Sandra Schefke

Sandra "Sandy" Schefke of Interlochen, Michigan was escorted swiftly and peacefully to her eternal home, where she always longed to be, and ran into the welcoming arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at the age of 73.

Sandy was born to Leo and Geraldine "Jerry" (Maier) White on March 17, 1950, in East Detroit, Michigan and was their only child. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church and graduated from Clintondale High School in 1968. Sandy was married in November 1971, became a beloved mother and best friend to her daughter, Amy, in 1973, and then later divorced. In 1998, she earned her associate's degree from Northwestern Michigan College.

Sandy worked as a teacher assistant with special needs students for over 30 years in the Macomb and Traverse City area schools, even teaching a special needs Sunday School class; and always looked for ways to work with them to succeed. She always said that those were her kids, and she loved each and every one of them. Sandy had a love for all children and volunteered in assisting in teaching Sunday School and a children's ministry as well. She was also a proponent for Right to Life and volunteered at their booth at the Northwestern Michigan Fair for many years.

Sandy was a faithful servant of the Lord's and desired to reach out to as many people as she possibly could and tell them about the FREE gift of salvation in Jesus, even handing out bookmarks to people. She had a strong prayer life, and her daily Bible reading was important to her, as well as, studying Bible prophecy and "looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13). She thought it important to get people to Jesus and Jesus to people.

Sandy loved to crochet and liked giving away things she made. She loved to sing and sang for many years in the church choir as a high soprano, always wanting any praise to be given to the Lord; she also used her gift of singing to perform in multiple plays and musicals at the Old Town Playhouse where she acted in a few roles such as Mrs. Macafee in Bye Bye Birdie where she received a standing ovation for her lips, Lady Thiang in The King and I, and a smaller role of Mother Superior in The Three Musketeers, always joking that she was the first Lutheran Mother Superior. Sandy loved to cook and bake and would often experiment with recipes which sometimes resulted in a trip to get fast food for dinner. She tried her hand at container gardening and enjoyed the successful outcome and looked forward to doing it again. Sandy also enjoyed spur of the moment car rides, taking a drive with her daughter and just talking and singing together. Her other favorite activity was simply watching TV and movies, with her favorite movie being Running the Bases, and was honored and humbled to be able to speak by phone in May with the lead actor, Brett Varvel, who she greatly admired for his faith in and work for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sandy leaves behind her daughter and best friend, Amy of Interlochen, and beloved dog, Fritz; and is also survived by multiple cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents who she always said that, after she saw and hugged Jesus, she looked forward to seeing again, especially her beloved grandpa.

Her daughter, Amy, would like to thank all the Munson Hospice team of Traverse City, as well as the nursing staff on D5 of Munson Hospital in Traverse City for their care and compassion during Sandy's final days.

There will be a time of visitation from 9:00am to 11:00am on Friday, June 16, 2023, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1896 Rogers Road, Grawn, MI 49637. The service to celebrate Sandy's promotion to her eternal home will immediately follow the visitation at 11:00am with Pastor Jason Bauer presiding.

Those wishing to remember Sandy, in lieu of flowers, are encouraged to donate to: Grand Traverse Area Right to Life, 4020 Copper View Suite 104D, Traverse City, MI 49684 (gtartl.com), or Olive Tree Ministries, PO Box 1452, Maple Grove, MN 55311-6452 (olivetreeviews.org).