Funeral services for 86-year old Sandra Zickefoose of Ellsworth, NE, are Thurs, June 16, 2022 at 11:00 at Pleasant Point Church with Neal Hughes officiating.
Burial will follow at the Pleasant Point Cemetery.
Visitation is Wed, June 15, from 5 to 7 PM at the Chamberlain-Pier Funeral Home in Gordon, NE.
Please honor Sandra by sending Memorials to Pleasant Point Church.
Online condolences made be left at chamberlainchapel.com
Sandra Castle Hamilton Zickefoose was born in Hyannis, NE, to Steen and Irma Castle on March 20, 1936. She passed away on June 3, 2022, in Alliance, NE.
Sandra grew up working with her Dad on the ranch and riding horses with her sister, Marianne and cousin, Janet Castle, while her mother taught school in Hyannis. When it was time to go to school, Sandra also went in to Hyannist, graduating from Hyannis High School in 1954.
She taught at Spade School District 133 for two years and attended Chadron State College for one year, rooming with her lifetime best friend Gail Glassgow. Gail introduced Sandra to her cousin, Norman Hamilton, on a blind date. They hit it off and married on June 16, 1957, in Hyannis. To this union five children were born: Charlie, Cindy, Mark, Melanie and Cherry.
Sandra was the epitome of a ranch wife, working alongside her husband and children. She loved anything outdoors, including gardening, and canned 100 quarts of beans, 100 quarts of corn and 200 quarts of tomatoes annually for many years.
Sandra was a lover of animals (including a pet skunk). Many remember Sandra wrangling her many cats. If she were going to get stuck driving a pickup, she was known to say, “If I’m going to get stuck, I will be good and stuck.” She didn’t want the guys to simply drive the pickup out!
Sandra sold and worked on Vermeer Balers with Norman and their son Charlie for over 30 years. Sandra would hunt for a problem with a baler before she would fix it. Whenever she needed help on one, she was known to hit metal with a hammer, so that help would come running to fix it for her.
Sandra was a second Mom to many and was known for being hard working, fun, and mischievous with a twinkle in her eyes! She lived her faith quietly, but with tenacity.
She was involved in 4-H leadership and DAR for nearly 50 years, and she loved and cared for her Church family at Pleasant Point for many years.
Sandra was a faithful wife, dedicated mother, encouraging mentor and a steady friend to many. She and Norman celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary prior to his death in 2006.
Sandra found love again and married Jack Zickefoose May 31, 2008, at Pleasant Point Church. They resided in Hyannis until Jack passed away in 2016.
Sandra was loved by many wherever she lived.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Steen and Irma Castle, in-laws Ransom and Thelma Hamilton, husbands Norman and Jack, sister Marriane Fowler, brothers-in-law Tom Fowler and Harold Hamilton.
Grateful to have shared life with Sandra and surviving her are her children Charlie (Dana) Hamilton of Ellsworth, NE; Cindy (Craig) Benson of Plattsmouth, NE; Mark (Laura) Hamilton of Sterling, CO; Melanie (Mike) Hotz of Crook, CO; Cherry (Shawn) Felkins of Ellsworth. NE; step-daughters Kayla (Mike) Wintz of Bingham, NE; and Nancy (Doug) Stevens of Hyannis; 8 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren who affectionately called her Grams, several step-grandchildren, 1 great- great-grandchild; nephews, sister-in-law Eleanor Hamilton, and lifetime BFF Gail Glassgow.
Pallbearers will be Jason Hamilton, Jeremy Benson, Aaron Benson, Teagan Benson, Ty Backes and Dylan Hamilton.
Sandra’s family wishes to extend a sincere thank you to the staff and nurses at Highland Park Care Center.
Chamberlain-Pier Funeral Home of Gordon is in charge of arrangements for Sandra Hamilton Zickefoose