Esther Sand-Henderson

Esther Sand-Henderson, age 91, of Carroll and formerly of Manning, died on Friday, June 19, 2026, at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll. Private family services will be held at a later date at the Iowa Veterans’ Cemetery near Van Meter. Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Esther’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com. Esther Judith Sand was born on May 2,1935 in Poplar, Iowa, the daughter of Anders and Petrea (Pedersen) Sand. She was married on June 25, 1982, in Kastrup, Denmark with Charles Henderson. Esther Sand attended elementary and high school in Audubon County, Iowa. After graduation from high school, she worked several years at an insurance company before attending college. She graduated from the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 1964 with a B.S. in Elementary Education. In 1979 she received her M.A. in Elementary Reading from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. In 1964, Esther was initiated into the Eta Omega chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, an honor society in education and in 1979 she was initiated into the Theta chapter of Kappa Delta Pi. Esther taught school for several years in Nebraska before being accepted in 1968 to teaching position with the Department of Defense Dependent Schools in Germany. She taught at the American Forces Military Bases in Germany and Turkey. During her teaching career with the DODDS schools, she received Outstanding Teaching Award and the Sustained Superior Teaching Award. While teaching overseas, Esther had the opportunity to travel throughout Europe, the Middle East and Russia. She retired from teaching in 1995 and returned to the United States. She has enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S. and especially her trips to Hawaii with family. Esther enjoyed volunteering at the German American Foundation in Manning, Iowa and at the Genealogy Department of the Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn, Iowa. She also volunteered at the Elementary School in Manning, Iowa. She is a member of the National Association for Retired Federal Employees and is a life member of the National Education Association. Esther passed away peacefully with family at her side at St Anthony Hospital in Carroll, Iowa on June 19, 2026 at the age of 91. Esther is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Charles, siblings infant Harald Sand, Mildred Sullivan, Harold Sand, Evald Sand, Ejnar Sand, Leroy Sand, Ruth Crandall and Eleanor Magneson, Brother-in-laws Richard Crandall, Joseph Cerveny, Donald Sullivan and Sisters-in-laws Mary Sand and LaDonna Sand. Survivors include sister Elsie Cerveny, brother Kenneth Sand (Carolyn) Sand and sister-in-law Nancy Sand. Many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends including longtime friend Janet Smith.

Esther Sand-Henderson

May 2, 1935 - June 19, 2026