Service Details
Sandy’s Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 3:30PM –5:00PM, followed by Stories and Remembrances at 5:00PM.
Link to live stream on YouTube Live: https://youtube.com/live/tESKnO002Gw?feature=share
Memorial Suggestions
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Caledonia Conservancy in Sandy’s honor.
Sandy DeWalt (née Nicholson) was born on March 2, 1946, to Marian and Rodney Nicholson at Scott Air Force Base, IL. She passed away on February 13, 2025, at Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital in Milwaukee, WI, following two brain hemorrhages suffered 13 days earlier.
Sandy’s life was shaped, in part, by events that happened when she was just 18 months old. Her father, Lt. Rodney Nicholson, was a career Army Air Corps test pilot. In 1947, his plane experienced engine trouble over Kitakyushu, Japan. Ordered to eject, he saw that the plane would crash into a school. Instead, he chose to guide it into a nearby field, sacrificing his life to save others. Master Maeda, the school principal who witnessed the event, was deeply moved and erected a series of monuments in Lt. Nicholson’s honor. Over the years, Sandy traveled to Japan three times to pay tribute to her father and Master Maeda’s courage in preserving his memory. She shared the story of her father’s heroism with students through annual school presentations. A highlight of her life came in August 2023 when she returned to Japan with her husband, children, and grandchildren.
Sandy spent her early years in Shullsburg, WI, living with her paternal grandparents. In 1952, her mother married Jack Smythe, and they moved to Wausau, WI. It was there, in first grade, that Sandy met her lifelong friend, Cathy Mauer, with whom she walked to John Marshall Grade School each day. She often said she found her voice while working as a lifeguard at the local pool and her love of horses during those years. She graduated from Wausau Senior High (now Wausau East) in 1964.
Sandy attended Carroll University for two years before transferring to UW-Milwaukee, where she and Cathy reunited as roommates. In 1968, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education.
One fateful evening in 1967, while (not surprisingly) looking for someone to talk to in her mostly vacant apartment building during Thanksgiving break, Sandy knocked on every door. The last door she tried belonged to Bill DeWalt. They spent the evening talking, and on December 20, 1969, they were married in Madison, WI. Together, they built a life and raised two children, Jack and Terri.
Sandy dedicated her career to education, beginning as a special education teacher before earning a Master’s degree in Counseling. She went on to make a lasting impact as a middle school counselor at McKinley Middle School, touching the lives of countless students throughout her 37-year career. She retired from the Racine Unified School District in 2006.
Beyond her professional life, Sandy was a passionate advocate for land conservation. She volunteered for more than 20 years with the Caledonia Conservancy, working tirelessly to protect local lands and rid the earth of garlic mustard. She led the School to Nature program, which introduced Racine youth to the beauty of the outdoors and instilled in them the importance of environmental stewardship.
Her love for people and nature was matched only by her love for horses. She spent much of her life by their side, a passion she passed on to her daughter and family friend, Julie Sittig. Some of her happiest days were spent riding the Caledonia trail system on her beloved mare, Domino, and later cherishing time with her mare, Hope.
Together, Sandy and Bill explored the world, embarking on adventures that included France, Norway, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand. Their favorite destinations were in Micronesia, where Bill enjoyed scuba diving in Truk Lagoon and Palau. Along the way, they created cherished memories and formed lasting friendships, sharing their stories and experiences with everyone they met.
Sandy was a force of nature with a larger-than-life personality. Her trademark “woo woo woo!” and infectious laugh brightened any room. She had an incredible ability to connect with people, filling the lives of those around her with joy. She could (and would) talk to anyone she encountered with a non-judgmental and warm presence that made all she met feel accepted and loved. As her grandson, Luke, put it, “A stranger is only a friend my Grandma Sandy hasn’t met yet.”
Sandy is survived by her loving husband, Bill; her son, Jack (Larina) DeWalt; her daughter, Terri (Matt Drymalski); and her grandchildren, Cole, Keya, Greyson, Alec, and Luke. She also leaves behind countless cherished family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her fathers, Rodney Nicholson and Jack Smythe; her mother, Marian Smythe-Baxter; her stepfather, Frank Baxter; and her cousin, Fran Odden.
