Sandra “Sandy” White

Sandra “Sandy” White, 80, of Amery, passed away on December 24, 2025 at Willow Ridge Healthcare.

Sandy was born on January 31, 1945 to Donald and Ruth (Goulee) Ellis in Rhinelander. She attended elementary school on the west side at James Williams Junior High. As Sandy was growing up, she belonged to Brownie’s and Girl Scouts. She used to ride bike to Balsam Lake and swam all the way across and back one time! Sandy attended and graduated from Rhinelander High School in 1963. While she was a senior in high school, Gordon “Gordie” White asked her to marry him, and they announced their engagement at her high school graduation.

Sandy and Gordie were married at St. Joseph’s in Rhinelander. While Gordie was in the service, and even after, Sandy was a housewife and was busy raising her two boys, Mike who was born in 1964 and Robert who was born in 1969. As a family, they enjoyed visiting the cabin that Gordie’s parents owned in Eagle River where they would snowmobile, fish, and go on pontoon rides. From the late 1970s on, Sandy worked with special needs students of all abilities throughout many states and school districts.

After she retired, Sandy and Gordie bought property near Amery where they eventually built their house and made a huge garden. Sandy canned relish, peaches, apples and pickles and she also loved baking. Gordie passed away in 2009 and Sandy remained living in their house until 2017. Sandy spent time volunteering at Willow Ridge until she eventually moved there in August of 2022 after having a major stroke. Residents and staff alike enjoyed Sandy’s smile, her quick wit and her readiness with either a joke or a story.

Sandy was a self-proclaimed “Coke-a-holic” and loved all things with Coke — including trains, signs, and lights. She liked listening to country western music, especially Johnny Cash, and watching the Beverly Hillbillies, Wheel of Fortune, Doris Day movies, or anything with “007” Sean Connery who was her favorite actor. She was also involved in the Ladies Auxiliary for the VFW.

Sandy was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gordie; and sister, Sharon Hageny. She is survived by her sons, Mike of Eagan, Minn. and Robert (Deb) of Eau Claire; grandchildren, Amanda and Timothy White; and other loving friends and family.

A funeral service will take place at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 6 at Williamson-White Funeral Home in Amery, with a visitation one hour prior. 

After the service, the burial will be at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Cemetery in Spooner, at 3 p.m. To sign an online guestbook and view a video tribute, please visit www.williamsonwhite.com. Arrangements were made with the Williamson-White Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Amery, Wisconsin.