Sandra L. Schwefel Massie

Sandra Lee Schwefel Massie, born on May 7, 1941, passed away at her home from cancer on November 3, 2024.

Sandra was born in Campbellsport, Wisconsin to Adelia “Dolly” Sabish and Paul Sabish, spending her childhood in Lomira. She was very bright, skipping 1^st grade and graduating from the St. Agnes School of Nursing.

She was married to her high school sweetheart, James Schwefel, from 1961 until his death in 1995. Sandra worked as a public health nurse, and at the Beaver Dam Community Hospital. She spent a decade working as the occupational health nurse for Metalfab Inc. enabling her to be home in the afternoon for her children. Later she was the school nurse for Wayland Academy. She also taught medical terminology at MPTC for years.

Always a lifelong learner, Sandra obtained her MS in social work at UW Madison in 1987. She worked as head nurse for Meriter Hospital psychiatric unit. In 1993, she founded Affiliated Counseling Center in Beaver Dam. She was passionate about learning and counseling those suffering from significant trauma.  Clinic staff and her clients thought the world of her.

Sandra married Daniel Massie in 2004. Her clients were second only to her devotion to her husband and grandchildren. Sandra had a deep and abiding faith and was a member of St. Katharine Drexel and Annunciation churches. She loved blossoming flowers and trees, watching old movies, traveling, and beating her husband at Sequence. She will be remembered for her devotion to her grandchildren, watching them on Wednesdays better known as “Nana Day” and showing up for frequent visits with her joyful smile, a tender hug, and a “Nana Banana Bag” filled with toys.

Sandra was preceded in death by her parents (Adelia and Paul Sabish), her brother, Richard Sabish and her nephew, Oscar Paul “Opy” Schwefel IV.

Along with her husband Dan, she is survived by her children, Lisa Derr (Mike), Scott Schwefel (Linda) and Maria Johnson, as well as her grandchildren Nicholas Derr, Alex Derr (fiancé Jacob), Paul “PJ” Derr, McKenzie Nagle (Connor), Connor Schwefel (Maddy), Scottie Schwefel (fiancé Tucker), Parker Johnson, Hailey Johnson, her great-grandchildren, Sutton and Hudson Nagle, as well as nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held at Annunciation Catholic Church in Fox Lake on Friday, November 8, 2024 from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the funeral Mass at 1 p.m. Fr. John Radetski will officiate. A reception for family and friends will follow the Mass at Old Hickory Golf Club in Beaver Dam. Inurnment will take place at Okeeg Cemetery, township of Elba at a later date.

Memorials in Sandra’s name may be directed to PAVE of Beaver Dam or to Hope House of Milwaukee.