Sandy Joanne Ricke

Sandy Joanne Ricke was born on November 5, 1969 in Kiowa, Kansas, daughter of Kenneth and Karol (Theis) Ricke.  While she attended Sharon schools until the closing, she graduated from Attica High School with the class of 1988.  She attended college at Hutchinson Community College and Emporia State University School of Business.

On December 21, 1995, Sandy welcomed her son Jordan, who was her pride and joy.  They made their home in Sharon, Kansas. They spent many hours together cheering on their favorite sports teams, the Chiefs, Jayhawks and Royals.  A couple years ago, Jordan wrote a letter to a Royals TV Announcer, Rex Hudler, celebrating his mother’s brave battle with cancer.  Rex invited them to meet him prior to a game in Kansas City. The two were able to take photos with him and discuss their love for Royals baseball.

Sandy loved numbers and accounting.  She worked various jobs in this field at Medicine Lodge Hospital, Pioneer Electric, Eck Agency and finally joining her son at Cox Machine.  Unfortunately, her work years were cut short in 2018 when she was diagnosed with colon cancer, which would be her full-time battle for next six years.  Through all the ups and downs, she still had a great sense of humor and amazing strength.   She has been said by many to be the bravest and strongest person they have ever met.

Her greatest loves were her family and friends.  Sandy and her seven siblings grew up very close, in fact, so close that many of them went to college at Emporia and had a second home and lived together throughout school.  She was also always a tremendous supporter of all of her nieces and nephews, attending many ballgames, track meets, birthday parties and weddings.   She loved the annual Christmas cookie decorating the last several years with her sisters and nieces and nephews as well.  Sandy easily made friends through the years with her famous smile and cherished laugh. She had many local friends, which she treasured so much, that would visit her often and definitely kept her entertained.

More of her favorite things were: her catholic faith and helping with the church as Eucharistic Minister, a member of Altar Society and most recently the children’s Catholic Religious Education Director; the color red; her huge ceramic cardinal collection, which she recently shared with family and friends; and baking and decorating cakes.  She would make and decorate as many as eight cakes to be delivered in a weekend, only to start the process over again the next week.  She loved the freedom to create her own designs and the ability to make kids and families happy when they opened the box.  Lastly, her competitive spirit at trying to catch the bridal bouquet at every wedding, which she had no problem beating her friends or even nieces and taking home that trophy.

After two months of wonderful hospice care, Sandy passed away peacefully on March 6, 2024 at her home at the age of 54. She was preceded in death by her mother, Karol.  She will be deeply missed by her son, Jordan; father, Kenneth Ricke; brothers, Bart (Ingrid) Ricke, Cunningham, Bret (Cheri) Ricke, Attica, Brice (Lynette) Ricke, Garden Plain and Brock (Katie) Ricke, Wichita; sisters, Lisa (Todd) Fischer, Sharon, Kara (Rick) Nelson, Attica and Karma (Lyle) Redgate, Attica; nephews and nieces, and many aunts, uncles and cousins from both the Theis and Ricke families.

Service for Sandy will be Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Sharon.  Burial will follow at St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery near Sharon with arrangements by Lanman Funeral Home, Inc. of Kiowa. Rosary will be at St Boniface Catholic Church in Sharon on Tuesday March 12, 2024 at 7:00 p. m.    Viewing will be Tuesday, at the funeral home from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. www.lanmanfuneralhome.com  Facebook: Lanman Funeral Home Inc. 

Memorials in memory of Sandy may be made to the Cancer Center of Kansas Pratt and can be sent in care of Lanman Funeral Home, PO Box 42, Kiowa, KS 67070.