Rena Floreen Sandfort, a life-long resident of Baldwin passed away on February 14, 2010 at Birchwood Apartments where she had been a resident for a little over two years.

She was born east of Baldwin on January 28, 1916. She attended Three Willow School through the 3^rd Grade and then attended the Hammond Christian School through the 8^th grade.  At 13 she began working in other people’s homes doing housework.  She met George Sandfort through their church and they were married on June 20, 1940.  They lived south of Baldwin until 1944 when they bought their farm on the west side of Baldwin.  Along with the efforts of working on the farm she also worked for VandeBerg Ace Hardware for over 25 years and for the Ben Franklin store for 4 years.  They sold the farm to the Baldwin School District in July of 1968.  It became the area known as King Field and Greenfield School.  Her husband, George passed away in January of 1984.

She volunteered for many years at the Care Center helping with Bingo on a regular basis.  She also helped with quilting projects there, and each of her Children, Grandchildren and Great-grandchildren received a “special quilt”.  She also crocheted many items and created Afghans for donations and gifts to many people.  She stated many times that “she just had to keep busy”.  “I can’t just sit still and do nothing” was heard repeatedly as she described her efforts in the community.  She also sold items she made at area craft sales for many years.

She also volunteered for several years at Treasures of the Heart in Baldwin.  Funds raised there help fund Adoray Home Care Network which provides home health care and hospice services to area residents.  She especially enjoyed the social atmosphere while working with the “girls”. 

During the summer she volunteered at the Baldwin Area Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, located in a replica of a Dutch windmill, connecting with her own heritage.  For several years she also “washed the streets” as part of the “Dutch Days” celebrations.  She was a dedicated member of the Ladies Auxiliary at both the Baldwin Area Medical Center and the Baldwin Care Center for at least 20 years.  She also contributed her time with the Ladies Aide Society of the Christian Reformed Church of which she was a member for her entire life.

According to the Wisconsin Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, where she was nominated for a state award in 2003 and was the regional winner.  “Rena not only enhances the quality of life for the residents of the Baldwin Care Center, but touches many other lives both inside the community and out through her volunteer efforts.  One of the qualities that makes Rena special to the many people she touches is her unassuming attitude.  She doesn’t think that what she does is special.  She just thinks it is something people should do.  She makes everyone she is around feel warm, comfortable and needed.  She never seemed to run out of energy and seemed to have more “pep” than folks half her age and seems able to accomplish twice as much.”

She also received Honorable Mention from the Saint Croix County Department of Aging in 2008 for her extensive volunteer efforts in her community.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father Alma and John VanSomeren, her step-father Henry Rens, and three brothers, Jim, Peter and Earl VanSomeren.  She is survived by two sisters, Rosella Fern, Vi Gordon, two brothers Leslie and Lester Rens, her sons Ronald (Joan) of Menomonie, James (Marge) of Hudson, and Randall (Joyce) of Wausau, eight grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.  No mother, grandmother or great-grandmother was ever more loved.

Her funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, February 17^th at the Christian Reformed Church of Baldwin, 893 Hwy 63, with Rev. Anson Veenstra officiating. Interment will follow in the Baldwin Cemetery with her grandchildren as active casketbearers and great grandchildren as honorary casketbearers. Visitations will be one hour prior to the service at church and on Tuesday, Feb. 16^th from 5 until 8:00 PM at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Baldwin, 1010 Newton St, 715-684-3434.