Sandy was born November 27, 1948 in Fremont, Nebraska to Edith Gustafson Hanson and Lyle L. Hanson. She graduated in 1967 from Mead Public High School. Following graduation she attended and graduated from Midland Lutheran College, (Fremont, NE) and from Immanuel Hospital School of Nursing, Omaha, Nebraska. She married Paul G. Bookmeyer on August 8, 1970 at Alma Lutheran Church in Mead, Nebraska. Sandy worked as a Registered Nurse for several years at Immanuel Hospital before becoming a stay at home mother for their two sons.
Sandy was active in P.T.A. (Parent Teacher Association) at the local and state levels, with her Immanuel Nursing Alumni Association Board and served on various committees at several Lutheran churches in Omaha and Fremont, Nebraska. She was pleased to serve as part of a resettlement committee for a Laotian family at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran church and also volunteered with local and statewide P.R.I.D.E. organizations.
In 1999, Sandy graduated from Western Illinois University with her Masters in Counseling degree. Following graduation, she worked as a therapist at the Gannon Center in Clinton, Iowa, before moving to Lee's Summit, Missouri with her family. After establishing licensure in Missouri, she began her own private therapy practice. Sandy was passionate about helping her client's problem solve and realize their best lives. She focused on treating adults with traumas, both large and small, using EMDR and Sensorimotor Psychotherapies. Sandy was also instrumental in promoting and facilitating numerous clinical trauma trainings in the Kansas City area, thus helping to educate many other therapists in the treatment of trauma.
Sandy and her husband, Paul G. Bookmeyer, have two sons, Eric Bookmeyer and Marc Bookmeyer. As the children grew, the family enjoyed traveling to Custer State Park in South Dakota, Montana, Arizona, Michigan and Florida. During their retirement. Sandy and Paul enjoyed traveling to visit family in Sweden and in Germany, as well as various trips to Iceland, Arizona, California, Washington, New York, Florida and Hawaii. Sandy loved spending time with her family and cherished precious moments with them. In addition, she treasured her many friendships - -her aunts and uncles, her cousins, her Immanuel Nursing classmates, and her EMDR, Sensorimotor and the Martin Luther Lutheran church communities.
Sandy was a life-long faithful Lutheran and current member of Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Lee's Summit, MO. She believed fervently in "living her faith" and sharing her love and compassion with others in her work and in her family life. She also believed firmly in the importance of "standing up" for what is right and just, even when it is uncomfortable to do so. And she believed in the "power of one person" to effect change in our world! Besides her loving family, her legacy of choice would be to promote healing of trauma and to stand up for social justice issues.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Edith (Gustafson) Hanson and Lyle Hanson.
Sandra (Sandy) K. Hanson Bookmeyer is survived by her loving husband, Paul Bookmeyer, of Lee's Summit, Missouri, sons, Eric Bookmeyer (Erin) and grandchildren, Anders and Elsa of Mason City, Iowa, Marc Bookmeyer (Rachel) of Lawrence, Kansas, sister, Karen Carstensen (Dean) and nephew, Tim Carstensen of Fremont and niece, Wendy (Phillip) Sanders of Topeka, Kansas, in addition to her dear Aunt Doris Schuelke and Uncle Fred Retzlaff and a host of beloved cousins in the United States and in Sweden.
Memorials: Alma Lutheran Church, Mead, Nebraska; Martin Luther Lutheran Church, Lee's Summit, Missouri; American Cancer Society; EMDR Research; and Daphneyland Basset Rescue, Apton, California.
Visitation will be held at Alma Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mead on Friday, July 13, 2018 beginning at 10am. A memorial service will follow at 11am with the Revs. Hans and Christyn Koschmann officiating. Lunch will be served following the service.
Online guestbook at www.Ludvigsenmortuary.com
Condolences(5)
Ken & Carol Grenier
Moline, IL Monday, July 9, 2018 PaulWe're so sorry to hear of Sandy's passing she was always a joy to visit with during our time at the Mount. We remember her excitement after receiving her Masters degree in counseling. We'll keep Sandy, you, and your family in our prayers.
Ken & Carol
Mike and Julie Benge
Waldorf, MD Sunday, July 8, 2018 Paul, we were so glad you and Sandy took the time to meet us in October. I had hoped for more visits with her but that will have to wait now. We are praying for you and the family.Dennis&DonnaWashburn
Lincoln, NE Saturday, July 7, 2018 Our hearts go out to you and your family Paul. Such a tragic loss. Sandy and I were really close growing up and getting reconnected after all these years had been a true joy. I will miss our LONG messages back and forth. Please know our thoughts and prayers will be with you.Jeanette (Kuss)Groppe
Scribner, NE Saturday, July 7, 2018 Paul, I am sure you will not remember me but we lived in Winslow for a short time before moving to Hooper and then to Scribner. My aunt and uncle Alfred and Lottie Giesler lived next door to you and I had two sets of aunts and uncles in town so visited and stayed for part of the summer.I wanted to say how sorry I am at the loss of your wife. She sounds like she was a very nice lady. I wish I would have known her. I know your parents would have been proud of her and of you. I know from reading her obituary that will be joy in the future when you meet again. God does reward his faithful.
I know you have lots of wonderful memories. I pray you dwell on those. God bless you and your family.
Jeanette (Kuss) Groppe
PATRICIA A NUN
Tekamah, NE Saturday, July 7, 2018 A loss for us all. We need to have an ice cream cone (Zesto) to celebrate Sandy's life of caring.