Sandra Sue Pope

Sandra Sue Pope left this world peacefully in the early hours of May 23, 2025—but anyone who knew her knows she didn’t live a quiet life. Her story was full of love, adventure, unexpected plot twists, and a deep, steady faith that carried her through all of it.

Born October 17, 1944, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, to Marvin and Lela Frost, Sandy had a spark of restlessness from the start. She was always searching—sometimes for a new destination, sometimes for a deeper purpose, and sometimes just for a really good shrimp dinner.

She graduated from Knoxville High School and, in between raising kids and packing up military housing, she earned her Associate’s Degree in Law Enforcement. Later, at 40, she went back to school and earned her Bachelor’s in Humanities with a focus on Social Work from Iowa State University—proving it’s never too late to follow your calling.

She married the love of her life, Thomas Pope, on March 2, 1963, and the two of them hit the ground running. With the U.S. Army leading the way, they moved from place to place—including a stop in Germany—and managed to build a family along the way. Five kids, five cities, and one very full station wagon. It wasn’t just a marriage—it was an adventure with a lot of moving boxes and even more love.

Early in their marriage, during her first pregnancy in 1963, Sandy’s sense of justice led her to a civil rights rally in support of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Eight months pregnant, she had to be (very reluctantly) carried out by Tom, who was trying to keep a low profile at his first duty station. She believed in standing up for what was right—even if she had to be physically removed to do it.

After leaving military life in 1970, Sandy and Tom settled in Iowa, ready to put down roots and raise their growing family. She poured her heart into helping others. She worked in corrections and halfway houses—places where kindness and patience truly mattered. And when the time felt right, she returned to school and earned her degree in social work. Helping others wasn’t just what she did—it was who she was.

After losing Tom in 1991, Sandy entered a new chapter of life. She moved around—Utah, Alaska, Missouri—searching for healing, connection, and peace. She faced her share of mental health struggles over the years, but she never stopped working toward healing. She asked for help when she needed it, leaned on her faith, and kept showing up for life with courage and honesty. She eventually settled in Milwaukee, where she continued giving back and was appointed to the Commission on Aging—because even in a new city, she couldn’t resist making a difference.

Her love of travel never faded. She explored Europe on her own (including a stop at Vatican City), returned often to “her mountain” in Alaska, and visited family all over. A favorite trip was a surprise cruise for her 70th birthday with all five kids and several grandkids. Naturally, she arrived with a broken foot from two weeks earlier—and still had a blast. In classic Sandy fashion, she even got locked out of her bank account in Mexico and tried (unsuccessfully) to borrow a phone from a shopkeeper. The shrimp was great, though, so she called it a win.

Back in Iowa, Sandy embraced retirement. She played cards, made new friends, stayed active in her church, and never missed a weekly family dinner. She loved nothing more than a good surprise and time with her people—often asking, “When’s the next visit?” And if shrimp was on the menu, she was happy.

When she moved to Bishop Drumm, she made herself right at home. Many saw her as a sweet little old lady—and she certainly could be—but those who knew her best knew she was always tuned in, even when she was quiet. And when she did raise her voice, you knew she meant business.

Sandy is survived by her five children: Paula (Doug) Kriess, Peggy Pope, Eric (Lisa) Pope, Jo Lela (John) Kimber, and Michelle (Terry) McIntosh. She was a proud grandma to nine grandchildren: Matthew Terry, Christopher Kimber, Kevin (Kayla) Pope, Melanie (Chloe) de Ruiter, Cheyenne Heck, Joshua (Marie) Pope, Nicholas Pope, Ceera (Stanley) Sadler, and Nova Pope. She also leaves behind five great-grandchildren—Jason, Juniper, Maximus, Sylvienne, and Athena—with a sixth great-grandbaby expected this September.

She is also survived by her brother-in-law Jim (Donna) Pope, sister-in-law Marietta (Jim) Wells, and a large, loving group of nieces and nephews who will keep her stories and spirit alive.

She was preceded in death by her grandson Zachary Terry and her siblings Donna Major, William Frost, and Sharon Wilkinson.

Services will be held on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Waukee, Iowa—a full Mass (one last chance to get all her kids to church, and you know she’d be pleased). Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., just before the service. A private interment will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Boniface Church or to the Sisters of Mercy—two places that reflect Sandy’s lifelong love of faith, family, and service.

Print