In Memory

Sandra Cutshall (VanCleve) - Class Of 1956

Sandra Cutshall (VanCleve)

Sandra Rose (Cutshall) Van Cleve, age 81, passed away April 19, 2020. She was born August 31,1938 in Olney, IL, the daughter of Muriel and Marjorie (Houchin) Cutshall. She graduated from East Richland High School in 1956. On June 14, 1958 she married Charles Chadwick Van Cleve.

Sandy completed her first two years of nurses training at Protestant Deaconess Hospital, Evansville, IN. Then she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Union Hospital School of Nursing in Terre Haute, IN in 1960. Later, she completed a Master of Science in Education from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and had the degree of Specialist in Educational Counseling from Eastern Illinois University.

Sandy was a loving and generous wife, mother, grandmother and partner.  Nothing made her happier than to have the entire family together for every special occasion. She enjoyed cooking, reading, and traveling. She had visited Europe and Brazil, as well as many interesting places throughout the U.S. 

Sandy was a nursing instructor at Rend Lake College for many years. She had a huge influence on her many students and in 19xx she was given the Teacher of the Year award from the college. Sandy was an active member in the community and had performed with Centralia Cultural Society Little Theater Group in various productions. For many years she was also an active member of the Centralia BPW - past president, Central City Lioness Club, American Association of University Women - past president and the ExPrexies Club.  She attended First United Methodist Church in Centralia. Sandy was a resident of the Centralia area since 1962 and a resident of Fireside Nursing home since 2015.

She was preceded in death by her husband of thirty years, Charles Van Cleve, sister Ardith Sterchi, and parents Muriel and Marjorie Cutshall.

Sandy is survived by daughter Rosemarie (Van Cleve) Finley and husband Gary of Kirklin, IN; son Gilbert “Gib” Van Cleve and wife Cherie of St. Louis, MO; son Kent Van Cleve of Centralia;  grandchildren include Ian Finley of Sacramento, CA, Britton Finley and wife Hillarie of Westfield, IN,  Charles N. Van Cleve and Allison Van Cleve of St. Louis, MO. She is also survived by her life partner of sixteen years, Floyd Mercer.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the CCBA Food Pantry.

A private family service will be held Friday, April 24, 2020 at 11:00 AM.  Burial will follow in Haven Hill Cemetery.

Kistler-Patterson Funeral Home, Olney obituary & photo – April 20, 2020