Diane Martinez says
I had the joy of working with Sandy for many years at McKinley.
Lover her personality and straight-forwardness. She will be deeply missed.
Jamie Price (Roberts) says
Mrs. DeWalt was my counselor at McKinley Middle School in the 1990’s. She was always my favorite teacher/counselor. There was nothing that I couldn’t tell her and I always felt as if I was the most important student in her world at the time. She had a way of making you feel that love. I have thought of her so many times over the years and am truly saddened by this news. To her family, please know you and she are in my thoughts and prayers. She was truly a wonderful woman who can never be replaced.
Kathleen A Trentadue says
Sandy was a joy to know and spend time with. She will be greatly missed.
Laura Slater-Hatzenbeller says
What a special woman Sandy was! She embodied personality-plus, was an exceptionally talented Teacher and School Counselor, and exemplified excellence in her knitting and stained glass hobbies, horsemanship and volunteerism. We were all blessed and all-the-better for having known her and she will be dearly missed. Our hearts are wrapped around Bill, Terri, Jack and her 5 grandchildren as they navigate through this emotional time. May God bless them all and until we meet again, Sandy, it’s never goodbye, but “see ya later.” Love Mark, Laura (Slater), Ryan and Sara Hatzenbeller and families (Mark is Bill’s cousin).
Tracy Randelzhofer says
Sandy Dewalt was the most caring, energetic person I have ever met. Her laugh and smile were genuine and contagious. I met her through the Caledonia conservancy and learned so much from her. She taught me about evasive species in the conservancy, where even today I pull the garlic mustard from my hay field in honor of Sandy. My heart goes out to the family, she was a Very special lady that will be remembered forever.
Dave Maack says
Sandy was our cousin. I think I can say, for my three brothers Steve, Chris and Rod that
Sandy was the sister we never had. We enjoyed many Summers and Christmases in her company, at Grammy and Grammpy’s home on Bangs Lake in Wauconda Illinois. She was always a joy to be with! It fills me with pride to hear about her very positive effect on so many lives. Her Older Cousin Dave.
Kerry (Conachen) Diaz says
Sandy made everything fun.
During my childhood in Caledonia, we would have to drive the trash to the dump. She led all of us kids that were riding in her station wagon in singing “To the Dump to da’ dump dump dump” to the tune of the Lone Ranger.
She led the story hour for the Caledonia Women’s group with the best “Going on a Bear Hunt.”
She taught countless kids how to swim in her backyard pool and then fed them chocolate chip cookies that got crispy on a paper bag.
She made big patches of spaghetti that we ate with a huge stack of bread. Before reducing trash was a thing, she used dish towels that she called “Dewalt napkins.”
As teens, we lived in fear of her throwing us into the pool, which I now realize is pretty impressive.
Her hugs were the most genuine and you always knew she was around the corner because of her laugh.
Laurel Helding says
Sandy was always smiling and a joy to work with. She was my inspiration in doing stained glass. She will be greatly missed.
Judy Powell says
Sandy was a wonderful, hardworking counselor at McKinley. I am so glad she was a part of my life in those McKinley years. Judy Powell. Choir director at McKinley.
Josephine Williams says
Mrs DeWalt was is my teacher back in the seventies she was a wonderful person I was very blessed to have her as a teacher she helped me out a lot we stayed in touched after I graduated then farther down the line we lost touch my deepest sympathy and prayers 🙏🙏♥️
Sara Siefert Barrows says
Sandy was my counselor in middle school. She was present and engaged and made so many of us feel seen. She inspired me to become a middle school counselor through her passion. I was fortunate enough to cross paths with her when I was in one of my first adult jobs, waiting patiently for a school counselor position to open up. She remembered me, we shared many conversations and she cheered me on. She indeed was a beautiful soul and I will cherish all of the memories I have of her, her smile and her laughter. Sending so much love to her family.
Jim Kitchak says
Hi Bill, so sorry to hear about Sandy. I will always remember the fun times we had. together. Cookouts Las Vegas, etc. she was a great person.
Luci Reyes Agron says
Sending heartfelt condolences to you and your family.
