Sandra K. Place


Sandra Kay “Sandi” Place, 73, of Olivet, died on Saturday, September 8, 2018 at Eaton County Health and Rehabilitation Services. Sandi was born November 27, 1944 in Marshall to Howard and Betty (Miller) Faulkner. When Sandi was 6 years old she lost her parents when they were killed in an auto accident. From that time on, she was lovingly raised by her grandparents, Harry and Esther (Rapp) Miller, and her aunts Mary Lou, Shirley, Darlene, Dorothy, Marian, Margaret, Mildred, and uncles Harry, Robert and Laverne Miller.

She graduated from high school and went on to the Hurley School of Nursing, graduating as a Registered Nurse. Sandi then attended MSU and graduated with her BSN degree.

She was married to Merlyn D. Place on September 18, 1966. The couple has made their home in Olivet since then. She worked at the Battle Creek Veterans’ Administration Hospital for many years, retiring from there as a nursing supervisor in 1999. Sandi then taught nursing at Kalamazoo Valley Community College for 15 years, retiring in March of 2014.

Sandi was a member of the Oaklawn Hospital Auxiliary and volunteered at Oaklawn. She was a member of the Ella M. Brown Charitable Circle. For a number of years she enjoyed volunteering at the Marshall Historical Home Tour for the Marshall Historical Society.

She crocheted hundreds of baby afghans to give to mothers for their first baby. Her family have all benefited from her talent, with many afghans and blankets placed in family homes. She was beloved by her family and was a loving influence on their many lives.

Surviving are her husband, Merlyn; daughter, Amy (Michael) Gancasz of Royersford, Penn., and son Brian (Stacey) Place of Charlotte; four grandchildren, Tom Moran, McKenna Kay Place, Nolan Gancasz and Riley Gancasz; her aunts, Shirley (Jack) Lawler of Marshall, and Darlene Coats and Dorothy Stults both of Olivet; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her grandparents; her uncles, Harry, Robert and Laverne Miller; and her aunts, Mary Lou Duckham, Marian Heisler, Margaret Miller and Mildred Foote.

Funeral services to celebrate her life were held on Wednesday, Sept. 12, at the Marshall Chapel of Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services, with Rev. Jack Brown officiating. Cremation followed services with committal later in Bosworth Cemetery in Olivet.

The family suggests donations to The Battle Buddy Foundation, 8859 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, West Chester, Ohio,  tbbf.org.

Visit kempffuneralhome.com to leave a message for the family.