Sandra S. Lenz

Sandra S. Lenz, 81, of Grinnell and formerly of Newton and Kellogg, died Thursday, May 21, 2020, at Windsor Manor in Grinnell.

A public visitation will be from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 11 at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell. A private family graveside service will be Friday, June 12 at Our Silent City Cemetery in Kellogg.

Memorials may be designated to UnityPoint Grinnell Regional Hospice and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, P.O. Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with Sandy’s family online at smithfh.com. Sandy’s family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the Windsor Manor nurses and staff who provided excellent care for her during her time there.

Sandra Sue Snook was born the daughter of Robert W. and Florence E. (Mallonee) Snook, Sept. 8, 1938, in Ottumwa. She was raised in Ottumwa and graduated from Ottumwa High School with the class of 1956. She received her teacher’s certificate from Parsons College in Fairfield in 1958 and moved to New Jersey to begin her teaching career. She returned to Ottumwa and taught for a few years and later moved to Newton to take a job teaching there.

Sandy met and was united in marriage to L. Dale Lenz Dec. 27, 1965, at the Kellogg United Methodist Church. They lived in Kellogg. They adopted their daughter, Mindy, in August of 1971. She then took some time off to raise their daughter. She later received her master’s degree in education when renewing her teacher’s certificate and starting teaching again, first starting at Kellogg Elementary and then teaching for the Newton Community School District at several schools in town. Sandy later moved to Newton after and continued to teach in Newton until her retirement.

Sandy was an extremely talented artist and painter and was a member the Iowa Toll Painters Association for many years and went on retreats with the group. She was a member of the Red Hat Society in Newton and enjoyed dressing in her crazy red hats and purple outfits. In her early years, she was a Campfire and Bluebird leader in Kellogg. She dearly loved her family and cherished the time spent with her granddaughters. They spent many hours painting and making crafts together. Her passion was to travel. After she retired, she went on many bus trips with the First Newton National Bank group that took her across the United States as well as out of the country. Her favorite trip was to Ireland.

Sandy is survived by her daughter, Mindy R. Plumb of Brooklyn; two granddaughters, Kaitlyn R. Plumb of Dysart and Taylor N. Plumb of Belle Plaine; one great-grandson, Carter S. Carney of Dysart; and a brother, Steven Snook of Ottumwa. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Florence Snook.