Steve was a 1973 graduate of Waukesha South High School. He received his BS in math from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1977 and his MS in computer information systems from Boston University. Steve received his commission in August 1978 after graduating from Officer Training School. After completing the Basic Communications Officer Course and Communications-Computer Programming Course at Keesler AFB, MS, in August 1979, Steve was assigned as a computer programmer at Tinker AFB, OK, where he met his wife, Donna.
They were married on June 20, 1981, and moved to Sembach Germany in 1984, shortly after the birth of their first child, Stephanie. In 1987, they moved to MacDill AFB, FL after the birth of their second child, Kyle. The family moved to Belleville, IL, next where Steve was stationed at AMC, SAFB. LTC Sandman assumed duties as commander, PACAF Computer Systems Squadron at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii in 1994. Returning to SAFB in August 1996, Steve and Donna made their home in Shiloh for 28 years. LTC Sandman’s military decorations and awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, and the Joint Service Achievement Medal. He also received a Certificate of Appreciation for Exceptionally Outstanding Performance as an Intelligence Officer while serving in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield. Steve retired from the Air Force in May 2000, and then worked for AT&T for 16 years.
Steve was a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan, he also enjoyed most sports, traveling, and listening to a variety of music. He especially liked the Beatles and could often be heard sitting at his computer, harmonizing or whistling to songs. During his retirement, Steve enjoyed biking, traveling (especially cruising), many Las Vegas trips, going to wineries, St. Louis Cardinal games, and dining out with special friends Mike and Lisa Pogue and Dave and Susie Hauck.
Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Robert B. and Mildred (Sell) Sandman; and a nephew, Andy Sandman.
Steve is survived by his wife, Donna (Heinen) Sandman; his daughter, Stephanie Dawn Sandman (Lisa Sipe) of Chicago, IL; and son, Kyle Steven Sandman of O’Fallon, IL; his sister, Sherry Tollefson (Dennis) of Waukesha, WI; and brother, Robert Sandman (Carrie) of Spirit Lake, IA; a brother-in-law, Paul Heinen (Lori) of Yukon, OK, and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lymphoma Research Foundation or Wounded Warrior Project. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 10 a.m. to 12 noon Monday, May 6, 2024, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL.
A funeral procession will leave at 12:15 p.m. for a 1 p.m. burial with full military honors at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, MO.