Ron Coutts says
Our thoughts and prayer go out to the family. I had a chance to work with Sandy when I was on the Village of Caledonia Board. It was a joy working with her.
Amanda Barker says
Mrs. DeWalt was my guidance counselor nearly 30 years ago. There is not a day gone by that I don’t think of the kindness and patience she showed me and all the other students at McKinley. Her patience and open-mindedness is a gift I will never forget. She was truly an angel.
Brenda Stellern says
Sandy was a much beloved member of our Nicholson family, and it was always a great pleasure to see her and her family at all of the biennial reunions that were held throughout the country. Her friendliness and enthusiasm were contagious, and she was always quick to welcome any new attendees. Our sympathies and love go out to her immediate family and many friends. She will be so very missed at the next Nicholson Family Reunion.
Tina and Lance Thomas says
Sandy was a wonderful cousin and always such a joy to be around. I’m glad that we got to spend time with her through the years at the family reunions. She always made those reunions more fun with her great sense of humor. She will be missed by us all. Sending hugs and our deepest sympathy to the entire DeWalt family.
Joan Stone Jackson says
I am so sorry to hear of Sandy’s passing. I knew her in high school in wausau,WI. I can still “see” her smile. What an incredible life she lived and shared with so many. How proud you all must be. I send deepest sympathy.
Joan Gaedtke Stone Jackson
Danielle Cloutier says
Mrs. Dewalt was my middle school counselor in the early 2000s, and even after all these years, I still carry the warmth and kindness she gave me. Middle school is such a messy, emotional time, but she was my safe place—someone who saw my strength even when I didn’t, who reminded me that I was capable, resilient, and worthy. She had this way of making you feel like you mattered, like your feelings weren’t too much, and that you could face whatever was ahead. I don’t know if I ever truly thanked her for that, but I hope she knew how much of an impact she had. The world was better with her in it, and she will be so deeply missed. 💙
Terry Kumm says
Rest in peace dear Sandy knowing you were loved.
Melinda Hadley says
I had an opportunity to meet Sandy working in Unified School District in the late 90’s. She was the most selfless person I’d ever met. She ‘always’ had a smile on her face and kind words to say.
I just ran into her towards the end of last year and we took pics together at a Dr s office. She had just given me her number. I’m sorry we didn’t have a chance to reconnect. My condolences to her family. She was a beautiful soul. Melinda Hadley
Jonell S Sullivan says
I’m sure we all will miss Sandy and her enthusiasm. I know I have chosen several of her attributes to remember, cherish, keep, emulate and hopefully nurture and grow to share with others.
LET’S KEEP IT GOING!!!
Marjie Tomter says
What a lovely lady and a force for conservation and for the equine community ! She was an ambassador for the Caledonia Conservancy and shared so much love and energy wherever she went. I will miss her.
Sending condolences from me, from the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust and Gathering Waters. Conservancy.
Lyn Kiley says
I met Sandy a few years ago when I was invited to help with the Mane Event and then School to Nature. From the start she remembered my name and always found a way for me to “join” in whatever she was doing. I am lucky enough to have one of her colored glass stepping stones. I’m so happy that I met her and will pray for those she leaves behind.
Michael Niemants says
I married into Sandy‘s family somewhat remotely in 2013. I was fortunate to be able to spend some time with her and Bill vacationing and will remember those trips with pleasure and a smile. Although we were together in frequently, she always made me feel as though we had known each other forever. Rest in peace, Sandy.
Vicky Brocksopp says
I had the privilege of working with Sandy at McKInley. She was a “yes!” whenever our team asked for her help, which was quite often. I have many great memories of our field trips with our 6th graders over the years. She will be greatly missed.
Michael & Ruth Benben says
Sandy was one of the first people to reach out to us when we moved to Caledonia. Always with a smile and helping hand if needed. We’ll miss hearing her voice as we’d bump into each other on the trails.
Marian Saksena Hatch and Rob Hatch says
May Sandy’s memory be a blessing.
What joy and light she brought to our world.
Thank you for allowing us to view the celebration of life online. 🧡
DennisMcGoldrick says
Sandy was an amazing educator who cared so much for the students who were fortunate enough to have contact with her. Sincere condolences to her family.