Patricia Lorraine Sands of Manchester

Manchester, Iowa

Our mom, Patricia Lorraine Sands, 85, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 9, 2026, after an extended battle with dementia. She is finally free.

Born on May 19, 1940, Patricia was the second oldest child of Lester and Louise (Wilson) Franks. As the oldest daughter, she spent her childhood raising her five younger siblings while looking up to her older brother. Born and raised in Manchester, she attended Manchester schools until marrying Robert E. Beam and starting a family. They soon separated.

Patricia later met and married Vernon A. Sands. Her family grew with the birth of four more children before the marriage dissolved. Patricia began working at the Good Neighbor Home in Manchester and would eventually go back to school and earn her CMA degree. She was extremely proud of this accomplishment and continued working at the Good Neighbor Home until the time of her retirement.

Our mom was someone we wish everyone could have known better. She was matter of fact, quick with wit and stubborn until the end. She was an avid reader of romance novels and enjoyed word search puzzles. She even discovered Sudoku in her later years. If she wasn’t dancing in the kitchen to Elvis, she could be found in her favorite rocking chair crocheting afghans while watching her favorite shows like Bonanza, Murder She Wrote and In the Heat of the Night. She loved black licorice, Snickers, Peanut Buster Parfaits, Fareway’s imitation crab salad, Pizza Ranch chicken, the colors red and blue, the smell of roses, and bus trips with her good friend Ginny. She loved to cook as well as bake and her grandchildren always knew she would have their favorites waiting just for them. She truly was a magician in the kitchen, turning what looked like empty cupboards into a delicious home cooked meal.

Patricia leaves behind a legacy of loved ones; most importantly her five surviving children, Mary (Mike) Meek, Gloria Sands, Vernon (Tina) Sands, Victoria Knutson, and Michelle (Larry Jr.) Beaman. As well as her grandchildren and great-grandchildren who were always the reason for the twinkle in her eyes. They include Aaron, Kevin, Olivia, Morgan, Christopher, Carter, Hallie, Charles, Avery, and Riley. Also surviving are three siblings, Laverne (Donna) Franks, Mike (Sandi) Franks and Charles (Paula) Franks; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Loved ones who left this earth before her were her parents; her beloved older brother, Harold; only sister, Gloria; oldest son, Keith; and brother, Randy.

Online condolences may be sent to www.leonard-mullerfh.com.

Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at Leonard-Muller Funeral Home in Manchester, Iowa.

Visitation: 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at Leonard-Muller Funeral Home in Manchester, Iowa.

Inurnment at a later date: Oakland Cemetery, Manchester, Iowa