Robert Sandquist
October 22, 2010
Robert P. Sandquist, 76, of Altoona entered into eternal life Friday, October 22, with family by his side. Bob died of complications from a 3 week bout with esophageal cancer.
Robert was born June 12, 1934, to Harold and Ruth Sandquist in Bondurant, Iowa. He graduated from Bondurant High School and went on to obtain a BS in Education from Drake University and a Masters in Education from the University of Northern Colorado.
He taught business and coached at Van Cleve and then coached all sports at Randall where his team won a State Baseball Championship. He also coached basketball at South Hamilton School. In 1963, he moved to Des Moines and taught business and was the head boy’s basketball coach at East High School. Later in his coaching career he spent summers as the head baseball coach at Southeast Polk High School for 10 years. Bob served in administration as Vice Principal at Harding Middle School, Central Campus High School and Hoyt Middle School. He retired from Des Moines Public School System in 2006.
Bob was a well respected official at the high school and college levels, including the Iowa Conference, the Big 8, and Big 10. He was a past president of the Des Moines Officials Association and a commissioner for National AAU basketball. Through the many camps he held, he assisted a number of young officials with their officiating careers.
He was an avid sports fan and attended almost every basketball, baseball, softball, football, volleyball, cheerleading competition and dance show in which his 12 grandchildren participated in. He inspired all his children with their various activities and mentored his sons Bob, Jr. and Rick in their high school and college coaching careers. He was a season ticket holder for the Iowa Cubs and Drake University basketball. He also loved working at the Iowa State Fair selling tickets every day it was held. Bob and his wife Chris were members of Altoona United Methodist Church.
Bob will be deeply missed by his family, many friends, and colleagues. His memory is honored by his wife of 7 years, Chris; children, Bob Jr. (Bridget) Sandquist of Johnston, Rick (Annette) Sandquist of Ft. Dodge, Doug (Shelly) Sandquist, of Pleasant Hill and Joleen (Brian) Roskamp of Johnston; ex-wife Bea Sandquist, of Pleasant Hill; his step-children, Camille (Matt) Swartz-Stevens; James Swartz and Richard (Terry) Swartz; his twelve grandchildren: Kristina Sandquist of Des Moines, Ashley (Seamus) Wilkerson of Ankeny, Amy Sandquist of Ft. Dodge, Blake Sandquist of Pleasant Hill, Ricky Sandquist of Ft. Dodge, Tony Sandquist of Pleasant Hill, Jordan Sandquist of Johnston, Lexa Sandquist of Pleasant Hill, Riley Roskamp of Johnston, Bowen Sandquist of Johnston, Baylee Roskamp of Johnston and Kelsey Roskamp of Johnston; his step-grandchildren, Alexis Swartz, Cassidy Swartz and Brianna Stevens; and 3 great-grandchildren: Cohen Moore, Leighton and Jace Wilkerson. He is also survived by his brother Bill (Coleen) Sandquist of Adel, four nephews and many cousins.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents Harold and Ruth Sandquist.
Visitation will be Monday from 5:00-8:00 pm at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave, Des Moines. Funeral Services will be Tuesday at 10:00 am at Altoona Methodist Church, 602 5th Avenue SW, Altoona, with burial to follow at Berwick Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be directed to Bondurant Farrar Education Foundation, c/o The Bob Sandquist Sports Scholarship, 300 Garfield St. SW, Bondurant, IA 50035.
Online condolence to:
www.HamitlonsFuneralHome.com
Megan and Theron Vanderflute
10/25/2010
Chris,
We are so, so sorry for your loss. You and Bob were always joined at the hip. You are, in my mind, an ideal couple; a model of what I would like Theron and I to be as we grow older. Bob was a great man. He had a fabulous sense of humor and a great a twinkle in his eye that those who knew him will never forget.
Hugs,
Megan and Theron
Shari and Steve Antonell
10/25/2010
I am so sorry for your loss, and keep your family in my prayers. It is at times like these that I remember and share the words of Emilee Dickenson I once read: "This life is not conclusion,
A sequal stands beyond,
Invisible as music,
Yet Positive as sound."
May you find comfort in these words, knowing he is at peace now, and lives on.
Sincerely,
Shari and Steve Antonell
Madeira Beach, FL
Ed Nahas
10/25/2010
To Bob's Family: I was deeply saddened to hear of Bob's death. He and I had so much contact over the years from his years as a Des Moines School Administrator when I was a Juvenile Court Probation Officer and more recently, when we sat across from each other at Iowa Cubs games. I especially enjoyed exchanging stories with Bob about each others children and grandchildren at the Cub games. I'll miss him a lot. My thoughts and prayers are with all of Bob's family.
Sincerely,
Ed Nahas
Waukee, Iowa
Winston Beal
10/25/2010
I met Bob and his family under completely different circumstances than
most. It was while I was employed by Hamilton's Funeral Home. Bob and
his brother Bill were the most likeable and pleasant people to work with
that I remember. It is not often that someone makes such a lasting
impression. My condolences to the entire family. He was a wonderful
man and he will be missed. Winston Beal
Jerry L. Ferrell
10/25/2010
I worked with Bob at Central Campus for fourteen years when he was vice-principal and enjoyed the relationship very much. I was so glad to have met him again at the C.C. retirement meeting in May. You have my deepest sympathy and he will be missed by many who knew him and his family more so. I am sorry for your lost and I will be thinking of you all.
