Adams 1953 Sandra (Van Dusen) Stricker

May 15, 1935 - June 27, 2017

Condolences

ELKHART - Sandra Stricker, 82, passed away on Tuesday, June 27, 2017, in Elkhart Hospice.

Sandra was born on May 15, 1935, in New Carlisle, IN, to Donald K and Irma L. (Lindsey) Van Dusen. She was preceded in death by her parents; a granddaughter, Rayna DoBrodt; and son-in-law, Wayne Bearden.

Sandra attended John Adams High School in South Bend and graduated Salutatorian in 1953; she then attended Ball State College and IUSB. On July 2, 1955, she married Billie Stricker; they were married for 36 years, but remained friends until the end. Bill retired from the Air Force after 20 years of traveling and living in various bases in the states - they returned to Mishawaka.

Surviving are her daughters, Laura Rene Bearden of Spring, TX, Paula (Steven) Fadden of Mishawaka and Dana (Randy) DoBrodt of Mishawaka; 12 grandchildren, Cidney, Elyona and Colten DoBrodt, Kristen (Randy) Warner, Michelle (Stephen) Griffis, Wade (Pricilla), Ryan (Elsa), Dustin (Jessica) and Joshua Bearden, Jared (Amanda), Jacob and Kaitlyn Fadden; nine great-grandchildren, Eddie, Elijah, Jackson, Simon, Addyson, Weston, Lincoln, Emery and Wilder, and one on the way; and a brother, Larry (Barbara) Van Dusen of Strongsville, OH.

Her true love was reading and after working at a couple bookstores she later retired from the Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Library after 18 years of service. Her hobbies included reading, embroidery work, card playing, fishing, gardening, shopping at Shipshewana, and she loved hummingbirds. She attended Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in South Bend.

She loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and could be seen attending their many extracurricular activities with her family.

Funeral services will be on Friday, June 30, 2017, at 11 a.m., with visitation from 9 to 11 a.m., in Hahn Funeral Home, 505 W. 8th Street, Mishawaka. Pastor Wade Bearden will officiate. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger.

The family would like to thank Hospice House in Elkhart for their kind and compassionate care in her final days.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Foundation Supporting Center for Hospice Care: South Bend-Elkhart-Plymouth, 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545.

To leave the family an online condolence, please visit www.hahnfuneralhomes.com.

Published in South Bend Tribune on June 28, 2017

jmc 28 Jun 2017