Sandra Lee McCormack

Life Legacy of Sandra Lee (Pries) McCormack 

Sandra Lee Pries was born to parents Elmer and Viola (Leake) Pries on November 29, 1938. She departed this earthly life on Monday, September 11, 2023, at the age of 84.

Sandy grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and graduated from Kelvyn Park High School, Class of 1956.  Sandra met the love of her life, James McCormack, on a blind date and the rest was history. Sandy and Jim married March 21, 1956 while Sandy was finishing high school as Jim was called to report to duty. They kept their marriage a secret in Chicago so that Sandy could complete high school while her husband trained to be an army medic at Fort Sam Houston before being deployed. Upon graduation, Sandy joined Jim at Landstuhl Army Medical Center in Germany by fall and they were able to do extensive traveling. Their first son, James, was born in the fall of 1957 in Germany and they soon returned stateside. Daniel, Timothy, and Karynn soon followed to keep the McCormack family tree growing.

Sandra’s time was filled with family. Relatives fondly remember the potluck suppers, many pet poodles, swimming adventures, and softball games at Jim & Sandy’s home built on the far edge of Jasper and Charlotte’s farmland in Salem, Wisconsin. Sandy loved helping organize reunions and was known for maintaining a faithful list of all important dates and family addresses. While family was her primary focus, Sandy took great pride in her professional endeavors. She worked for Doctors Park Labs in Kenosha, WI, was elected as the town clerk for Salem Township, and supported her husband’s expanding tax practice for several decades. Sandy was a tireless volunteer serving as a dedicated leader for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.  She also shared her talents for over 50 years as a Kenosha County 4-H Knitting and Crocheting Project Leader.

Sandy battled many illnesses but what she could not do with her legs she poured into her hands. She was an active member in the Kenosha County Homemakers Extension Club and the Boone County Extension Homemakers Club in Indiana. She loved the activities and classes that the Boone County Senior Services offered and made many friends through their outreach programs. If you had the opportunity to be Sandy’s friend, you likely have something Sandy created to decorate or use in your home. Sandy believed in devoting one’s God given talents to help others and would regularly knit or tie blankets, hats and bibs for others in need.

Sandy’s legacy lives on through her surviving loved ones: Dr. James (Diane) McCormack of Lake Havasu City, AZ, Daniel (Angelika) McCormack of Tacoma, WA, Timothy McCormack of Lebanon, IN and Karynn (Paul) Seppel also of Lebanon, IN. Sandy’s pride overflows with 12 grandchildren, Kathryn McCormack, Dr. Carolyn (Michael) Ellis, Captain Moira McCormack, Nissa McCormack, Dr. Rachel Cumberbatch (Lee Murtha), Johanna Seppel, Bailey (Clayton) Bibb, Isaac Seppel and Dominick Seppel.  She currently has one great grandson Neil Murtha who thought Great Grandma had the coolest cane.  Sandy is survived by her siblings, Monica Unrath, Grace Merrill, Charles McCormack, Bob (Sharon) McCormack, Barb and Carl Pawlak and many dear nieces, nephews, cousins and adopted family: Sonia (Heric) Torres originally from El Salvador, Jimmy Torres and Kelly (Fernando) Gonzales of Houston, TX, and Luis Catalan of Guatemala City.

She was preceded in death by her parents, beloved husband Jim and one grandson, Simon Seppel as well as many beloved family and friends who have impacted her life. We can only imagine the many loved ones awaiting her heavenly reunion.

A celebration of life ceremony will be Saturday, September 23rd at 1:00 pm at Salem United Methodist Church, 25130 85th St., Salem, WI 53168, https://www.salemflamesofgrace.com/. You are invited to join us for a meal at the church following the service. In lieu of flowers the family asks to honor Sandy by donating to either the Boone County Extension Homemakers, c/o Boone County 4-H Fairgrounds, Extension Office, 1300 E 100 S, Lebanon, IN 46052, https://extension.purdue.edu/county/boone/ or the Boone County Senior Services, 515 Crown Pointe Drive, Lebanon, IN 46052,  https://www.booneseniors.org/donate in her name.

We praise God for blessing us with Sandra and rejoice that she is free from pain and able to dance and knit in the full presence of the Lord. Her arrangements were entrusted to Simplicity Funeral and Cremation Care, Zionsville Chapel.