Sandy Gail (Sipes) Kemerling, the youngest of four children, was born in Lincoln, NE on June 8, 1958 to the late Lester Junior Sipes and Doris Pauline (Buckles) King.
She dedicated her life to caring for others, whether through her work as a CPN or in the boundless love she showed to her family and friends. She was the kind of person who would give the shirt off her back to anyone in need, always putting others before herself. She possessed a radiant smile that could brighten any room and a spirited, resilient heart that touched everyone—qualities that will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
She married Rick Butler on November 17, 1983, building a family that included her first daughter, Dana Travis, and their shared daughter, Shandra Saddler, during their 20-year marriage. Later, she found companionship with Van Kemerling, whom she married on December 1, 2001. They divorced on January 18, 2022, however, Van remained her steadfast partner until the end, devotedly supporting her independence and shared joys—from quiet mornings on the porch naming visiting birds and squirrels to raising their cherished Chihuahuas, Taco and Gizmo.
Her love for Christmas was legendary, and her commitment to leaving no surface untouched with decorations led to a few accidents, including tumbling off the roof. Her oldest daughter often jokes about the “PTSD” from years of helping hang Christmas lights, while her youngest proudly carries on the “Griswold” tradition today.
She was her daughters’ biggest supporter, never letting a week go by without telling them how proud she was, and she embraced her sons-in-law as her own. Above all, her greatest treasures were her grandsons, Landen and Alex, whom she adored beyond measure—her joy was especially boundless when Alex arrived, sharing her birthday and making the day even more meaningful.
Sandy passed away at Mosaic Hospital, St. Joseph, MO on April 21, 2025, at the age of 66. Preceding her in death were her father, Lester Junior Sipes; step-father, Lawrence King; mother, Doris Pauline King; sisters, Janet Archer, Tammy Sipes, Carrie Fielder, Mary Lou Sipes; nephews, Michael Sipes, Chris Hughes, Jed Workman; and niece, Kelly Jo McClannahan.
Survivors include her daughters, Dana (Kyle) Travis, Shandra (Caleb) Saddler; sisters, Cindy (Russ) Guyer, Penny West; brothers, Mike (Leona) Sipes, Ricky Sipes and Jimmy Sipes; grandsons, Landen and Alex Travis; and partner, Van Kemerling.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
