Don Sand

Donald Allen Sand, of Warsaw, passed away at home surrounded by his loving family on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. After 91 years living a wonderful and full life, he is now at his eternal home in heaven.

He was a lifetime resident of Kosciusko County and was born on Dec. 16, 1932, in Warsaw, to Lois Catherine (Cluen) and Willis Robert Sand. Donald grew up in Warsaw, where he was a 1951 graduate of Warsaw High School. Afterward, he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He was inducted on March 5, 1953, and proudly served until his honorable discharge on Feb. 9, 1955. The following month after returning home, Donald married the love of his life, Patricia Joan Mayer, on March 18, 1955. Together they raised five children and were blessed to have celebrated 69 anniversaries before Donald passed away.

Donald always had a heart for service and in September 1955 he commenced his duty as an Indiana state trooper. He was an honorable officer and well respected by his fellow troopers and his final day of duty was Sept. 30, 1976, after 21 years of loyal service. Always a hardworking man, Don continued on a new path and worked for DePuy in Warsaw for many years, retiring in 1995. Throughout his life, he enjoyed seeing God’s beauty through his travels with his wife and family, and he very much enjoyed photography. Donald was a longtime member of Dutchtown Brethren Church in Warsaw where he worshiped alongside his church family. He will forever be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend to many. Donald will be dearly missed by his family, but they have comfort in knowing he is at his eternal home with his Lord and Savior.

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Patricia Joan Sand, Warsaw; two sons, Steve (Susan) Sand, Port Washington, Wis., and Daryl (Kathy) Sand, Warsaw; and three daughters, Karyl (Terry) Vaughn, Fort Wayne, Connie (Mark) Klinger, Overland Park, Kan., and Janet (Todd) Timms, Gulf Shores, Ala.; 14 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and his brother, Richard (Carol) Sand, Green Valley, Ark. He was preceded in death by his sister, Marlene Snyder, in 2011.

Donald’s life will be celebrated with a service at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, and officiated by his grandson, Todd Klinger. A graveside service will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Warsaw with military rites conducted by members of the American Legion Post 49 and VFW 1126, both of Warsaw, and active-duty members of the Army Honor Guard. Friends and family may visit prior to the service from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial donations may be directed to Dutchtown Brethren Church, 4057 E. CR 300N, Warsaw, IN 46580; or to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – Indiana Chapter, 11550 N. Meridian St., Carmel, IN 46032; or to the The Helene Disaster Relief Fund, 2159 Hendersonville Road – Suite 001, Arden, NC 28704, or online at https://gatherasheville.org/relief.

Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s website at redpathfruthfuneralhome.com.