Obituary of Robert Virnel Sandau

Robert "Bob” Virnel Sandau, 96, passed away on December 14, 2021. Bob was born on June 5, 1925, in Blackfoot, Idaho, to Jacob and Lydia (Jerke) Sandau, both were German immigrants. Bob was a farmer. Born into a farming family, his parents, two brothers, and sister farmed land in Platteville and then LaSalle. In 1950, as a young adult, Bob chose farming as his lifelong profession and for over 40 years proudly and successfully farmed land in the LaSalle and Gilcrest communities. He retired from farming in 1991, handing over the operation to his youngest son, but he never stopped "helping out.” Bob was a husband, father, and grandfather. In 1946 he married Doris Ruth at the Greeley Baptist Church. A year later, the couple moved to Long Beach, California, where their oldest son, Robert Gary, was born. The family returned to Colorado in 1950 and Bob began his farming career. In the next few years, they welcomed daughter Debra, and a second son, Bruce. The family continued to grow with the addition of eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Bob lost his loving wife of 59 years in 2005. Bob was a firefighter. Early in their married life Bob and Doris lost their home to a fire. That devastation motivated Bob to serve as a volunteer firefighter with the LaSalle Fire Department for over 21 years, serving as chief for several years. In 1961 Bob was instrumental in forming the LaSalle Fire Protection District, serving on the Board of Directors for 31 years, 27 years as president. His firefighter legacy includes two sons and a grandson who served as firefighters, and currently, a great-grandson who is entering the profession. Bob was a bank director. In 1965, the local bank president drove to the potato field where Bob was working and asked if he would consider serving on the bank board of directors as a respected representative of the LaSalle community. He said yes. For the next 48 years he served on the boards of five banking institutions in LaSalle, Greeley, and Eaton. In 2014 Bob moved from the family farm to a home in Greeley where he led an active life and where he resided for the rest of his life. Things that Bob loved include the Broncos (South Standers Forever!), the Rockies, the Nuggets, fishing and camping in the Colorado Rockies, stale chocolate long johns (with filling), playing cribbage with family and his close friend Joann Smith, Farmer’s Inn burritos, ice cream, and being a proud member of the LaSalle Historical Society. Mostly, he dearly loved farming and family. Bob is survived by his daughter, Debra Christopher; son, Bruce (Trish) Sandau; daughter-in-law Joyce Sandau; seven grandchildren, Kirk (Tracy) Sandau, Amber Sandau, Cody (Jordan) Sandau, Willy (Jordan) Sandau, Nicolas Christopher, Chris (Kiani) Moran, and Stevie Moran; and four great-grandchildren, Jakob Sandau, Grace Sandau, Alizah Moran, and Josi Cruz. He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris; son, Gary; grandson, Craig; brothers Myron and Willard; and sister, Margaret. He will be deeply missed.