Leroy Arthur Sand

Leroy Arthur Sand, the sixth child of his Danish immigrant parents Anders and Petrea (Pedersen) Sand, was born on his parents’ farm near Poplar, Iowa, on June 6, 1929. He entered into eternal rest at his farm home on October 15, 2016, at the age of 87 years, 4 months, and 9 days.
Leroy was baptized and confirmed at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. He attended rural school “Mount Zion” in Audubon County, and he briefly attended Audubon High School. Leroy’s father died in 1943 when Leroy was just 13 years old. Farm help was hard to come by because of the war, so Leroy had to leave high school and help his mother and siblings operate the family farm. In 1965, Leroy purchased his own farm about ¼ of a mile east of the home place and around the same time purchased the original family farm in Poplar. During this time, Leroy worked hard raising hogs and cattle and taking care of his crops. In 1970, he became ill with “silo fillers disease” and had to quit the cattle business but he continued with hogs and was very proud of his farrow to finish operation. He always said hogs were the mortgage lifters.
On December 22, 1972, on a cold winter day, he was united in marriage to Nancy Carlson of Audubon. The marriage took place at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. At that time, Nancy added 200 head of sheep to Leroy’s farming operation. Leroy was a hard worker and never really retired from farming.
Leroy and Nancy were blessed with three children, Susan, Maren, and Anders. He enjoyed attending and supporting their many activities. He loved having the family together during Tivoli Fest and the Exira 4th of July parade. He also enjoyed attending the Greenridge Steam & Gas Antique Engine Show, the Clay County Fair, and the Iowa State Fair. In addition, Leroy and Nancy traveled to Europe and Denmark several times to visit family and friends. As a lifelong farmer, each fall he looked forward to competing in the state and national hand corn-husking competitions, a skill he had learned as a young boy. Leroy was happiest spending time with his family. He loved having everyone back at the farm where he could push the grandkids in the hammock and drive them around on the Polaris.
Leroy was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. He was also a member of the Museum of Danish America and the National Cornhusking Association,
Preceding him in death were his parents; his infant brother Harald Sand; his sister Mildred and husband Don Sullivan; his brothers Harold and wife Mary Sand, Evald Sand, and Ejnar and wife LaDonna Sand; his brothers-in-law Richard Crandall, Joe Cervany, Charles Henderson, and Richard Pallas; and his sister-in-law Marsha Reidhill.
Survivors include his wife Nancy Sand of Kimballton, Iowa; his children Susan (Ryan) Brown of Ankeny, Iowa, Maren (Derek) Peck of Ankeny, Iowa and Anders Leroy Carlson Sand of Kansas City, Missouri; his grandchildren Katie, Abbi, and Sara Brown and Anja and Anders Peck all of Ankeny; his sisters and brother Ruth Crandall of Wheeling, Illinois, Elsie Cervany of La Vista, Nebraska, Eleanor (Wayne) Magnuson of Omaha, Nebraska, Esther Sand-Henderson of Carroll, Iowa, and Kenneth (Carolyn) Sand of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Jennifer (Greg) Pott of Mesa, Arizona, J.T.(Tracy) Reidhill of Washington, D.C.; nieces, nephews, and cousins in the U.S. and Denmark, other relatives and many friends.
Leroy leaves behind a legacy of hard work, caring for the earth, being honest and fair, and a love for family. He will be deeply missed.
The Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be conducted by Pastor Doug Opp on Saturday, October 22, 2016, at 1:00 P.M. at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. Inurnment of the cremains will be in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Kimballton, Iowa. The family will meet with friends Saturday morning October 22, 2016, from 11:00 A.M. until the time of the service at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon.