Kenneth Sand

Kenneth Wayne Sand, 77, passed away at his home on Sunday, July 27, 2008. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, July 31, 2008 at Lutheran Church of the Cross, 1701 8th Street SW, Altoona, with visitation from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Additional services will be held 10 a.m. Friday, August 1, 2008 at Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel, 708 N. 6th, Beatrice with visitation from 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will follow Friday’s service at Evergreen Cemetery in Beatrice, NE.
Ken was born June 17, 1931 to Albert and Minnie Sand on a farm near Odell, NE. He grew up in Beatrice, NE where he graduated high school in 1949. After four years in the U. S. Air Force, three years stationed in England, he received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Peru State College at Peru, NE and completed his Doctor of Educational Administration from the University of Nebraska. After teaching three years, he was superintendent of schools for two years at each Barneston, Polk, and Alvo-Eagle, Nebraska.
In 1966, Ken crossed the Missouri River and became superintendent of schools for eight years at Shenandoah, Iowa and then moving to Altoona in 1974 to become the superintendent of Southeast Polk Schools. He retired in 1991 and became a complaint investigator for the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, working also as a Level II investigator for a number of individual school districts.
Ken served on many committees and boards, mostly dealing with education and serving youth. He retired after 20 years from combined service of the Area Draft Board and the State Appeal Board. He served as president or chairman of such organizations as the Iowa Association of School Administrators, the Aeronautics Education Council of Iowa, considering the highlight of such experiences his ten years on the Board of Control of the Iowa High School Athletic Association where he served a term as chairman and was recipient of their most prestigious honor, the Award of Merit. Volunteer efforts included Lion’s Club, Kiwanis Club in Shenandoah, Boy Scouts, Foundation Committee for the Altoona Library, board member of the Altoona Campus fitness center, and the Advisory Board of the Boys and Girls Reformatory in Mitchellville.
In 1991, he was appointed as the Altoona representative to the Polk County Aviation Authority. It became the fastest growing airport in the Midwest and today is known as the Ankeny Regional Airport.
Ken is survived and lovingly remembered by his children, Tamara (Kevin) Franks of Essex, Susan Sand of Des Moines, Vicki Reed of Des Moines, Kimberly (Jim) Thompson of Altoona, Marcia (Jim Clark) Anderson of Ames, and Duke (Carolyn) Sand of Kansas City; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brother, Jerry (Virginia) Sand; sisters, Marcia (Dr. Omer) Reed and Dorthy (Jim) Staehs; and a host of other family and beloved friends. Ken was preceded in death by his wife, Blanche (Obering) Sand; and his parents.
Memorial contributions may be given to Lutheran Church of the Cross, Iowa Hall of Pride, or Iowa Health Home Care Hospice.
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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