Richard Gordon Sander

Richard (Dick) Sander, was peacefully promoted to his heavenly home surrounded by his family on 9/20/2022.  What he believed about heaven, because of his faith in Jesus as his Savior, became a reality for him. Scripture teaches that for those who have accepted the death of Jesus as the payment for their sin, they will become "absent from the body and present with the Lord" when they die.  We stood around his bed and held him as this miracle took place.  Dick knew that he was loved and he loved others well.  Most of all, Dick Sander loved Jesus.  
 
Dick was born in 1939 and was raised in Glenview by his parents, Herbert and Alice Sander.  He served in the Army in Germany from 1963-1965 as the company commander's driver.
 
After his military service, Dick became a leader in the high school youth group at his church.  It was there that he met the love his life, Glady(s) Thon, when she was asked to be a leader in that same ministry.  She will forever be grateful that she met the love her life there as well. They were married in 1967 and then moved out of Chicago and to another church where they served in this other church's high school group (Teen Center).  This also began a lifelong relationship with their Teen Center "kids".  When Dick turned 50, these "kids" held a surprise birthday party for him and came to celebrate the man who was like a dad to so many of them.  Dick and Glady continued to be blessed to still have a very special loving relationship with many of them.
 
Dick and Glady were blessed with two children, Todd and Dawn Joy.  Dick would often tell others that Todd was his "best male friend" and Todd would say the same about him  Dick's life was changed forever when he became a Pop-Pop to his GRANDchildren, Samantha and Luke.  He passionately loved and served his family and they will forever be impacted and grateful for his amazing capacity to love each one of them!
 
Dick worked at Portland Cement Association in Skokie for 45 years.  He spent the first half of his career in the Construction Technology Laboratories and the latter half as an integral part of the Education and Training Department as the Principal Training Specialist and Laboratory Supervisor.  He strove for excellence in all that he did and was highly respected.
 
Dick passionately served the Lord throughout his life.  He also served as a leader and director in his church's Awana Club ministry for 47 years.  He was known for loving the kids who attended, gave devotional talks that the kids could relate to and understand, took them on retreats, and would never say "No" to any of his Awana boys who needed help making their Grand Prix cars.  He later received Awana's Founder's Award from Awana's Founder.
 
When Dick and his family moved to their current home, they began serving in a ministry for adults with special needs at their church.  Dick served these "Special Friends" well helping the ministry team in every way he could.  The ministry grew from around 12 to over 100 who would attend the monthly meetings. Dick often provided the food in addition to serving it.  When he gave the Bible message, he had the full attention of everyone and they loved to hear his Bible stories because he made the stories so understandable.  He was so well loved by everyone, with some even calling him "Dad".  This was to be the last ministry opportunity in which he served the Lord.  "Well done, thou good and faithful servant"!
 
As a teenager, Dick loved to volunteer at Phantom Ranch Bible Camp.  Glady also attended this camp as a young camper, counselor and lifeguard. Years later, Todd and his children also attended that camp and loved it as well.  Glady served for 29 years as the camp nurse, along with Dawn, until Dick became ill and Glady needed to turn her attention to caring for Dick's needs.  Because of the way that this camp has impacted everyone in Dick's family, Dick asked that in lieu of flowers, donations in his memory be made to Phantom Ranch Bible Camp at W309 S10910 Cty Rd I, Mukwonago, WI, 53149.
 
Dick's earthly journey has come to an end and his eternal life in heaven has now begun.  We celebrate that he is where there are no more tears or pain.  He has been reunited with so many who have gone before.  Best of all, he has now seen his Savior, face to face!  A happy reunion awaits us when we too are called home.  He is the one who is truly "HOME".
 
See you later, Dick!  We love you!!! 
 

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