Sandra Jean Rolles

Sandra (Sandy) Jean Pingel was born October 16, 1943 in Cherokee, Iowa to Burdette and Lucille Niebuhr Pingel. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s United Church of Christ in Brooke Township in Peterson, Iowa. She attended Brooke Consolidated and Hayes Consolidated High Schools. She enjoyed sports and played basketball, softball, and was a cheerleader. This is where she met her high school sweetheart, Bill Rolles. In her senior year of high school, her family moved to Omaha and Sandy lived at the Lutheran Family Services home for girls where she gave birth to her and Bill’s first son, Gene when she was 17 years old. Sandy and Bill made the painful decision to give their son up for adoption. She went on to graduate from Benson High School, class of 1961. After high school, and passing her cosmetology boards, she moved down to Arkansas with her family where she apprenticed as a cosmetologist in Kimberling City, Missouri. Sandy and Bill had kept in touch and she eventually followed Bill to Albuquerque, New Mexico where they were married on November 18, 1962. They eventually moved back to Omaha where they had their daughter Kellie in 1965, son, Kylon in 1968 and daughter, Kym in 1971. In March of 1971, Sandy was instrumental in helping Bill start their family business, Greater Omaha Refrigeration. While being a stay- at -home mom with 3 kids, she also answered the company phone, dispatched calls, and helped with bookkeeping. Sandy and Bill had always wondered about their son Gene and decided to find him in 1993 when he was 32 years old. They have had a wonderful relationship ever since. Sandy and Bill were overly blessed to see their family grow. After reuniting with Gene, Sandy devoted her life to helping other birth mom’s and adoptee’s find their loved ones. She was instrumental in starting the Omaha Chapter of CUB (Concerned United Birthparent’s) where she held a support group for 24 years. She attended and helped at CUB conferences annually. This was a true passion of hers. She was always there to help teen girls, or anyone, who needed her help. She even took into her home two different pregnant teens to help them through their pregnancy for a brief period. Sandy and Bill have been members of St. Mark Lutheran Church for the past 59 years. They played on their mixed softball league. Sandy was the 3 rd baseman. They were also in the church’s couples-club. Sandy worked part-time and had her own cleaning business for 32 years. She cleaned for working women and small businesses. In her free time, she enjoyed taking rides with Bill in their IROC Convertible. Sandy loved music, especially rock and roll which was the license plate on their convertible. Her favorite was Elvis and the license plate on her car was N2ElVIS. Bill and Sandy would go every year to the Surf Ballroom in Clearlake, Iowa for the Winter Dance Party where Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper were killed in a plane crash after their February 2, 1959 performance. There they met friends from all over the world and would dress in their 50’s clothes, Sandy wearing her rolled up jeans, flared skirts and can can’s. Sandy would have the stars that sang at the concerts sign her saddle shoes. They would dance the night away. Sometimes staying up, even in their 70’s, till 4:00 in the morning. She and Bill would go yearly to Graceland in Memphis for Elvis week and meet up with friends, and 30,000 other people, to enjoy her favorite Elvis music. What Sandy enjoyed most of all was family get-togethers and spending time with Bill. Her family meant the world to her. She was very loving and caring. She loved spending time with her grandkids and helping out by watching them, taking them to and from school, or to their sporting events. She always wanted to help out in any way she could and was always there if one of them needed her. In the summers, the entire family could be in found in their pool. Some of the grandkids favorite memories are grandma making lunch and letting them eat outside by the pool. Sandy ‘s favorite vacations were in Florida. Her favorite areas were Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, and the Naples area of Florida. She enjoyed walking the beaches and looking for shells. During retirement, Sandy really enjoyed getting together with friends for breakfast or lunches. This meant a lot to her. She also enjoyed pedicures with her best friend Linda, their trips to the Open Door Mission to drop off donations and lunch at their favorite restaurant, Charleston’s. Sandy also volunteered during her retirement by cuddling the preemies and other babies in the NICU at Children’s Hospital and volunteering at the Omaha Police Department. Sandy passed away after a 4 and a half year courageous battle with endometrial cancer. Even through her years with cancer, Sandy was still a caretaker to her family and her husband Bill, with his cancer. Up till the very end Sandy still had a sense of humor, a smile and was still trying to fight. She will always be remembered by her family for the strength and grace she had during this difficult battle. Sandy was preceded in death by her parents Burdette and Lucille Pingel, her brother Dennis Pingel, in-laws, William and Ruby Rolles, her brother-in-law Larry Rolles. Sandy is survived by her loving husband Bill of 61 years. Her Son Gene (Jerri), daughter Kellie, son Kylon (Vincy), daughter Kym, grandkids Eric Neemann, Adam Neemann (Katie), Luke Neemann, Jordyn Rolles (Trevor), Sydney Rolles, Kylon Rolles, Jordan Abraham (Tyler), Josie Abraham, great grandchild, Bellamy Beekley. her brother Warren Pingel (Chris), sister-in-law Nancy Pingel, sister-in-law, Deanne Rolles, brother-in-law, Terry Rolles (Karen), sister-in-law, Lisa Rolles, nieces Beth, Mindee, Marisa, Joy and Katie. Nephews Shannon, Sean, Todd, Chad and many other relatives and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family to be designated to the UNMC Gynecology Cancer Research Fund and St. Mark Lutheran Church (1821 N 90th St, Omaha, NE 68114).

Sandra Jean Rolles

October 16, 1943 - August 8, 2024