Sandra passed away Sunday, March 24, 2024, at her home in Fairmont. Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.

Sandra Athelene (Scheid) Petrowiak was born Nov. 2, 1939, at St. Joseph Hospital in Mankato, Minn., to Bernice and Fred Scheid of Delavan, Minn. She attended school in Delavan and graduated in 1957.

Shortly before moving to the Twin Cities to attend the Parisian Beauty School in downtown Minneapolis for hairdressing, she was introduced to her husband-to-be, Duane Petrowiak, by her sister, Maureen. Sandra soon decided to move to Fairmont to finish her schooling at De Lyles Academy so she could be closer to Duane.

She married the love of her life, Duane Petrowiak, on May 27, 1958, at Mater Delarosa Catholic Church in Delavan. They lived the first two years of married life on the abandoned farmstead of Duane’s grandparents with electricity being the only modern convenience. She always said that she would go to the moon with him.

They were blessed with three children, Brian, DeeAnn and Eileen. Sandra loved being a homemaker and mother. In 1961 they moved into Duane’s home just across the road as his parents built a house in East Chain. Sandra enjoyed learning and helping with the farming whenever and wherever she was needed. Sandra enjoyed movies and felt lucky she came of age during Hollywood’s Golden Era. But even more, she loved history and reading. It was these two loves that inspired Sandra and Duane to travel when possible. The family enjoyed many years of traveling together to several places in this country and across Europe. She and Duane also spent many years in Fort Myers, Florida during the winter months. Sandra was always proud of her Irish heritage. She would proudly display her green on St. Patrick’s Day. The day she married Duane she wondered how she would adapt to such a long Polish last name. But as she said later in life, “I could not be prouder to carry the name Petrowiak.” Sandra was a long-time member of Holy Family Catholic Church in East Chain, she enjoyed gardening, doll collecting, the friendships that developed in their card club and the friends from Delavan, springtime, and sewing. Family was the most important thing to Sandra, and she treasured the many fun times spent with her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Left to cherish her memory is her loving husband of 65 years, Duane Petrowiak; children,

Brian (Sue) Petrowiak of Fairmont, Minn., Dee Ann (Michael) Phillips of West Chicago, Ill., Eileen (Merle) Boesch of Fairmont; eight grandchildren, Jessica Petrowiak of Eden Prairie, Minn., Sara (Jeff) Rothmeier of Fairmont, Megan Petrowiak (and special friend Josh Vigstol) of EdenPrairie, Minn., Ashley Phillips of Denver, Colo., Shannon (Ben) Gray of West Chicago, Ill., Ryan (Christy) Phillips of Raleigh, N.C., Tyler (Payton) Boesch of Des Moines, Iowa, Nicole (Derek) Behrens of Sherburn, Minn.; seven great-grandchildren, Jaxyn, Aria and Brynlee Rothmeier, Conor, Hannah and Logan Gray, and Sawyer Behrens; as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

In addition to her parents, Bernice and Fred Scheid, Sandra was preceded in death by her

brother, La Mar Scheid, who died in battle during WWII in the Philippines at the age of 18; sisters and brothers-in-law, Ramona (Bob) Harris of Monticello, Minn., Maureen (Paul) Detert of Fairmont, Minn. www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net

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