Sandee Feuerborn

Sandra "Sandee" Ann Feuerborn, 65, of Lawrence, KS passed away on January 16, 2023. Sandee was born in Garnett, KS to Myron and Mary Feuerborn on December 23, 1957.

Sandee marched to the beat of her own drum. As a child, she was sensitive yet carefree. The Feuerborn family moved from Lawrence to Wabaunsee County in the early '70s to start a dairy farm. She was a hard worker and knew her way around an udder. She was a member of the 4-H Club, showing off her prize winning calves and non-prize winning pies. She was talented at persuading her sister Kellee to skip evening chores to watch the Wizard of Oz. Off the farm, Sandee excelled in school and her magnetic personality helped her belong in every social circle. She did, however, have a special place in her heart for the rebels and outcasts.

During her high school years in Council Grove, Sandee was involved in a little bit of everything: theater, drama club, golf, and served as the yearbook editor of the Chief. Although she was wickedly smart, she preferred to be where the fun was: the flag carrier corp. They took their big flags and unpolished routines to the Friday night football games and had themselves A TIME. She loved a good time, and everybody loved her. Sandee was named the Queen of Courts her senior year of 1976 - our very own Miss Congeniality.

Sandee went on to graduate with a Master's and Bachelor's in Social Work in the '80s from the University of Kansas. She was a perfect fit for social work - her nonjudgmental demeanor made her patients feel safe. She rooted for - and deeply cared about - the underdog. Early in her career, she was recruited to help open a women's substance abuse rehabilitation facility in Alaska. She was an integral part of developing the recovery program and establishing community partnerships. Even with all those smarts, she was never above painting walls and tinkering with the electrical box. The project combined all of her interests and passions - and ultimately she helped women reclaim their lives. It was her proudest professional achievement.

She deserved all of the awards for her role as Fun Aunt Sandee. Rules? No thanks. She was predictably unpredictable. Sundays were movie days with the family - a trip to Blockbuster followed by an educational lesson in film pirating for the children. She was thrifty like that. She dropped in on their Lone Star Lake parties as a concerned (curious) auntie but often found herself staying once she heard the playlist. She did not excel as a chaperone, as she often misread social situations with the youth. Whether she was presenting a "dead" opossum to a group of screaming 8 y/o girls or sparing a cigarette or two to a friend of her beloved nephews behind the barn, she made a lasting impression. "Classic Aunt Sandee", they said more times than they could count. She made them laugh, and her laugh made them laugh harder. Her love felt light and present - the best qualities of an adoring aunt.

Sandee had a multitude of interests but an attention span that never allowed for them to turn into full-blown hobbies. She loved to be in nature and regularly found herself exploring in the mountains and forests of Colorado. She only traveled if she could bring her dogs and bought an Astro Van to lug them around with her. She was a bona fide pioneer woman. Her home was filled with "How-To" home improvement books, bird watching journals, and books on strange and exotic fungi. Her home decor was inspired by nature's oddities - skulls, shells, feathers, snake skins, and dried flowers - that she had found exploring around Lone Star Lake. She expressed interest in starting a moth and butterfly collection, but she must have gotten distracted.

The little things brought her the most joy. She loved a pretty lamp, her marble collection, and a nice, solid broomstick. She marveled at multicolored Christmas lights and squealed every time Ruggles, the Carpet One mascot, came on TV. She enjoyed a good pair of overalls and Canadian tuxedos. She was crafty and liked creating with her hands. She was an amazing cook and mastered the art of marinara. She never left a gathering without a box or two of leftovers. She dabbled as a mascara mule and wedding heckler for her nieces and nephews. She was a real "Don't Worry, Be Happy!" kind of gal.

Sandee was one-of-a-kind. She loved her family and friends unconditionally. She loved her dogs even more. She was real and honest and special, and quite frankly, life will be a lot less fun without her. She will certainly be entertaining the afterlife retirement community with her singing and dancing.. They are simply not ready for her rendition of Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On. Lord have Mercy!
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Sandee is survived by her husband, Danny Robinson; sisters Diane Bell and Kellee Bolton; nieces and nephews Katie Allen, Joe Bell, Jack Bell and Hannah Bolton; and pets Evee, Toby, Mona, and Alice. She is preceded in death by her parents Mary and Myron Feuerborn; brother-in-law Bill Bell; nephew Sam Bolton; and nephew-in-law Wade Allen. She is reunited with her dear friend Bruce and her dogs Sasha, Ilan, Rudy, and Yukon, along with the various other critters she let live in her home throughout the years.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00pm Friday, February 3rd, 2023 at the Feuerborn Funeral Home in Garnett, KS. The family will greet friends prior to the service from 1:00-2:00pm at the funeral home. Inurnment will take place following the service at St. Boniface Cemetery, Scipio, KS.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Lawrence Humane Society in honor of Sandee. Donations may be left with the Feuerborn Funeral Home, 219 S. Oak St. Garnett, KS 66032, or made directly to the Lawrence Humane Society via an online donation: