Sandra A. Werthwein

Sandra A. Werthwein, 77, died Monday, May 2, 2022, at her home in Soldiers Grove in the company of family. She may not have been in her favorite chair but was at home as she adamantly requested. She was born April 16, 1945, in Dekalb, Illinois, to her farming parents, John and Evelyn (Hayes) Deutsch.

In 1964 she married Norman, her high school sweetheart, and moved to Wisconsin to help Norman and his father (Roger) establish a new venture dairy farm near Soldiers Grove. In 1972 Norm and Sandy started a 50/50 share with Roger. They later bought out Norm’s mother, Virginia, in 1979 taking ownership of the home farm. Sandy was a stay-at-home mom to four children and a full partner in their registered Holstein dairy business. Sandy’s passion was the bookwork related to the farm and naming new additions to the herd by following a structured naming system and applying some creativity. Her primary chore was raising the baby calves from birth to six-months old. Sandy and the family were fully involved in 4H, Junior and Adult Holstein Associations, county and state fairs, in addition to district shows and sales.

In 1986 Sandy had her 10 minutes of fame on The Today Show after she had submitted a complaint letter indicating they didn’t know the difference between a dairy cow and a beef cow (following a news segment they aired promoting June as Dairy Month). They sent out a film crew from Madison, and Sandy was on national TV for a follow-up segment standing with “Shaker” at the halter confirming the profile of a dairy cow.

Sandy’s other passion was collecting cookbooks with her dear friend Eldoris Ekern. Sandy enjoyed cooking and especially baking. She will be remembered for her potato salad, cinnamon rolls, and Christmas cookies. She also took great pride in her role as landscaper/gardener on the farm. The yard was adorned in red tulips and red geraniums.

The family has been blessed with hundreds of memories of raising the children and spending fun times with friends (the Ekerns, Randalls, Olsons, and Skardas). Sandy is survived by her husband of 57 years, Norman Werthwein; daughter Suzanne Werthwein Yazel of McHenry, Illinois; twin sons John Werthwein of Soldiers Grove and Jeffery (Mary McCann) Werthwein of Gays Mills; and youngest son Keith (Dawn) Werthwein of Muscoda. She is fondly remembered by her grandchildren: Cody (Jordon) McCann of Gays Mills; Damian Werthwein of Sparta; Gabrielle Werthwein of Eau Claire, and Mason Werthwein of Muscoda, and a sweet great granddaughter Addysyn McCann. She is also survived by a sister Karen (Ray) Hahn of Beloit, and a brother Mick (Sandy) Deutsch of Maple Park, Illinois. In addition to many nieces and nephews, she is also survived by her sisters-in-law Judy Nimtz of Belvidere, IL; Kay (Dick) Irving of Genoa, IL; Sue Olson of Hinkley, IL, Val (Orris) Ruth of Hampshire, IL; Ginny Werthwein of Homer, AK; and Renee (Rick) Niederman, of Pekin, IN.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother-in-law Percy Werthwein, and sister-in-law Rita Carlson.

A celebration of life gathering is being planned in the near future. The family wishes to thank her team of caregivers from St. Croix Hospice for their reassuring comfort and support. A note of appreciation also is extended to Spencer Bailey, North Crawford Rescue Squad, and the staff at Hirsch Clinic/VMH.

The Roth Family Cremation Center is serving the family.

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