Sandra 'Sandy' Kay Dahlman Curry, 86, of Le Mars, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, July 5, 2026, at Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars surrounded by her family. Funeral Service will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 10, 2026, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Le Mars, Iowa. Burial will follow at Silver Ridge Cemetery in rural Ponca, Nebraska.
Visitation with the family present will begin at 5:00 p.m., with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m., on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. John's Lutheran Church in Le Mars.
Sandra Kay Dahlman was born on May 5, 1940, in Omaha, Nebraska, to E. Clifford and Wilodyne Rose (Anderson) Dahlman. During her childhood, Sandy's family lived in several communities throughout the Midwest, including Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Iowa, as her father's career required frequent moves.
When Sandy was eight years old, her father passed away. Following his death, her mother moved the family to Ponca, Nebraska, to be closer to her relatives. There, Sandy attended Ponca High School, where she formed lifelong friendships before graduating with the Class of 1958.
Sandy was united in marriage to Donald ‘Don’ Max Curry on August 10, 1958, at Salem Lutheran Church in Ponca, Nebraska. They made their home in Le Mars for nearly 68 years as they raised six daughters: Christy, Nancy, Lisa, Julie, Mary, and Sara.
Sandy graduated from Westmar College in Le Mars in 1987, earning a bachelor's degree in computer science and accounting. She began her career with the Plymouth County Auditor's Office before joining Le Mars Community High School. For 17 years, she served as a librarian and computer instructor, retiring in 2001 after making a lasting impact on countless students and staff.
Sandy was a longtime member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Le Mars, where she faithfully shared her time and talents. She was a founding member of the church's quilting guild, played an instrumental role in establishing the nursery, volunteered with Vacation Bible School, and established the bell choir and directed the youth choir.
Sandy expressed her creativity through both art and music. A talented musician, she taught herself to play the piano, guitar, and harp, and learned to play the clarinet through her school band. She generously shared her musical gifts at church services as the organist at St. John's and other local churches, as well as numerous weddings and her daughters' many musical recitals.
Sandy also pursued her artistic talents in many other ways. She created beautiful wax candles, all types of needlework, baked delicious wedding cakes and mints, and was a skilled seamstress who brought creativity and care to everything she made.
Sandy was an avid reader throughout her life, a passion that contributed to her remarkable knowledge and love of trivia. She enjoyed solving crossword puzzles, watching good movies, and listening to her favorite music on the radio or stereo. She had a special love for animals and cherished the many dogs and cats that were part of her life over the years.
Sandy also shared her time and talents by serving as a 4-H and Girl Scout leader, making a positive impact on many young people in her community. Sandy and Don enjoyed taking time to travel together, especially to go see extended family. Some of their more memorable trips were to Northern Minnesota, California, Florida, Alaska, and Colorado.
Sandy is survived by her husband of nearly 68 years, Don M. Curry; her daughters: Christy (Kevin Hoyland) Curry Hoyland, Nancy (Mike) Dill, Lisa (Charles) Bogh, Julie (Leonard) Brazil, Mary (Marty) DeVille, & Dr. Sara Curry; Special AFS daughter Maggie Wazome; grandchildren: Dr. Cassandra (Dr. Joshua Steffen) Bogh, Alexander (Dr. Marie) Bogh, Adam (Emily) Bogh, Dr. Meredith (Greg) Palm, Grace (Dr. Jacob Buatti) Hoyland, Emily (Kyler) Groves, Noah (Gabby Keunen) Brazil, Stephen Brazil, Caitlin (Sean Waller) Jeffcoat, Jacob (Dr. Madison) Jeffcoat, Kiley Stevenson, & Zoe Stevenson; as well as 10 great-grandchildren; siblings: LaVonne “Bonnie” Schwarzlander and Curtis (Denise Bossio) Domsch; sister-in-law, Shirley King; many cousins, nephews, nieces, great nephews, great nieces, and other extended relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents, E. Clifford and Wilodyne Rose (Anderson) Dahlman; step-father, Louis Domsch; her parents-in-law, Grover and Della (Johnson) Curry; siblings: Jon Dahlman & Dennis Dahlman; and siblings-in-law: Tom Schwarzlander, Bonnie (Leonard) Hageman, Joye (Melvin) Magnuson, Darrel (Betty) Curry, Mardell (Harry) Powers, and Gurn (Donna) Curry.
Source: Rexwinkle Funeral Home, LeMars, Iowa
Submitted by Volunteer
