Sandra Sue Bischof

Sandra Sue (Kading) Bischof, 84, of Johnston, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 23rd, 2024, at EveryStep - Kavanaugh House in Des Moines. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 6, 2024 at Glen Echo Christian Church, 4323 Douglas Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa. The family will greet friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 5 at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, Iowa. Burial to follow at the Brethren Cemetery in Panora, Iowa.

Sandy was born to Harold Ivan Kading and Helen Scott Kirkwood Kading on November 14th, 1939, in Pleasantville, Iowa. After Sandy’s mother and baby sister, Ruth Anna, unexpectedly died after childbirth, Aunt Ruth Kading raised Sandy, Kathleen and Thelma. They grew up on a farm near Pleasantville, Iowa, where Sandy enjoyed being involved in 4H. It was here she developed a passion for sewing that would persist throughout her lifetime. She graduated from Pleasantville High School in 1957 and moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota attending Humboldt Institute, Inc. Here she completed a program in Airlines and Business Training. She promptly returned to Pleasantville to care for her now-ailing Aunt Ruth. It was at this time her father remarried, and from this union of M. Marlene Laird and Harold Ivan Kading came a stepsister, Kristin Van Loon and a stepbrother, Gary Van Loon.

Sandy began her work life at Iowa State Employ Service. It was during this time she was introduced to Bill at a work picnic by a friend. On May 12, 1962, William J. Bischof married Sandra Sue Kading in Des Moines, Iowa. Bill brought with him a daughter, Ellen and a son, Gary, who would visit on weekends. They both, however, brought back a surprise from their honeymoon, returning to Des Moines on crutches, Sandy having broken her leg playing badminton. They made their home in Des Moines, Iowa, with Bill working at Equitable Life of Iowa and Sandy now working at Ford and then Massey Ferguson Inc. In January 1966 they had a daughter, Sharon Ann. While continuing to live in the Des Moines area they moved into their first home on Bel-Aire Road. It was then that Sandy stayed home to raise Sharon. While a homemaker Sandy became a Camp Fire Girls, USA, leader and volunteer from 1972 to 1975. There were crafts and sing-a-longs, tours and overnights at Camp Hantesa in Boone, Iowa. Sandy also incorporated her sewing at this time and began sewing for clients; entire wardrobes for some, a wedding dress for a niece, clothes for her and Sharon. She would also become a volunteer at Samuelson Elementary School assisting children with reading. Involved in the PTA as well, Sandy had her days full, but still managed to find time to pick up some typing jobs from Empire Investment.

Moving closer to Hoover High School in 1978, Bill and Sandy said goodbye to their close-knit neighbors and friends on Bel-Aire Road and welcomed more space on Shawnee Avenue. They had joined the Glen Echo Christian Church while Sharon was a baby and both participated in different roles in the church. Sandy was a deaconess and also sang in the church choir for many years; participating in all avenues. Church was an integral part of her life growing up as a young girl and continued throughout her lifetime. As she began to become less mobile, she would listen to the services broadcast on the radio. This is when Sandy started at Kirke Van Orsdel (KVI) in downtown Des Moines and worked in the Accounting Department. It was here that a boss/friend encouraged her to continue her education in Accounting and so she took classes at Drake University. She would eventually land at Holmes Murphy for her last employer and was there for 15 years until retiring in 2004.

She and Bill did some traveling throughout the years and enjoyed their time up north along the shoreline of western Michigan and throughout the top to Mackinac Island, MI. They spent time in Door County, WI and Duluth, MN as well, taking the grandkids with them as they went. After retiring Bill had come down with COPD and Sandy stayed home to care for him. When he passed in 2008, she began her travels again with friends from work and others from her Red Hats group. They visited many places and had loads of fun. She then started meeting with the Class of ‘52, Bill’s graduating class from Panora, Iowa. These ladies, and eventually some spouses, would meet for lunch at different restaurants, travel and take turns playing penny poker at one another’s homes once a month. They surrounded her with laughter and love! They welcomed Sandy as if she grew up with all of them from the start. She furthered her social outings by participating with her cousins in what would become Cousin’s Lunch. Instead of only seeing one another at funerals and once-a-year at the Kading reunion they decided to meet once a month at a different restaurant for lunch. Proud to say there are now three generations of cousins meeting once a month at various restaurants around - they’re easy to find - a joyful noisy bunch.

Sandy is survived by her daughters, Sharon (Steve) Rohde, and Ellen Bischof (NY); son, Gary (Thayme) Bischof (AZ); grandchildren, Robbi, Katherine, Nicholas and Nathan (Johnston); sister, Kristin (Larry) Messenbrink; brother, Gary (Cindy) VanLoon; and countless nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and friends.

Memorials may be made in Sandra’s name to the Animal Rescue League or the American Lung Association.

A life well lived

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