Sondra Jean Pingrey, age 83, of Coon Rapids, IA, passed away on Monday, March 27, 2023 at Addington Place in Carroll.
A visitation will be held from 5 – 7 P.M. on Friday, March 31, 2023 at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Coon Rapids.
A graveside service will be held at 10 A.M. on Saturday, April 1, 2023 at the Orange Township Cemetery near Coon Rapids. Pall bearers will be her grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Coon Rapids and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com
Sondra was born on August 22, 1939 in Gagetown, Michigan. She was the daughter of Art and Mary (Lukasiak) Fischer. She grew up on the family’s dairy farm and graduated from Unionville High School. After graduation she attended St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Saginaw, MI, graduating with a degree as a Registered Nurse. She was employed at St. Mary’s Hospital in Saginaw. It was there she met Mark Pingrey who was stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base. On June 15, 1963, Sondra and Mark became husband and wife. After marriage the newlyweds decided they’d like to reside in a warmer climate and a transfer was requested to Eilson Air Force Base in Fairbanks, Alaska. They were in Fairbanks until 1965; Sondra working as a nurse and Mark serving his country. After Mark was discharged, the couple moved back to Coon Rapids where they made their home and raised a family. Sondra was continuously employed in the nursing field. She worked at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll for a time and eventually at Thomas Rest Haven. She was at Thomas Rest Haven until her retirement in 1999. Sondra spent her last 13 years there as Director of Nursing. She took great pride in her job and loved caring for residents. In retirement, she and Mark enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren and snow birding in Texas. Sondra enjoyed needlepoint, candle wicking, antiquing, crocheting, doing puzzles, playing cards and most of all spending time with her grandchildren.
Sondra is survived by her husband Mark of Coon Rapids; her children and their families: son Ken (Julie) Pingrey of Coon Rapids, daughter Beth (Royce) Denny of Springfield, MO, and son Keith (Kaley) Pingrey of Coon Rapids; three grandchildren: Will Pingrey, Levi Pingrey and Zoe Denny; two sisters: Joann Infante of Saginaw, MI and Jan (Frank) Weigle at Bridgeport, MI; a brother John (Becky) Fischer of Hernando, FL; and a sister-in-law Linda Long of Stillwater, MN.
She was preceded in death by her parents Art and Mary Fischer; her in-laws Wilson and Lucille Pingrey; and brothers-in-law: Aniello Infante, Ron Long; and son-in-law Ted Cobine.
Our family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Addington Place as well as Gentiva Hospice for their kindness and end of life care. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gentiva Hospice or the Carroll Animal Rescue.
