Sandra (Sandy) Kay Leyda

BLOOMFIELD:  Sandra (Sandy) Kay Leyda, 64, of Colfax, Iowa and former Bloomfield, Iowa resident passed away at the Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa on January 27, 2009 after a courageous seven-year battle with breast cancer.

Born to Richard and Christine Kinney on June 29, 1944, Sandy grew up in Bloomfield, IA. She graduated from Davis County Community High School in 1962. She married her high school sweetheart James (Jim) Leyda on October 10, 1964. They lived in Oskaloosa, IA, from 1962-1970 and Centerville, IA from 1970-1975, after which they moved to Colfax, IA, where they made their home and raised their three sons.

Sandy spent her 28-year career serving Colfax High School and Colfax-Mingo High School as an administrative assistant. During her tenure, Sandy’s gentle nature and kind spirit reached thousands of students and a countless number of faculty and staff.

Sandy will be missed by her loving husband; three sons, Brian (Ann) Leyda of Sioux Falls, SD; Chris (Patty) Leyda of Pleasant Hill, MO; Troy (Rhonda) Leyda of Des Moines, IA; seven grandchildren, Neil (11), Mary Grace (9), Megan (8), Catherine (6), Wyatt (4), Benjamin (2) and Katelyn (1); father and mother-in-law, Ben and Helen Leyda of Bloomfield, IA; and an older brother, Phil Kinney of Minneapolis, MN.

Sandy was preceded in death by her parents; and 2 brothers, Dickie and Greg Kinney.

The family will be present from 4-7pm on Saturday, January 31, 2009 at the Wagler Funeral Home in Bloomfield, Iowa to greet friends.  Memorials have been established to the Colfax-Mingo Dollars for Scholars or the Des Moines Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure.