Alice Ann Sandmayr

Alice Ann (née Kraetsch) Sandmayr, a lifelong resident of Milwaukee, passed away peacefully in her sleep June 25, 2022. She was 94 years old.

Born July 10, 1927 in Hartford, WI, she was one of four children of the late Wallace and Veronica (née Jeffords) Kraetsch. Alice worked early on as a teacher’s aide for MPS, and later for many years at Columbia Hospital, where she worked as a unit secretary. Outside of work, she had many other interests. She was a wonderful cook. Creativity in the kitchen equipped her to excel at making meals with whatever was in stock in the pantry. She was famous in her family for needing only her sense of smell to decide when the Thanksgiving stuffing and pumpkin pies had the right amount of spices. She was a phenomenal Christmas cookie baker as well, crafting batches of goodies each year. Alice liked to read, crochet, play canasta, and was a treasure of knowledge about her German and Irish family history. In her later years, she liked to travel to Door County to visit her best friend. At home, she liked to keep a tin of sweets by her chair. She also had a true talent for being every little child’s Grandma Alice, offering a comforting presence when they were with her. Alice was funny, kind, and will be missed dearly by all who knew her.

Surviving her are her daughters, Cathy Sandmayr and Mary Sandmayr, both of Milwaukee; one granddaughter, Andrea Havens and her husband Ben Stocks, also of Milwaukee. Alice’s only great-grandchild, Veronica, proclaimed her “GG” to be “the best great-grandma in the world”. GG was always excited to hear about and support her Irish dancing, a pastime Alice’s own Grandma Bridget (née Cavanaugh) Jeffords, did. Several other beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins survive.

Alice’s parents; two sisters, Theresa Koeckritz (Robert) and Rosemary Gompper (Norman); an older infant brother (name unknown); and a nephew (Paul Koeckritz), preceded her in death.

According to Alice’s wishes, there will be no funeral services. Instead, she requested prayers to be said in her name. Plans for a small celebration of life by close family will occur at a later date.

Special thanks go to Horizon Home Hospice, for providing such kind care to Alice in her final weeks.