Sandi Slater

Sandra (Sandi) Louise Slater was born March 22, 1949, the daughter of Maynard and Mildred Philips. She passed away Saturday October 5, 2013 at her home. Sandi was born in Fairfield, Iowa and spent her childhood growing up on a farm near Keosaqua, Iowa. She graduated from Van Buren High School in 1967 and then attended JFK College in Wahoo, Nebraska on a track scholarship. When JFK closed its doors she transferred to Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa where she graduated with a BA in 1972. Sandi was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith on January 15, 1983 and was a member of Immanual Lutheran Church in Schleswig, Iowa.
On June 16, 1979 she was united in marriage to Steven L. Slater, and they made their home on the farm northwest of Denison, Iowa. The couple was blessed with a daughter, Sara, in 1986. Sandi was a physical education instructor for Denison Community Schools from 1974 until her retirement in 2012. During her career she taught at the high school as well as the elementary level. She is credited with starting the varsity softball program at Denison where she served as coach from 1976-1980. She also coached basketball and track at Denison Middle School as well as youth soccer and softball as a volunteer. Her career in education culminated with her selection as a recipient of the Wall of Pride Award by the Denison Schools Alumni Association which she proudly accepted on September 20, 2013.
Sandi enjoyed life on the farm and could be found outside the house more often than in. She took special pride in raising and taking care of animals and many of those whether they were pigs, calves, horses, cats or dogs owe a longer life to her tender loving care. She enjoyed helping Sara with her 4-H livestock projects and especially took pride in helping her develop a love of working with horses. Many weekends when Sara was young found the two of them trotting off to a horse show somewhere. Sandi also loved to garden and was pleased with being able to go to the basement pantry or the freezer in the middle of winter for an item she had canned or frozen. As the years went by and the vegetable garden shrank in size her flower garden expanded. Sandi enjoyed decorating for holidays and had a tote box for each one whose contents she would empty into a festive display throughout their home. Christmas was her favorite holiday and that was at least a 'three box' occasion.
Sandi and Steve were inseparable companions and friends and enjoyed working side-by-side on many projects in the house, the out-buildings or the land on their farm. They took special pride in what they could accomplish working together to add to or improve what was there. In her leisure time Sandi enjoyed playing cards, having lunch or coffee with the gals or just relaxing by the pond. She liked to fish and had a knack for coaxing Steve into removing them from the hook. No matter what the task or activity, for Sandi the glass was always half-full, never half empty.
Sandi was preceded in death by her parents, her mother-in-law, Cleora Slater and a niece, Taryn Philips. Survivors include her husband, Steve, daughter, Sara, sister Connie Miller (Bob) of Muscatine, Iowa, sister Mary Ann Weaver (Gary) of Davenport, Iowa, brother Mike Philips and wife Kay of Chuluota, Florida, an aunt, Ruth Pothoven (Robert) of Hollister, Missouri, her father-in-law, George Slater of Hoffman Estates, Illinois as well as many nieces, nephews and other relatives. Also left to cherish her memory are many friends as well as countless students whose lives she touched. Although Sandi has left her earthly home her infectious smile will be forever remembered by those who knew her and loved her.