Richard Allen Sands

Richard Sands, 67 of Malvern, IA, passed away on March 11, 2019 at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha. Memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at the Loess Hills Funeral Home in Malvern. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Memorials: At the request of the family, in lieu of flowers, memorials are to the Malvern Volunteer Rescue Richard Allen Sands was born on September 15, 1951 in Maryville, Missouri, the son of Edward Gene and Delsie Faye (Brown) Sands. His family moved to Malvern, Iowa when Richard was in the 7th grade. He graduated from the Malvern Community High School with the Class of 1971. Richard worked for the Malvern School District as an elementary school custodian and bus driver for 25+ years. He also worked part-time at Pizza Hut in Glenwood, Iowa. After leaving the school, Richard worked at Walmart in Bellevue, Nebraska when it first opened. Richard then worked at the Glenwood Resource Center until his retirement. Richard and Diane Marie Miller, from Sidney, Iowa, a teacher at Chantry Elementary, were married on December 17, 1994 in Sidney and made their home in Malvern. Richard enjoyed driving bus for, and ...[more]

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ending, the school sports events, especially football, for Malvern. He twice received the "Malvern Fan of the Year" award. Richard was also a huge fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, enjoyed camping and watching WWF and WWE wrestling. Throughout their marriage, Richard and Diane, raised their fur babies, Coke, Heidi, Ladi, Callie, Sammy Jo, and most currently, Tucker. Richard endured health issues through his years but greeted each day with positive thoughts and prayers. Richard passed away on March 11, 2019 at the Nebraska Med Center in Omaha, at the age of 67 years, 5 months, and 26 days. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Delsie; sister Alice Sands; brother-in-law Darwin Dhone; and father-in-law Fred Miller. Richard is survived by his best friend and loving wife of 24 years, Diane Sands of Malvern; daughter Charity Wyant of Omaha, NE; siblings, Edward Sands and wife Kathy of Madrid, IA, Michael Sands and wife Susan of Kansas City, MO, Debbie Dhone of Kearney, MO, and Byron Sands and wife Cindy of Glenwood; mother-in-law Marilyn Miller of Sidney; brother-in-law Dennis Miller and wife Marian of Watertown, WI; sister-in-law Denise Brehmer of Nebraska City, NE; nieces and nephews; and a host of friends. Richard will be remembered always having a smile for everyone while working at Chantry. "A gentle and kind soul", "So patient with all the school kids through the years", "Hardworking and took pride in his job", "He had such a great laugh", "Always took time to say hello", "Cared so much for the kids", "Best bus driver", "Loudest at football games", "Kick ball king at recess" and best of all "Richard was as much of a memory of my childhood as Sesame Street and Star Wars. He was an example to all us kids at school of hard work and kindness" were just a few of the many memories shared about Richard. He was a good friend, loved by so many, and will be truly missed.