Earl Dean Sandry, 87, of Oneida, Illinois, died peacefully, Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at 5:25 p.m. at OSF St. Mary Medical Center, Galesburg, Illinois, with his family by his side.

Earl was born August 21, 1938, in Viking, Minnesota, the son of Bert Rebne and Martha Ellen (Hill) Sandry. Earl graduated from Fosston High School in Fosston, MN and went on to attend Prairie Bible Institute in Three Rivers, Alberta, Canada from 1956 to 1958. He then attended Oak Hills Christian College in Bemidji, MN in 1959. On December 20, 1960, Earl enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard. He served in Minnesota until 1963 when he transferred to the Illinois National Guard. Earl was honorably discharged on February 10, 1967. During that time Earl married Joanne Clifford on March 14, 1964 at the Presbyterian Church in Oneida, Illinois.

Earl is survived by his wife of 62 years, Joanne of Oneida, Illinois; two nephews, Andrew (Katie) Adams of Chicago, Illinois and Damon (Beth) Shea of Oneida, Illinois; three nieces, Susan (John) Holtrup of Elmhurst, Illinois, Margot (Mike) Swienton of Berthoud, Colorado, and Martha Shea of Galesburg; one brother, Robert Sandry of Ocala, Florida; one sister, Helen Shea of Wataga, Illinois; and a sister-in-law, Carlene Sandry of Galesburg. Earl is also survived by his seven great nieces and nephews, Katie (Jason) Schlueter, Hannah Clark, Kevin (Missy) Holtrup, Brandon (Emily) Holtrup, Max (Kailey) Swienton, Mallory Shea, and Brady Shea; and his five great great nieces and nephews, Violet and Henry Schlueter, Teagan, Eleana, and Brecken Holtrup. Along with his parents, Earl was preceded in death by five brothers, Alfred, John, Merle, Verne, and Harry.

Earl worked in maintenance for the Woodhull Co-Op from 1975 until his retirement in 2017. In 1979 Earl joined the Oneida Fire Department where he would eventually become Fire Chief. He retired from AOW Fire in 2004. Earl carried his EMT License for over 20 years. While on the fire department, Earl became active with the youth burn camp in Illinois (Camp I am ME). He was active assisting in taking youth to camp every summer for many years.

Earl spent many years as a member of the Oneida Lions Club where he oversaw the youth baseball league for 13 years. Aside from being dedicated to his work, Earl loved to spend time working in his shop and was proficient in all tools and was an accomplished welder. He served 42 years on the Gregg Memorial Library Board in Oneida. Earl was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need and would do anything for anyone.

Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 5, 2026 at Watson Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, Galesburg. Funeral services will follow at 10:30 a.m. Pastor David Pyell will officiate. Burial with military honors will follow at Oneida Cemetery, Oneida, Illinois. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Earl to Camp I Am Me or the Galesburg Rescue Mission. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.