Sandra J. Keast

Sandra Jean “Sandy” Keast age 75 of Madison, WI passed away October 25, 2025. Sandy is survived by her son Todd Willis Keast; her sister Patricia Splett; her grandchildren Emma and Evan Overby and many other friends and relatives. She also leaves behind her daily companion her “old lady kitty cat” Destiny. Sandy was preceded in death by her sister Judy Bartle (nee Nelson); her daughter Julie Overby (nee Keast); her longtime partner Joe Yanochik; her parents, Eugene Nelson; Gerald and Betty Satrum.

I would like to tell you Sandy passed peacefully into the ethers but you know Sandy, so you know she did death on her own timeline and only succumbed after she knew she was certain to lose the fight. Sandy grew up running the streets of the near east side. She attended Madison East High School and was a part of the Class of 1968, but she finished on her own timeline. Sandy and her east side buddies Linda, Vicky and Cathy and sometimes her sister had a lot of fun, got pretty far from home and seldom checked in unless they needed a ride. Many of their stories and shenanigans began at the Greyhound Bus station. As a group they were full of “good” ideas, they really knew how to craft a plan.

Sandy finished school and worked full time at Wisconsin Physician Service (WPS) for many years. She always had at least one job, and many times more than one. She wanted to make sure her kids were provided for, that they didn’t “go without”. This led her to her job at Badger Prairie which finally gave her the financial stability she had been looking for.

Sandy enjoyed her job as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Badger Prairie. She was proud of the work she did there and felt like she made a difference. She became very attached to some of the residents in her 20+ years working there. She also developed many friendships with other Badger Prairie coworkers. She was a proud union member and believed in the union and the lifestyle and benefits it afforded her. Sandy had a difficult time adjusting to retirement she missed many of her residents and her coworkers and friends. She could have retired before she did, but she retired on her own timeline.

Sandy enjoyed traveling. When she traveled, she seldom took a planned excursion and never made it to a dinner reservation on time. No matter where she was visiting, she ventured off on her own and wound up off the beaten path. She may have stayed at a resort, but she didn’t stay in the resort. She has stories of lunch in the jungle of Costa Rica, dinner with the locals in Mexico, and looking for monkeys in the Rain Forest. We took a trip to Jamaica together; the resort security instructed us not to leave the resort, to stay within the boundaries of the resort. Nope, she got back to the security desk a few hours later with fresh fruit, and other trinkets and t-shirts and a good story.

Sandy was a proud Mom, and a proud Grandma. She wanted the best for her kids, and her grandkids. She cheered for their accomplishments and if they missed, she hoped and believed they would do better next time, on their own timeline.

Sandy passed away in the gentle care of St. Mary’s Hospice. Nurse Brian, and the other nursing staff have been extremely kind and caring during the course of my sister’s illness. When Sandy left St. Mary’s hospital on September 15th, she was given a prognosis of two weeks to a month to live. Like always she did it on her own timeline.