Sandra Janine (Dunmore) Stowe died Thursday, March 21, 2024 at her home after a long battle with cancer. Per her wishes she will be cremated and there will be no services. The Pape Funeral Home, Clinton is assisting the family. A celebration of life gathering will be held at a later date.
Sandy was born on October 19, 1960 in Clinton, Iowa, the daughter of Jack and Joan (Carleton) Dunmore. She attended St. Patrick’s elementary school, Washington Junior High and Clinton High School graduating in 1979. She then studied interior design at Scott Community College in Bettendorf, Iowa. Sandy later became a loan underwriter at various banks and mortgages. Sandy was a gifted artist. She was particularly exceptional in drawing caricatures and cartoon type drawings. She received a job from a local statue business, painting beautiful statues that she often gifted to her friends and family. Her artistic ability also showed itself in the way she beautifully decorated every home she owned. Sandy loved to travel and explore different areas, and was a bit of a “wanderer” never settling long in one place. Over the years she lived in Las Vegas, NV; Madison, WI; Salt Lake City, UT; Solvang, CA; Sacramento, CA; Gorham and Buxton, ME, Blue Grass, IA and finally her home on the river in Port Byron, IL. Sandy loved animals and usually owned several dogs and cats at a time. She loved watching football, and followed both the Packers and the 49ers. For college football she followed both the Wisconsin Badgers and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Sandy was also proud of the fact that she very early predicted the Cubs would win the World Series in 2016.
Family and friends were the most important thing to Sandy. She hosted numerous parties and gathering. Her Port Byron river house was the hub of many family get togethers for Tugfest, Fourth of July, Christmas Eve, etc. Her Halloween parties were legendary and she always worked hard to make sure everyone had a great time. Even facing many health issues such as Lupus, Crohns Disease and later Cancer, Sandy kept a positive attitude and an incredible sense of humor. She will be sorely missed by so many.
Sandy is survived by her husband, Byron, Port Byron, Il, step daughter Courtney (Eric) Vaughan, and step son Jeremy Stowe, and mother in law Bonnie Stowe all of Sacramento, CA; grand-daughter, Everly and grandson Christopher; brothers Bill Dunmore of Iowa City, IA and Tom (Sandy) Dunmore of Freeport, IL; sisters Helen (Tony) Gonzales, Moline, IL, and Michelle Dunmore, Camanche, IA and numerous nieces and nephews whom she loved very much. Sandy was preceded in death by both of her parents, brothers John and Mark and her father in law Guy Stowe.