Jerry Kindhart
10/25/2010
Bobby, So sorry to hear about your dad. Our thoughts are with you and your family.
Corey M. Ingram
10/25/2010
Mr. Sandquist was a great man and great mentor. I owe much of what i have become to his direction and guidance when i was a young teenager. Respect and hard work lead by example were three things that i will always remember. I am very saddened at the loss of such a great man. He will live on in our hearts and minds forever.
MSG Corey M. Ingram
Kabul International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan
International Joint Command Headquarters
(JR) Jon Richeson
10/24/2010
I had the privilege to work for Bob for many years at Central Campus. He taught me many, many things about teaching and student management. He was truly the "expert" when it came to education. Bob was fair and firm and he always had the students best interest at heart. He was tough but fair. We had a young man who was always getting himself into trouble at CC. Bob had to suspend him a couple of times but would then give the young man a ride home to make sure he was delivered safely to his mother. Bob was always in charge but made you feel as if he was working for you, the teacher. He taught me how to deal with parents that were upset and also to manage the daily stress of the classroom. When I made mistakes he would pull me aside and let me know how to avoid making the same mistake again and let me know he had my back. Bob Sandquist was a leader among men and he will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege to work with him. I would like his family to know how much I respected him as a mentor and a friend.
Respectfully,
Jon Richeson
Educator
Central Campus
Brenda Auxier-Mailey
10/24/2010
I will never forget my experiences at Central Campus a young teacher. Bob was the Vice Principal at that time. Among my most vivid memories teaching at Central Campus was the first time I took a student to Bob Sanquists office. Neither the student nor myself had any doubt that Bob was displeased by this students behavior. Although, I do not remember what Bob said, I do remember the volume and tone of his voice being loud and intense. In fact, I was so scared that I was telling myself that I would never bring a student to his office again. Well, that was until Bob winked at me. That was when I saw his true personality. Yes, he was strict and at times stern, but really that was mostly an act. Bob Sandquist was one of the kindest and most supportive principals for which I have had the privilege to work. Bob often visited my special education classroom looking for positive things to say to my students.
I spent four years teaching at Central Campus and years later when I was to complete an administrative internship, I asked Bob if I could do part of it with him. I learned so much from Bob during that internship. I learned the importance of being passionate, fair, consistent, to be out in the hallways with the students and to support teachers, and if a teacher messed up to talk with them about it in private. Bob also taught me the importance of starting each day at school as a new day, that a student could be in his office one day for inappropriate behavior and the next day Bob would stop by the students classroom to comment on something good the student did.
Bob Sandquist was not only known for and respected for his coaching and officiating; he was a great principal and is held in the highest esteem by myself and many other teachers who were privilege to of had him as their supervisor and mentor.
To Bobs family, may you be comforted by knowing he made a positive difference in many students and teachers lives.
Wendell & Barb Mendenhall
10/24/2010
We were so shocked to hear about Bob's passing. Our heartfelt sympathy and prayers are with you. We can just imagine that Bob is now coaching that ultimate team in the sky. May God be with you in your sorrow. He will be certainly missed by the Bondurant calss of 1952
Linda Robbins
10/24/2010
Coach Sandquist was my typing teacher way back in 1966-67. I did not know at that age how much what he taught me would influence my life. I was an excellent typist from day one and he used to joke that he never "taught" me anything. For my remaining two years at East, I was his "secretary" for one period a day. During those times, we used to talk and I learned I could talk to him about everything and anything. One doesn't realize how much a high school teacher has taught them until much later in life and I was never able to tell him what he meant to me.
I am so sorry for your loss. He was a good man and I am sure your loved one will be much missed. I am also sure he influenced many other students over the years.
rhonda (johnson) wells
10/24/2010
To Mr. Sandquist's Family:
I am terribly saddened to hear of Mr. Sandwquist's passing. I have thought of him often in the 35 years since I graduated from high school. He was a wonderful teacher and had quite an impact on my life. Please accept my deepest sympathy. I will be thinking of you.
Shelly Waters
10/24/2010
I am so sorry to hear about Bob's passing. He always made me smile at the Iowa Central Softball games. My prayers go out to the family.
Nancy Clarke
10/24/2010
We were sorry to hear of Bob's death. Our sympathy to his family.
Cousin Nancy Clarke and husband Bud Holland
Eugene Olson
10/24/2010
Bob Sandquist was my coach in High School at Randall. I loved baseball and went out for it in my sophomore year. My parents were very concerned about the possibility of breaking my glasses (they really didn't have any extra money to replace my glasses). As a result, I was forced to play baseball without my glasses. Needless to say, I didn't get very many hits. And my fielding was less than stellar.
When I did get a hit, coach Sandquist noticed that I ran the bases very fast. He then recuited me to be the pinch runner for some of the baseball players who were not very fast on their feet. Toward the end of the season, coach Sandquist suggested that we put together a track team (and that maybe I should give up baseball). We went on to have a pretty good track team. We competed very well in the State cross country meets. And in my senior year, he drove me to Ames so I could run the mile in the State track meet (with no damage to my glasses).
So, this afternoon, I put on my running shoes and at the age of 67 went on a run in memory of coach Sandquist.
He was also my typing teacher and I am still putting his teaching skills to use in email and creating legal documents.
I have him to thank for two important things in my life--keeping healthy by running and typing/key boarding (or whatever they call it these days).