Connie Sanborn

Wednesday, April 12, 2017 4:00 pm

Connie Sanborn, 79, of Oelwein, died April 7, 2017, at the Hawkeye Care Center in Cresco, due to complications from a recent stroke. Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 13, at Christ United Presbyterian Church, Oelwein, with Rev. John Kerr officiating. Visitation is at Geilenfeld Funeral Home Wednesday, April 12, from 4 to 7 p.m. and for one hour before the funeral service at the church Thursday. Interment is at Woodlawn Cemetery, Oelwein. A memorial fund has been established in her name. For condolences, visit geilenfeldfh.com.

Constance Lou Sanborn was born June 19, 1937, in Oelwein, the daughter of the late Donald C. and Nellie M. (Tarr) Crandall. She was united in marriage to John Whitehead Sanborn of Hazelton Sept. 9, 1957, at the First Presbyterian Church of Oelwein, with Rev. L.W. Hauter officiating. Soon after they were married, John and Connie relocated to Virginia Beach, Va., where John served out the remainder of his enlistment in the US Navy. Following John’s discharge, John and Connie relocated to Sumner, where she worked at the Sumner Gazette. They later moved to Oelwein where they raised three children. Connie worked as an operator for the telephone company, as a teller at the First National Bank, at JC Penney & Co and finally at Culligan Water Conditioning in Oelwein where she retired as office manager in 1999. Connie was very active in the Christ United Presbyterian Church as well as the Oelwein Community Healthcare Foundation where she was a legacy board member. She was also very active in the Oelwein Historical Society Museum, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Fayette County Republican Party, the Oelwein Business and Professional Women. Connie also enjoyed supporting The Friends of the Oelwein Public Library, volunteering at Grandview Nursing and Rehab Center, playing with her card club, and generally causing trouble and light mayhem wherever she went.

Connie is survived by her daughter, Deborah J. (Gary) Hackman of Decorah, and two sons, Jon A. Sanborn of Janesville, Wis. and Colonel Scott E. (Sandi) Sanborn of Carlisle, Pa.; four grandchildren: Nicholas (Nikki) England, Brandyn Sanborn, Allyson Sanborn and Trevor Sanborn; one step-grandchild, Crystal Hackman; one great-grandchild: Zoey England, and; sister Karen (Jerry) Allen of Warwick, R.I., and her companion cat Tiger (who is currently seeking alternative living arrangements; interested parties may contact the family).

Connie was preceded in death by her husband John, both parents, her sister and brother-in-law Marianne and Louis “John” De Timmerman and her brothers Allen Crandall and Larry Crandall who died in infancy.