Sandra Fenske

June 14, 1941 - November 17, 2020

FENSKE, Sandra Sandra Fenske 79, of Goleta, passed away on November 17, 2020 at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. “Sandy” as she was known to her family and friends was born Sandra Marett Nelson in Des Moines, Iowa to the late George and Arlene Nelson on June 14, 1941. The family moved to Santa Barbara in 1943 and Sandy graduated from Santa Barbara High School class of ‘59 and attended Knapp College of Nursing. In 1960 she married the late Paul Fenske and they lived most of their married life in Santa Barbara and Goleta. In 1977 they moved to Minnesota to try their hand at farming and returned to Santa Barbara in 1985 and lived there until their deaths. Sandy is survived by her three children Jeff, Tim and Rob. She is also survived by seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Sandy was preceded in death by her husband Paul in 2015 and by her two sisters Susan Nelson Marquardt of Santa Barbara and Sally Nelson Henderson of Stanton, Nebraska. In the early years of their family Sandy worked as a devoted stay-at-home mom and in 1969 she and other young parents were instrumental in getting Cub Scouts going at the newly built Brandon School in Goleta. She remained active in Cub Scouts for many years. Later Sandy worked in the State Unemployment office in Santa Barbara and retired as a Disability Specialist in that office in 2005 after more than twenty years of service. Sandy was a woman of many interests and talents. She had a lifelong love of sewing and was accomplished in quilting. She was a talented baker and cake decorator and a creator of miniatures. She also enjoyed photography. She was an avid reader and had a lifelong love of learning. She loved the outdoors including camping, fishing and off-roading. Sandy and Paul spent their summers on their small ranch in Colorado and much of their time exploring the western U.S. in their RV with Jeep in tow. Sandy was extremely proud of her family and as her health declined what she missed the most was time with family and exploring our beautiful country with Paul. We’ll miss you Mom. Funeral services are pending due to COVID restrictions.