Robert Sande

Robert Linus (Bob) Sande died peacefully in his home April 3, 2018, in the company of family and friends. He was born October 30, 1925, in Grand Forks, North Dakota, the third of four children to Linus Jonathan and Ingeborg (Lunseth) Sande. He was graduated from Grand Forks High School and then matriculated at Concordia College. His college education was interrupted by service in the US Navy (1943- 1946.) Following honorable discharge at the end of World War II, he returned to Concordia and was graduated in 1949. He earned his Masters Degree in Education from the University of North Dakota in 1953 and his Education Specialist Degree from the University of Minnesota in 1968. At Concordia, Bob met Alice "Betty" Gilbertson, and they married June 12, 1949. They were married for 66 years until her death in January, 2016. Bob and Betty pursued teaching careers in Mott, North Dakota, and Fargo, North Dakota. They moved to Austin, Minnesota in 1962, where Bob served as principal at Webster and Lincoln Elementary Schools. Three years later Bob was recruited to Rochester, where he spent 12 years as principal of Hawthorne Elementary, followed by his tenure at Jefferson School, from which he retired in 1990. A superb and respected educator, Bob earned many awards and accolades during the course of his career. During his tenure there, Jefferson School was recognized as a National Center of Excellence by the Minnesota Elementary School Principal's Association (MESPA, 1987- 1988). The award specifically mentioned his novel "school-based management program", which brought together students, teachers, other staff, and community members in co-leadership of the school. That same year he was recognized with a Distinguished Service Award by the MESPA and was elected Elementary School Principal of the Year for the State of Minnesota. He was named administrator of the year by the Minnesota School Counselor's Association in 1988. He served in the North Central Association as an on-site inspector and board member. He was active in countless professional organizations, including Phi Delta Kappa, MESPA, MEA, NEA, SEMESPA, and others. Bob was honored as a National Distinguished Principal by the United States Department of Education and the National Association of Elementary School Principals, traveling to Washington, D.C. with Betty in October, 1987, to receive his award from William Bennett, then Secretary of the US Department of Education. In addition to his professional activities, Bob was an active member of Zumbro Lutheran Church as a Sunday School teacher, choir member, and president of the congregation. He belonged to Sons of Norway, Vesterheim, and Kiwanis. He and Betty built three homes together and enjoyed traveling the world while their health permitted. Bob was an excellent wood craftsman and enjoyed Norwegian folk carving, singing, and playing pool. Bob is survived by his children Jane Sande (Ohio and Maryland), Susan Sande (Kanata, Ontario), and Jonathan Sande (Karen Hanson), (Duluth, Minnesota), and grandchildren Joshua Sande, Michael and Julia Moran (Andrew Moran) and Kristin and Nathan Sande. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Betty, his parents Ingeborg and Linus Sande, brothers James O. and David Sande, and sister Lorna Ames. The family expresses heartfelt gratitude to many who so meaningfully enhanced Bob's declining years, including Dr. Jon Ebbert (Mayo Clinic), the Mayo Clinic Hospice Staff, especially Karen Heimdahl and Maureen Bigelow, and the staff of the Homestead at Rochester. Special thanks are given to the wonderful caregivers who filled his last two years with music, prayer, laughter, special trips, and lots of pool and Bingo: Ruthie Grove Welgemoed, Karissa Olsen, Joan Grove, Jill Swenson, Laurie Hanson, Alissa Goettes, Jeff Loftus, and Chenoa Pillar. Memorial Services will be held April 27, 2018, at 2:00 PM at Zumbro Lutheran Church, 624 Third Ave. SW, Rochester. The Reverend Lisa Kipp will officiate. There will be a gathering time at Zumbro beginning at 12:30 and inurnment after the service, followed by a reception at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials in honor of Robert Sande to be sent to any of the following: 1) Mayo Clinic Hospice, 2) Southeastern Minnesota Center for Independent Living (SEMCIL; peer mentoring and Independent Living Programs), or 3) The Reading Center in Rochester, MN.