Sandy J. Weidenbacher, 75 of Dubuque, IA joined the Lord in Heaven on Friday, February 14, 2025, after a long battle with cancer. She was surrounded by the love of her family and her faithful companion, her fur-baby, Celtic.

Visitation for family and friends will be from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Thursday February 20, 2025, at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road with a service to be held at 4:00 p.m. with Rev. Jeff Frieden officiating.

Sandy was born April 27th, 1949, in Dubuque, Iowa to Hollis and Audrey (Neuhaus) Root. She was raised in Dubuque attended St. Mary’s Catholic elementary and junior high school and graduated from Dubuque Senior High in 1967.

She was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart Thomas J. Weidenbacher on October 25, 1969 – just a few days after he returned home from the Vietnam War. They celebrated 55 years of marriage this past October.

Sandy worked for various companies in Dubuque which include John Deere, Dubuque Packing Company, Disco Building Improvements, Manor Care Nursing Home, and Foodliner Inc. She had 54 years of administrative and clerical work combined before she retired. After two short months of retirement Sandy headed back to work for the Dubuque Community Schools serving breakfast and lunch to the Marshall Elementary students. Seeing the children every day gave Sandy so much joy, unfortunately she had to leave the school after being diagnosed with cancer, it saddened her to leave the students.

Sandy enjoyed reading, diamond art painting, going to the casino, playing bingo, cooking and baking. She also loved to listen to Elvis, walking her dog, and of course seeing and spoiling her grandchildren.

Sandy is survived by her husband, Tom Weidenbacher; her children, Dale of Dubuque, Jim (Candice Puccio) of Dubuque, Sabrina (Jeremy) Vondal of Dubuque, Robin (Aaron) Long of Kearney, Nebraska. Seven grandchildren, Alex, Logan, Jordyn, Ally, Gage, Layne and Drew. Also, her faithful companion for the last 12 ½ years, Celtic, along with many friends and neighbors.

She was preceded death by her parents, a stillborn daughter Laura Lynn in 1980, five brothers Jim, Ron, Dale, Donnie, and Bill Root, and brothers-in-law Randy Gray, Dave Laufenberg, Wesley “Sonny” (Hattie) Martin Weidenbacher Jr., Keith Weidenbacher, George Husemann, and Ron Lamb.

Sandy’s family would like to thank the Oncology Department at Medical Associates- East Campus, Oncology department at University of Iowa Hospitals, Hospice of Dubuque (East), and Leonard Funeral Home.

Memorials may be directed to the family in memory of Sandy.