Sandra Jean Swanlund, 79, of LaMoille, passed away September 19, 2019, at her home.

Funeral services will be Tuesday at 11:00 a.m., at the Community United Methodist Church, LaMoille with Rev. David Jungnickel officiating. Burial will be in Greenfield Cemetery, LaMoille. Visiation will be Monday from 4-7 p.m. in the church. Lundquist-Merritt Funeral Home, LaMoille is handling arrangements.

Sandra was born December 24, 1939, in Mendota to Charles and Jean (Krenz) Riegel. She married Kenneth Swanlund on June 1, 1958, at St. John's Lutheran Churc, Mendota.

Sandra and Kenneth moved to their farm, north of LaMoille, in 1958. In addition to helping on the farm and raising her family, Sandra began taking college courses. She earned an AA degree, magna cum laude, from Illinois Valley Community College, a BS in Education, magna cum laude, from Northern Illinois University, and a MS in Education, also from Northern.

Sandra taught in the Mendota grade schools for over 25 years. She served as the district's Transitional Bilingual Instructor until her retirement in 2006. After her retirement she continued to teach classes at Illinois Valley Community College. Sandra was devoted to her students and was a passionate and creative teacher.

She was a long a longtime member of the Community United Methodist Church of LaMoille, serving on many boards, committees and teaching Sunday School. She sang in the choir for many years before becoming the director and serving in that capacity for over 20 years.

She was active in several educational and civic organizations. She was past president of the Starved Rock Reading Council, Literacy Chair of the Illinois Reading Council, and member of the International Reading Association and Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO).

She is survived by her husband, Kenneth of Lamoille; three children, Bradley (Shelley) Swanlund of Peru, Todd (Diane) Swanlund of Arlington Heights, and Holly (Michael) Hoffart of Franklin, TN; grandson, Tyler Swanlund, of Chicago; sister-in-law, Dixie (Gary) Anderson of LaMoille; several loving nieces and nephews; and her beloved therapy cat, Squeaks.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Nancy Lane.

Memorials may be directed to LaMoille Ambluance or Community United Methodist Church.