Sandra L. Gravunder

Died: Monday, November 7th, 2022

Memorial Service: 12:00 p.m. (Noon) on Monday, November 14, 2022 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Eau Claire with Reverend Tom Westcott officiating

Visitation: from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at the church

Interment: Lakeview Cemetery, Eau Claire, Wisconsin

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to Trinity Lutheran Church https://trinity-ec.org/give/ or the Arlyn and Sandra Gravunder Scholarship at UW-EC https://connect.uwec.edu/donate 

Sandra Lee Bush Gravunder, age 78, of Abbotsford, WI, ended her journey in this lifetime on Monday, November 7, 2022, at her home surrounded by loved ones.  

Sandy was born in Bellefontaine, OH on July 22, 1944 to the late Edward "Perry" and Carol Juanita (Snyder) Bush. She lived in Pleasant Lake, IN, Dayton, OH, Conrath, Bloomer, and Eau Claire, WI and ended up living in Abbotsford, WI.  

In 1969, Sandy graduated from UW-Eau Claire with a degree in business and earned a Master's Degree in Business Technology. For 32 years she taught at CVTC in Eau Claire, retiring in 2000 to care for her significant other, Arthur W. Schmidt. She enjoyed her students.  

Sandy always loved her animal pets and treated them like family. A special dog was a papillon named Spirit given to her by a friend who passed. Spirit became a therapy dog who loved her work at Sacred Heart Hospital where her spirit lives on. Sandy had one horse in her lifetime, Cheyenne, who she did a lot of ground work with and developed a special relationship with.  

Moving to Abbotsford let her be closer to family. Part of that family included a special great grandson, Jaxton Darwin Boushon, whom she was always happy to be with.

Sewing became a major hobby in retirement which included involvement in the American Sewing Guild where she met and interacted with members. These members, too many to name, became great friends.  

Sandy is survived by her daughter, Joy (Bill) Klimpke; son, Alex (Renee) Gravunder; grandchildren, Lucas Wamhoff (Carrie Rosenthal) and Baily Gravunder; great grandson, Jaxton Boushon; brother, William Edwin (Louann) Bush; sisters, Susan Roberta Tylee and Rebecca (Jerry) Ebert;  special friend and caregiver, Zach; her devoted dachshund, Adeline; many nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.  

She was preceded in death by her husband, Arlyn Gravunder; significant other, Arthur Schmidt; her parents; and brother-in-law, Michael Tylee.  

A special thank you to St. Croix Hospice for their care.