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John W. "Johnny" Sandalof Freeman, South Dakota, died on Wednesday, March 5, 1997
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John Walter Sandal was born December 31, 1964, in Worland, Wyoming. He moved with his parents to Plainview, South Dakota, the fall of 1969. He attended grade school and graduated from Plainview School. He was a nine year member of the Marcus 4-H Club. He really enjoyed the horse project and the 4-H Rodeo. He helped his dad and neighboring men build the H&M Roping Arena and he loved competition and the fun of roping there.
John graduated from Faith High School in 1983. He rodeoed all four years and was proud as could be when he won the South Dakota High School Rodeo Saddle Bronc Championship and went on to the National Finals in Douglas, Wyoming.
John learned piano from Marguerite King in grade school and loved music forever. He played piano and guitar and sang whenever he had a chance.
John joined the U.S. Army in February of 1983 and left for Boot Camp on September 7, 1983. He was stationed in Germany for two years. His tour there ended in 1986. John was stationed in Fort Hood, Texas.
Claudia Matthies of Frankentol, Germany, joined him and they were married at Plainview, South Dakota, on November 29, 1986. They moved back to Texas where they had Larry, their first son, on May 14, 1988.
John was in the First Cavalry Mounted Horses Detachment, which was the last active mounted horse detachment in the U.S. Military. They re-enacted 1800 war maneuvers at Fort Hood, Texas, and he was rewarded with plaques for his good work on several occasions. The Van Fleet Building opening ceremony was one of his high points.
On January 4, 1990, they had another little boy, Levi. John then decided to take his family back home to South Dakota to be close to family. He loved mechanics and driving trucks. It gave him a chance to see the country and meet new people.
They had a little girl, Shawna, on January 8, 1992, and another litlte boy, John Wayne, on April 14, 1994. Still trucking across country, they decided to move into the country by Freeman, South Dakota. In 1996, John went into sales for an environment company that opened offices all over the country and dreamed of the big money.
Tired of the cold winter in South Dakota, he decided to move his family further south. One of his trips to Alabama was to be his last trip he would make.
John, and a young man as eager as he was to build his own business, were in a traffic accident on Interstate 24 near Clarksville, Tennessee. John was killed and left to mourn are his wife and children, his parents, brothers, sisters, grandmother, and many other relatives and friends.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Claudia Sandal, of Freeman; three sons, Larry Sandal, Levi Sandal, and John Sandal, all of Freeman; a daughter, Shawna Sandal, of Freeman; his parents, Laurence "Larry" and Mary Kay Sandal of Plainview; four brothers, Clint Sandal of Omaha, Nebraska, Todd Sandal of Aurora, Colorado, Paul Sandal of Faith, and Scott Sandal of Madison, South Dakota; two sisters, Laurie Bergeson of Wolsey, South Dakota, and Dina Wood of California; his maternal grandmother, Emilie Reedy of Philip; and a host of other relatives and friends.
John was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Walter and Margaret Sandal; his maternal grandfather, John Reedy; and two uncles, Joe and Richard Reedy.
Prayer Service (First Service)
Saturday, March 8, 1997
1:30 p.m.
St. Stephen Catholic Church
Bridgewater, South Dakota
Officiating
Father Paul Offerman
Mass of Christian Burial (Second Service)
Monday, March 10, 1997
11:00 a.m.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Philip, South Dakota
Celebrants
Father John Hatcher, S.J.
Father Patrick McCorkell, S.J. - Homilist
Con-Celebrants
Father Arnold Kari - Father Steve Mitten, S.J.
Father Dennis Riss - Father Mike Mulloy
Music
Marianne Frein - Organist
Arlie Hulm - Vocalist
Readers
Marlyn Bergeson - Rita O'Connell
Ushers
Lance Pearson - Jim Reedy - Matt Reedy
John Paul Reedy - Will Reedy
Active Pallbearers
Mike Miles - Mark Miles - Duane Miles
Jamie Miles - Gary Miles - Bruce Miles
Honorary Pallbearers
All of John's Co-Workers from Equinox
Interment
Masonic Cemetery
Philip, South Dakota
Mass of Christian Burial
Monday, March 10, 1997
11:00 .m.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Philip