John Frederic Sandy Marquette, Michigan Obituary

John Frederic Sandy

MARQUETTE, MI - John Frederic Sandy, age 71, of Marquette, passed away Wednesday evening, September 16, 2020, at UP Health System Marquette, in the loving, comforting care of his family. Born March 22, 1949, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, John was raised in Grand Rapids and attended Catholic Central High School where he played trumpet in the school band. Following his 1967 graduation, John enrolled at Aquinas College, receiving his Bachelors Degree in Business in 1971. On April 3, 1970, John and Susan Raynes were united in marriage at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church. The couple made their first home in Grandville, Michigan while John was employed in industrial sales with the Bertsch/BABCO Company in the Grand Rapids area. In 1976, the family relocated to Marquette when John was transferred to the Negaunee branch of Bertch/BABCO. He later was employed as an outside industrial salesman with Ferguson, Inc. for 19 years before retiring in September 2019. For several years, John also taught industrial steam and hydraulics at the Northern Michigan University Jacobetti Skill Center. John was a member of the Superiorland Soccer Association for two decades, where he coached his children, grandchildren and many others. He also served as president of the Association for many years. John was a devoted family man who enjoyed raising and mentoring his children and grandchildren. He taught them all how to drive using the Bothwell Middle School parking lot, hunting, fishing, and golfing. With the grandchildren he also enjoyed taking them out for Saturday morning adventures, live trapping chippies and releasing them "down by the riverside", taught them to order their own meals, and even let them order coffee at an early age. John was a wise, giving, and loving grandpa and father who kept the whole family entertained with his storytelling talent, obviously the Irish in him. He loved to sing and play the guitar and to have family sing alongs. He was an avid reader and often read more than one book daily. John also enjoyed relaxing with a single malt scotch at the end of the day. He was a loving and devoted husband, the best dad, grandpa, friend and brother. John is survived by his wife of 50 years, Susan of Marquette; his children, Carrie Lynn (Jacqui) Sandy-Anderson, Katy Rose (Todd) Masuga both of Marquette and Matthew John (Samantha) Sandy of York, PA; his grandkids, Madelyn Rose, Jarrod Michael, Abigail Elizabeth, Lily Marie, and Laurelin Raynes; his sisters, Roseanne Lobbezoo of Jenison, Judy May Pulte of Waterford, and Mary Ellen (Jim) Dexter of Grand Rapids; many nieces, nephews and friends. John was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy Sandy; grandparents, Rose and Cleo Chase; and his in-laws, Glorya and Bill Raynes. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Bay Cliff Health Camp, P.O. Box 310, Big Bay, MI 49808 or Beacon House at upbeaconhouse.org Private family services were held at Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com
March 22, 1949 - September 16, 202003/22/194909/16/2020
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Obituary

MARQUETTE, MI - John Frederic Sandy, age 71, of Marquette, passed away Wednesday evening, September 16, 2020, at UP Health System Marquette, in the loving, comforting care of his family. Born March 22, 1949, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, John was raised in Grand Rapids and attended Catholic Central High School where he played trumpet in the school band. Following his 1967 graduation, John enrolled at Aquinas College, receiving his Bachelors Degree in Business in 1971. On April 3, 1970, John and Susan Raynes were united in marriage at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church. The couple made their first home in Grandville, Michigan while John was employed in industrial sales with the Bertsch/BABCO Company in the Grand Rapids area. In 1976, the family relocated to Marquette when John was transferred to the Negaunee branch of Bertch/BABCO. He later was employed as an outside industrial salesman with Ferguson, Inc. for 19 years before retiring in September 2019. For several years, John also taught industrial steam and hydraulics at the Northern Michigan University Jacobetti Skill Center. John was a member of the Superiorland Soccer Association for two decades, where he coached his children, grandchildren and many others. He also served as president of the Association for many years. John was a devoted family man who enjoyed raising and mentoring his children and grandchildren. He taught them all how to drive using the Bothwell Middle School parking lot, hunting, fishing, and golfing. With the grandchildren he also enjoyed taking them out for Saturday morning adventures, live trapping chippies and releasing them "down by the riverside", taught them to order their own meals, and even let them order coffee at an early age. John was a wise, giving, and loving grandpa and father who kept the whole family entertained with his storytelling talent, obviously the Irish in him. He loved to sing and play the guitar and to have family sing alongs. He was an avid reader and often read more than one book daily. John also enjoyed relaxing with a single malt scotch at the end of the day. He was a loving and devoted husband, the best dad, grandpa, friend and brother. John is survived by his wife of 50 years, Susan of Marquette; his children, Carrie Lynn (Jacqui) Sandy-Anderson, Katy Rose (Todd) Masuga both of Marquette and Matthew John (Samantha) Sandy of York, PA; his grandkids, Madelyn Rose, Jarrod Michael, Abigail Elizabeth, Lily Marie, and Laurelin Raynes; his sisters, Roseanne Lobbezoo of Jenison, Judy May Pulte of Waterford, and Mary Ellen (Jim) Dexter of Grand Rapids; many nieces, nephews and friends. John was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy Sandy; grandparents, Rose and Cleo Chase; and his in-laws, Glorya and Bill Raynes. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Bay Cliff Health Camp, P.O. Box 310, Big Bay, MI 49808 or Beacon House at upbeaconhouse.org Private family services were held at Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com

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Beacon House
1414 W. Fair Ave. Suite 50, Marquette, MI 49855
906 225-7100
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Bay Cliff Health Camp
P.O. Box 310, Big Bay, MI 49808
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