Joretta Sandholdt

Joretta Sandholdt was a lifelong resident of the Sabula area, raising a family and enjoying spending time on the river. At the age of 88, Joretta passed away January 13, 2023 at home in the care of her loving family, with the support of Mercy Hospice. A Celebration of Life service will be held 6 pm Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Law Jones Funeral Home in Savanna. Visitation will be held 3 – 6 pm Tuesday, prior to the service at the funeral home. The family invites you to join them for a gathering at Manny’s following the service.

​Joretta was born July 21, 1934 on a farm near Green Island, Iowa, the daughter of Fred and Lovina (Barten) Behn. She fondly remembered helping her dad collect honey from beehives, and picking milkweeds that would fill pillows for the war effort during WWII. She attended Green Island Country School and is a 1952 graduate of the Miles High School. Her first job was a Switchboard Operator at the Savanna Army Depot, then for the city of Clinton.

On March 5, 1955, Joretta married Bert Sandholdt. They raised seven children and celebrated 44 years of marriage until Bert’s passing in 2000. The kids say, “She was our rock…she worked hard, made supper every day, taught us to clean the house and be good stewards with our money. She was caring, sweet, even-keeled, strong and loveable.”

​Joretta enjoyed working as a cook at the East Central School District. She had also worked at International Paper in Clinton and as a waitress in local restaurants. She was a volunteer for Mercy Hospital in Clinton for several years. Joretta was a member of Eastern Star and the Calvary Lutheran Church in Sabula. She was an avid reader, liked bowling and playing slots. Her favorite moments included spending time with her grandchildren, taking rides in the country and fishing on the Mississippi, even helping her son commercial fish, baiting lines and pulling nets up into the boat.

​Joretta will be dearly missed by her seven children, Brent (Paula) Sandholdt, Christie and (Curt) Kilburg, Barbara (Lonnie) Diercks, Kelly (Sid) Shaver, Kendra (Gordy) Cornilsen, Cy (Paula) Sandholdt and Keshia (Ryan) Lott; 20 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; a sister, Doris Evans; and four sisters-in-law, Caroline Behn, Sandra Curnutt, Gloria Sandholdt and Mary Sandholdt. Joretta is preceded in death by her husband Bert; a granddaughter, McKenzie Cornilsen; and two brothers, Wes and Arnie Behn.