Sandra S. Schreiber Obituary (1940 - 2021)

Sandra Sue Schreiber passed peacefully in her sleep on May 16, 2021 under the loving care of her family. She was a resident of Davenport most of her life, but lived the last four years with her daughter's family in Rockford, Michigan. The daughter of Donald & Norma (Behrensmeyer) Schreiber, Sandy was born on October 24, 1940 in Des Moines. She graduated from Davenport High School in 1959, and later attended AIC Business Academy. She then began her career first in computer processing and for the following twenty years in the Accounting Department at John Deere Davenport Works as Payroll Manager. She enjoyed her time there and the many employees with whom she worked. Sandy was a very kind and caring person whose focus in life was to make a difference. She had three daughters and brought into her home over twenty-five foster children. Some stayed for ten days, others for ten years, but they all were loved, educated and given new, fun experiences. Each had a special place in her heart. She also volunteered for CASI, Cafeteria on Vine, and the Bix Race. Through the years Sandy showed and adventuresome spirit. Besides her spur of the moment trips to Europe, she celebrated her 75th birthday by parachuting out of an airplane. th Sandy was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Larry Schreiber, her foster son Ronald Clawson, and her nephew Michael Sherman. Those left to honor her memory are her three daughters, Cheryl (Brent) Dille, Jayda Schreiber, and Angela Bolton; foster daughters Lisa Snook, Rhonda Ratzlaff and many others; grandchildren Cassandra (Gene) Pratt, B.J. Dille, Jessica Stamper, and Justin Stamper; sister Rosalie "Patty" Sherman; brother-in-law Larry Sherman; sister-n-law Marilyn Schreiber; uncles David Behrensmeyer and Tom (Bertie) Behrensmeyer; and many great great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She will be missed. A tribute from foster daughter Lisa Snook: A few days ago, I drove up to see my foster mom. Upon driving I saw this beautiful castle. My first thought was, well you know she would have filled that Castle full of kids. My second thought was, Oh WOW! It would take you forever to clean it LOL! You see my foster mom is Sandy/Sandra Schreiber! When I first met her I was a rebellious teenager; had already been through a lot in my life and most who know me know this, so I wasn't the most trusting child around. In fact, I didn't trust most adults! I mainly trusted my mother who had passed and my grandmother and grandfather because they were always such a great support. There is never any doubt how much they loved me! But my life took a different journey and it took me to Sandy's house. She really had her work cut out for her I will say that, but with her love and guidance she got me through some difficult times, along with my brother Ronnie and several other foster children! Everyone in the neighborhood called her mom. She was one of the neighborhood moms; we had been blessed with more than one mom for sure because even though some would think that we were all trailer trash, actually we were one big family just in different homes learning about the world and each other as it is! The only trash we saw was what we put out at the street to get picked up, and that was put into the dumpster! We were blessed to play with several children and make lifelong friends, who I can honestly say I am still friends with today, and boy I tell you I feel blessed! All the kids that came to my foster mom Sandy's house came from other houses where there was something going on, for those matters are left to the individual and I'm not going to share, but I do want to say that each one of them I love dearly and I felt very blessed to have them in my life! I will say we all were blessed, all of us kids in the neighborhood and all of us foster kids she made sure that we definitely had a story to tell! Like going up to camp fishing, running over a rattlesnake, riding three-wheelers around everywhere, and motorcycles. We also got the privilege to even go swimming and rafting on the river. Our life was not easy, but she never gave up. She saw in us something and wanted to bring that out in all of us! She once told me did she didn't like telling anybody that we were foster kids because she didn't like the response that she got from other people because they believe the Apple didn't fall far from the tree! I would be glad to let you know that no we didn't fall too far from our parents, they were part of us! And so you know a lot of us will do some of the same things our parents did but that doesn't mean that we are going to do everything that is bad! With love and guidance and a whole lot of patience, a whole lot of cleaning up after us with our messy backgrounds and different nationalities, she managed to continue to pull us together! I just wanted everyone to know I am very proud I was her foster daughter! And I certainly am thankful she wasn't ashamed of me! But I can tell you she was ashamed of other people who judged her and I guess that is a lack of knowledge! Honestly for that I will pray for you because I have one huge family! I have my biological family who raised me and a few more parents than most, but trust me I have been blessed! I showed you the castle remember, and that little girl, well that little girl was my mom Sandy and that castle is nothing compared to the one she's going to need in heaven when all of her kids come and gather! So I just want to say thank you Mom for not giving up on me or the other kids that were in our neighborhood! Thank you for sharing us with our parents, our friends, and your friends as parents! It really honestly takes a village to raise a child! I Loved You Then, I love you now, and I love you forever!