Sandra Longnecker

(From Clark Funeral Home)

February 3, 1940 to January 13, 2025

Sandra never met a stranger.

Growing up in Maxwell, the daughter of Jack and Aileen Vallandingham who owned Jack’s Cash and Carry grocery store, Sandra and her brother Jack learned the gift of gab. Sandra was known for her dry sense of humor, hand gestures, and sayings from her Grandma (that are not appropriate to quote here!)

Sandra graduated from Maxwell High School in 1958 and looked forward to her class reunions. She held various jobs as a bank teller, cook at Maxwell and Ankeny schools and Bella Vista Country Club, and seller of Watkins products, making friends at whatever she did. She was generous with her skills and would give baked goods or knitted washcloths to anyone she knew.

Sandra made friends wherever she was. This helped with her many moves with Jerry- from Iowa to Arkansas, wintering in Texas, and finally settling in Missouri. The total count over the years was 17 (or was it 18?) which made Sandra “a damn good packer” as Jerry says. Maybe it was the challenge of fitting everything together as Sandra loved to do puzzles. New neighbors became lifelong friends.

Sandra enjoyed being a part of the family. On February 28, 1960, Jerry Longnecker married the love of his life and Sandra’s family grew- a lot! Sandra enjoyed going to all of the Longnecker reunions and card parties over the past 64 years. Gatherings were spread out and smaller on the Vallandingham side but were just as eventful and fun.

Through Sandra and Jerry’s union, their own family grew. Their sons Tim, Todd, and Troy kept Sandra busy in the kitchen where she perfected her meatballs and ham balls, potato salad, spaghetti bake, ginger cookies, and her famous 18# chocolate cake. The boys were always getting into the hidden cookie dough in the freezer and the peanut brittle that was in the turkey bowl. She was a dedicated wife and mother (she took damn good care of Jerry!) and raised her boys to enjoy the outdoors as she gardened, camped, and traveled.

As her sons married, Sandra gained daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Through Tim, she first got Peggy and their son Andrew “AJ” and his kids Charlotte and Logan; and son Austin and his son Caden. Tim is now married to Tina who helped greatly with Sandra’s care at the end. With Todd, she got Bev and their son Colt and his wife Berlyn; and son Dakota and his daughter Sophia and wife Amanda. Through Troy, she added Chris to her family along with their daughter Tara (Sandra’s first girl!) and her husband Brandon and their two kids Cooper and Lynlee; and their son Hunter and fiancee Carissa.

And as everyone who knew her, the other part of Sandra’s family were her dogs. There was hardly ever a time that her bichons Heidi and now Mollie B. were not hanging out at small family gatherings, traveling, camping, or at home in her lap.

Many have passed before Sandra and will welcome her again. These include her parents Jack and Aileen Vallandingham; sister-in-law Mary Vallandingham; and many of the 14 Longnecker siblings and spouses with the latest being LaNora Longnecker.







Survivors who will miss her dearly are her husband of 64 years John “Jerry” Longnecker of Neosho, MO; sons Tim (Tina) of Pineville, MO, Todd (Beverly) of Pineville, MO, and Troy (Christi) of Woodward, IA; grandchildren Andrew Longnecker, Austin Longnecker, Colt (Berlyn) Longnecker, Dakota (Amanda) Longnecker, Tara (Brandon) Mannhardt, Hunter (Carissa) Longnecker; and great-grandchildren Charlotte and Logan Longnecker; Sophia Longnecker; Caden Longnecker; Cooper and Lynlee Mannhardt. Also brother Jack (Carol) Vallandingham, and nieces and nephews John (Karen), Adam (Denise), Mollie (Travis), and Jenny (Jon).

Please join the family for lunch and memories at a Celebration of Life to be held on May 3, 2025, at the Maxwell Community Center, Maxwell, IA from 12:00 pm to 3 pm.