Donald "Sandy" Evert Sandberg

Donald Evert Sandberg, 93, of Rossville was born on February 17, 1926 in Kewanee, Illinois to Swedish immigrant parents, Arvid and Adina Sandberg, whom he lost early in life.  He was reunited with them in the presence of his Lord Jesus Christ on Good Friday, April 19, 2019. He spent his last days as he spent his life, in grateful praise to God for His grace.

 After high school, Don was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in combat in Germany in 1945 and subsequently in SHAEF headquarters in France.  He graduated from Wheaton College in Illinois in 1951 and earned master’s degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Middle Tennessee State University. 

He married Jessie Rice on March 27, 1954 and together they served in churches in Illinois and Indiana, especially leading music ministry, youth, and Christian camping as well as teaching at Trinity College in Deerfield, Illinois.  Don and Jessie then taught and ministered at Tennessee Temple University, where he led college choirs, including his beloved Weigle Singers.  He dearly enjoyed his ministry and fellowship at Grace Baptist Church, in Chattanooga.

Don, often known as “Sandy,” besides his love of music enjoyed time in the garden and breakfasts with family and friends.  The community of family and church became the kind of home he lost when he was a boy.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jessie Rice Sandberg, 4 children and their spouses—Carol (Roger) Parks of Prattville, Alabama; Jim (Jennifer) Sandberg of Muncie, Indiana; Don (Kay) Sandberg of Raleigh, North Carolina; and Mark (Vesma) Sandberg of Riga, Latvia—and 10 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren.  Two brothers, Paul Sandberg and Larry Sandberg, preceded Don into the presence of the Lord; his younger brother Cliff Sandberg (wife Inga) lives in Rockford, Illinois. He is also survived by three dear sisters-in-law and a brother-in-law: Elizabeth Handford, Joanna Rice, and Roger and Joy Martin.

“The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; the name of the Lord is to be praised.”

Funeral services will be held at 12 Noon Tuesday at Grace Baptist Church with Pastor Roger Parks officiating. Interment will be at Chattanooga National Cemetery.

Visit www.heritagebattlefield.com to share condolences with the family.

The family will receive friends 4-8 PM Monday at Heritage Funeral Home, Battlefield Parkway and an hour prior to the service on Tuesday at Grace Baptist Church.

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