Sandra S. Prendergast

Sandra S. Prendergast, 80, of Newton, died Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center. A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newton. The family will greet friends from 10-11 a.m., Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Newton Community Theatre or Sacred Heart Catholic Church can be left at the church on the day of the service or at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Newton.

Sandy, the daughter of William and Edith (Newport) Garrett, was born March 30, 1945, in Oskaloosa. She graduated from Oskaloosa High School and then attended Drake University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education degree, and would later return to obtain her Master of Arts in Education. Sandy moved to Newton in 1969 after accepting a job as the orchestra director at Berg Middle School. She then switched to teaching vocal music and elementary music at various schools in the Newton school district, where she was fondly known as “Mrs. P.” Sandy was the founder of Cardinal Capers, the variety show that is held at Berg Middle School every year. Sandy was united in marriage with William Paul Prendergast on July 2, 1979, in Newton.

Sandy retired in 2000 after 33 years as an educator. She was a passionate educator who invested in both her students and her colleagues. She was a member of the NCEA, ISEA, and NEA. She was also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, a society for female educators and the Jasper County Retired School Personnel. Sandy was an active member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where she was a longtime member of the choir. She was also a part of the Newton Community Theatre for several years as both a performer and a director. Sandy also enjoyed cards—especially bridge, trips to the casino, playing Scrabble and other games, cheering for the Iowa Hawkeyes, watching sprint car racing in Knoxville, and working at the local election polls. She had sung the national anthem on several occasions at the racetrack in Oskaloosa. Sandy enjoyed cooking—to the extent that her grandchildren referred to her as “the lady with the food.” Time spent with her grandchildren and her family was the most important thing to Sandy.

Sandy is survived by her son, Curran Prendergast of Kirksville, MO; her stepchildren: JoAnne (Doug) Price of Newton, Richard (Emily) Prendergast of St. Joseph, MO, Paula Zickmond of Newton, Shawn Prendergast of Newton, and Pat (Rhonda) Prendergast of Newton; 2 grandchildren; 12 step grandchildren; 11 step great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews, including Paula Criss and Debbie Abel. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 36 years, W. Paul Prendergast; her sister, Shirley Criss; and half-brother, William Garrett, Jr.