center, Friendship Haven in Fort Dodge. The Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services are in charge of arrangements.
Thomas John Sandell, son of Fred and Blanche Sandell, was born on January 29, 1936 in Boone, Iowa. He graduated from Boone High School in 1954 He received BA and MA degrees from Drake University in 1958 and 1964. He taught social studies at Keota High School from 1958 to 1962. He taught World and American history and sponsored debate and model UN at Iowa City High School from 1962- 1968. He worked as K-12 curriculum coordinator for the Fort Dodge Public Schools from 1968 1994 in the area of Social Studies, Talented and Gifted programming, Art and Music, Guidance Counseling, Middle School Education, Global Studies and Public Relations.
He also helped sponsor Model UN Students.
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TOM SANDELL
On May 30, 1959 he was united in marriage to Aileen Peterson in Des Moines.
Tom played cello in the Fort Dodge Symphony for 25 years. He was a member of the Webster County Retired School Personnel, Golden K Kiwanis, and First Presbyterian Church where he sang in the choir for 43 years. He also served on various church boards and committees, and Blanden Art Gallery Board. He loved card games, especially pitch and bridge, concerts, travel and being with friends and family. He taught night classes for Buena Vista University at the Fort Dodge Center for many years. He had a lifelong love of learning and teaching.
He was fun loving, generous, kind, warm and helpful. He loved to make people smile and laugh. He enjoyed the company and activity of his family who shared many fun moments. They include his wife Aileen; his children Ann (Tom) Mulder of Friendswood, TX, Paul (Julie) Sandell of Cedar Falls, Dr. Pat (Sarah) Sandell of Plainwell, MI; grandchildren Stephen Mulder of TX, Tom, Lucy and Clara Sandell of MI, and Will and Miles Sandell of Cedar Falls, his sister Patricia (Don) Gustafson of Ames and his sister-in-law Kathleen Nelson of FL, brothers-in-law Rick (JoAn) Peterson of Cedar Point and Bill Peterson of Iowa City and several nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be left to the First Presbyterian Church pipe organ fund.