Sandy Kocka

Sandra R Kocka, age 59, of Willmar, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on November 1, 2013. Sandy passed away unexpectedly from cardiac arrest at Rice Memorial Hospital.


Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, November 8, at Calvary Lutheran Church in Willmar. Interment will be in North Dakota at a later date. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 7, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Sandy Kocka Business Scholarship Fund at the Willmar High School are preferred.

Sandy was born October 8, 1954 to Richard and Phyllis Johnson. She was raised in what she believed to be God's Country, North Dakota. On August 28, 1976, Sandy married Dave Kocka and they've since made Willmar, MN their home. One of her greatest joys in life was raising their children and watching them thrive as they married and had children of their own. Sandy was a business teacher at Willmar Senior High School until the very end and loved her students as an extraordinary teacher and friend. She was identified by music which surrounded her life.

Sandy's light will always shine brightly as she touched everyone around her with love. Her legacy is a wonderful tribute to our Heavenly Father. Sandy was a portrait of the Fruits of the Spirit. Many of her traits were compassion, gentleness, kindness, understanding, patience, wisdom, charm, sense of humor, positive outlook on life and her endless smiles. Sandy was beautiful both inside and out. Her earthly presence will be missed, but we rejoice in the fact that she is home.

Sandy is survived by her mother, Phyllis, Hannaford, ND; Dave (husband); her sons, Jay (Vanessa) Kocka, Valley City, ND, and Dana (Tia) Kocka, Park Rapids, MN; her five grandchildren Caleb, Kadie, Zaden, Azden, and Asher. Also surviving are her three siblings: Lynn (Sonja) Johnson, Hannaford, ND, Ken (Carol) Johnson, Grand Forks, ND, Laurie (Joe) Tweit, Anchorage, AK; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her Father, Richard Johnson.

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