Mary Louise Sanford

Mary Louise Sanford, 83, went to her heavenly home on Tuesday, October 30, 2012. The daughter of Martin and Emma (Ehlers) Scharf, Mary was born on February 6, 1929. She attended St. Paul Lutheran School and graduated from Fort Dodge High School in 1947. She was united in marriage to Adrian Sanford on June 4, 1950 at St. Paul Lutheran Church. She was employed at Gates Department Store, Horns, Friendship Haven and St. Paul Lutheran School. Mary is survived by her husband Adrian; 9 children, Jim of Fort Dodge, Jon (Tamy) of Seneca, SC, Joel (Nelly) Fort Collins, CO, Jeff (fiancé Wanda) of Fort Dodge, Jay (Shelley) of Des Moines, IA, Julianne of Fort Dodge, Jerome (Mimi) of Des Moines, IA, Jill (Kurt) Irving of Fort Dodge and Jane of Elizabethtown, KY; her brother Allan (Sandy) of Arvada, CO. She was blessed with 25 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; 1 niece and 1 nephew. She was preceded in death by her parents; infant brother Walter and great-granddaughter Madison Irving. Mary was a devoted member of St. Paul Lutheran Church. She was a caring and compassionate Christian woman. She will be missed by many. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left to St. Paul Lutheran Sch...[more]

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ol Tuition Assistance Fund. A special thanks to the Villa Care Center and Hospice for their comfort and care. The funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, November 3, 2012 at St. Paul Lutheran Church with burial following at North Lawn Cemetery. The visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday at Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services.