Sandra Kay Sedam (née Ferrie), age 70, passed away peacefully on March 27, 2026 after a formidable battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Born and raised on a farm in Cresco, Iowa, Sandy was the second born of seven children and carried with her throughout life the strong values of family, resilience, and hard work that shaped her early years. After a quick courtship, Sandy married her beloved husband Ronald and shared just under 52 wonderful years of marriage. Together, they built a life and family in southwest Rock Island, Illinois where they welcomed their three children Graham (Christine), Megan (Justin Johnson), and Jessica (Tim Lemon). Then came ten grandchildren- Marinna, Pierce, Riley, Hadley, Rycken, Chase, Elliott, Britta, Oscar, and Archie-who all lovingly called her “Mimi”. 

Outside of keeping busy with work and family, Sandy had a deep appreciation for creativity and connection. She was an avid gardener who found peace and happiness tending to her flowers and plants, so far as to expand her garden further into the woods behind their home. She expressed herself through art and had a special passion for family history and genealogy, dedicating countless hours to tracing lineage and history, preserving stories and connections for future generations. 

She was once the one who remembered everything. The birthdays, the recipes passed down through generations, the small details others let slip—she held them all with ease. If you needed an answer, a date, or a piece of family history, you went to her. 

Alzheimer’s changed that—gently at first, then more insistently. Yet her life was never defined by her illness, but by the many years before it—years filled with strength, intelligence, devotion, and a deep love for her family. She was a woman who knew so much, gave so much, and meant so much.

 Sandy is preceded in death by her parents Ronald and Doris Ferrie as well as in-laws Cornelius and Agatha Sedam. 

She is survived by her husband, children, and grandchildren as well as her siblings Bill (Charlene), Gary (Marti), Randy (Sheryl), Kevin (Marcie), Sue (Marv Schnur), and Darin (Kathy) Ferrie. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched and the memories she helped preserve. Sandy will be dearly missed and forever remembered. A visitation to honor Sandy will be held Thursday, April 2, 2026 from 4-6pm at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, located at 201 E. 4th Ave in Milan, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor Sandy’s memory with a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association, a cause close to their heart.

To leave condolences for the family, visit wheelanpressly.com.