Sandra Joyce Anderson Niswonger passed away on March 19, 2023, in Madison, Wis., at age 83.

Sandra was born on Feb. 8, 1940, in Independence, Iowa, and grew up on the family farm in Rowley. There, she formed an abiding love for wide open landscapes and working the earth. In school, she loved singing with Glee Club, playing basketball, and especially writing. Her essays won prizes, earning her invitations to read them on local radio and even to the summer camp program at the famed Iowa Writers Workshop.

At age 25, she moved with her husband, Gene Niswonger, and their five small children-Kris, Mark, Kerry, Robyn, and Eric-to live outside Iowa for the first time. During the family’s 15 years in and around Virginia Beach, Va., Sandra delighted in creating experiences for her kids surrounding the natural and historical wonders of the East Coast. Many trips were made to the sites at Mount Vernon, Fredericksburg, Williamsburg, and to Skyline Drive in the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Outer Banks, including Ramp 40 at Cape Hatteras for surf fishing and beach combing. She loved growing flowers and kept a huge vegetable garden, always happiest with her hands in the dirt.

In 1980, the family moved back to Iowa, where Sandra and Gene built her dream home on a hill just outside the town of Mount Vernon. There, the couple grew the businesses they would co-own for 30 years, Auto Trim Design and Air Graphics. Sandra served as an accountant, business manager and investment watchdog over the years for Auto Trim Design.

When they moved to Madison in 1986, Sandra would return to her love of writing through courses at Madison Area Technical College, where she took a special interest in journalism. She loved reading for hours by her living room window, paging through old issues of “The Atlantic” and “Martha Stewart Living,” books on European and American history and ecology, philosophy and poetry.

For Sandra, a strong cup of coffee with half and half and sugar (organic, please) was “never wrong.” She also loved the first green of spring, hearing her grand piano played, homemade fudge, collecting Jadeite dishes and antiques, sliced garden tomatoes, country drives, and lilacs picked from the backyard and arranged in her vintage vases. Above all, she loved gathering with friends and family-especially her children and grandchildren, whom she adored and considered her life’s pride.

Sandra was preceded in death by her parents, Lyle Anderson and Emma Nelson; her husband, Gene Niswonger; and her eldest son, Kristin Niswonger. She is survived by her children, Mark Niswonger, Kerry (Phil) Heinecke, Robyn (Ken) Shingler and Eric (Deb) Niswonger; her grandchildren, Heather Niswonger, Alexandra Tempus, Hannah Niswonger, Anna Mae (Dan) Zabrowski, Paul Niswonger, Ethan Niswonger, Sophia Niswonger, Alex Heinecke and Stephanie (Travis) Retrum; and great-grandchildren, Javanni Fernandez and Sadie Retrum. Sandra is also survived by her beloved siblings, Lila Arney, Bette Brown, Janice Watkins, Pam (Jordan) Jaeger and Brian Anderson.

Services will take place at GUNDERSON WEST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 7435 University Ave., Middleton, on Saturday, March 25, 2023. Visitation will be at 1 p.m. with a service at 2 p.m.

The family would like to sincerely thank Agrace Hospice Residence and their exceptional staff in Fitchburg, Wis. Agrace provided shelter for the family to spend 24 hours a day with Sandra, comfort, counseling, guidance, dignity and the most incredible personalized care for the last five weeks of her life.

“Blessed Be the Tie That Binds”

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson West

Funeral & Cremation Care

7435 University Ave.

(608) 831-6761

Sandra Joyce Niswonger

February 08, 1940 - March 19, 2023

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