Wilma P. Sander, 83, of Alhambra, died Sunday, May 24, 2020, at her residence.
Private visitation and funeral service will be held at Dauderman Mortuary in Alhambra, with the Rev. Jeremy R. Wood, pastor of Salem United Church of Christ in Alhambra, officiating. Interment will be held in Salem Cemetery in Alhambra.
Mrs. Sander was born Oct. 20, 1936, in Mt. Olive, the daughter of John and Bertha (Prange) DeVries. She married Leroy H. Sander on Oct. 20, 1956, and he preceded her in death on Sept. 6, 2010.
Born and raised in Mt. Olive, she was a graduate of Mt. Olive High School. She was a clerk at a bank in Wood River for a short time. She and her husband lived in Wood River after they got married, and in 1965, they moved to Alhambra.
For over 20 years, she worked as a clerk at Gehrig’s Store in Alhambra. In 1992, she and her husband began wintering in Rio Grande Valley, TX, and later Mission, TX. They were also residents of Cool Creek in Grantfork.
She enjoyed birdwatching and gardening. She helped start Bremer Sanctuary in Butler, and volunteered at Hitz Home in Alhambra.
Mrs. Sander is survived by her daughters, Debra W. (Brian) Corbett of Woodlands, TX, Donna L. Blackwell of Bethalto and Brenda L. (Jed) Schlechte of Alhambra; grandchildren, Zachary (Erika) Schlechte, Joshua (Andrea) Schlechte, Seth (Mallory) Schlechte, Alexandra Blackwell and Christine Blackwell; great-grandchildren, Gracyn Schlechte, Liam Schlechte, Logan Schlechte, Lucas Schlechte, Landon Schlechte, Violet Schlechte and Zoey Schlechte; sisters, Agnes Holderread of Litchfield, Lora Roscetti of Springfield, Jeanette Hoehn of Oceanside, CA, and Iris Friesner of Mt. Olive; and brother, Wayne DeVries.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by son-in-law, Chad B. Blackwell on March 26, 2004, and sister, Ellen Hoefker.
Memorials may be made to Salem United Church of Christ or Heartland Hospice.
Online condolences may be left at www.spengel-boulanger.com.
