Sandra Tomashek — Minnesota City

A service commemorating the life of Sandra Faye Tomashek, 57, of Minnesota City, will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church on Broadway in Winona on Thursday, July 11, 2013, at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Jim Berning officiating.

Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home, with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m., and a one-hour visitation before the service at the church on Thursday.

Sandra joined our heavenly Father on Sunday, July 7, 2013, after a seven-year battle with cancer.

Sandra was born in Decorah, Iowa, on Oct. 8, 1955, to Victor and Elizabeth (Klimesh) Shimek. The family moved to Winona, where Sandra attended St. Santislaus and Washington Kosiesko schools. Later, they moved to Harmony, where she completed her education, graduating from Harmony High School. Sandra enlisted in the United States Air Force. She received her basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas and later was stationed at Norton Air Force Base in San Bernadino, Calif. Sandra married William LeGere in 1975; they later divorced. In 1999, she married Edward Tomashek.

Sandra completed her nursing training in Indianapolis. She worked in nursing homes in Indiana, St. Charles, Charter House in Rochester, and retired from the Federal Medical Center in Rochester. After her retirement, she was employed at Winona Community Hospital until her health deteriorated.

Sandra enjoyed her six granddaughters, her hosta gardens, traveling to hosta conventions with her sister-in-law, Cindy Tomashek, catering at the Watopia Retriever Club for dog trials and attending WSU Warriors basketball and football events.

Sandra is survived by her loving husband and caregiver, Edward; her true salvation. Also surviving are her son, William (Kate) LeGere; daughter, Devon LeGere; granddaughters, Precious, Maria and Desarae Pritchett, Alexis Krage, and Lilliana and Charlotte LeGere; her parents, Victor and Elizabeth Shimek; sisters, Kathy (David) Olson of Lakeville, Cynthia (Richard) Kahn of Plainview, Sheila Shimek of Rochester; two aunts; nieces; nephews; and cousins.

She was preceded in death by maternal and paternal grandparents.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Team Vogel, which helps cancer patients with expenses, and funds research at Gunderson Clinic in La Crosse, Wis.

Macken Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences are welcome at mackenfuneralhome.com .