Sandra J. Peake

Sandra J. Peake died on Thursday, January 21, 2010, at home in Decorah at the age of 50, surrounded by her family. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, January 25, 2010 at Decorah Lutheran Church in Decorah by Rev. Wayne Hagen. Visitation will be from 3:00-6:00 P.M. Sunday, January 24 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah and on Monday one hour before the service at the church. Sandra Jean (Schaller) Peake was born September 13, 1959, in Sparta, Wisconsin, the daughter of Charles W. Jr. and Magdalen (Hemmersbach) Schaller. She graduated from Waukon High School with the Class of 1977, received her Associate in Arts degree from Northeast Iowa Community College and then graduated with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Luther College with the Class of 2005. Sandy was united in marriage to Alan Peake on December 3, 1977 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon, Iowa. To this union two sons were born: Jeremy and Scott. She taught in Waukon from 1977 to 1979. Then she and Al started the family apple orchard with the planting of their first trees in 1979. Most of the existing trees were planted in 1982. Sandy and Al moved to Decorah where they owned and operated Decorah Decorating from 1984 to 1996. During this time she also taught third and fourth grade Special Education at Decorah Community Schools from 1990 to 2002 and 2005 to the present. Sandy was very active in the choir, Bell choir and as director of the Cherub choir at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon, and in choir, circle, Sunday school and Vacation Bible school at First Lutheran Church in Decorah before joining Decorah Lutheran Church in 2008. She was a lover of nature, of mountains, and biking. She baked, danced and sang. She loved reading (for herself as well as to others), visiting with family and friends, knitting and watching the Packers play. She was preceded in death by her father, Charles, on November 12, 2009; one brother, Douglas, in 1998; and one sister, Theresa, in infancy. Sandy is survived by her husband, Alan of Decorah; her two sons: Jeremy (Jodi) Peake of Waukon, IA and Scott Peake (fiancee’ Madeline) of Davenport, IA; one granddaughter, Molly Peake of Waukon; her mother, Magdalen "Meg" Schaller of Waukon; seven brothers and sisters: Gregory (Kim) Schaller of Waukon, Jeffery (Alyce) Schaller of Decorah, David (Debra) Schaller of Bettendorf, IA, Lisa (Kirk) Snitker of Waukon, Mary (John) Taylor of Woodbridge, VA, Amy (Matt) Hacker of Springboro, OH and Timothy (Patty) Schaller of Minnetonka, MN; her father- and mother-in-law, Kenneth and JoAnn Peake of Waukon, IA; two sisters-in-law: Connie Peake of Milwaukee, WI and Cathy (Mick) Angel of Harlan, IA; one brother-in-law, Steve (Diane) Peake of Dubuque, IA; numerous nieces and nephews; and all of her past students, whom she dearly loved. Memorials may be given to the Sandra J. Schulze American Cancer Society Hope Lodge, 411 Second Street NW, Rochester, MN 55901 or Sandra J. Peake Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Decorah Community Schools, 510 Winnebago Street, Decorah, IA 52101.