Kenneth Allen Sand, 70
On Sept. 18, 2024, Kenneth Allen Sand received an abundant entrance into heaven. Ken was greeted with “well done, good and faithful servant,” for he had lived his life serving his family, church, community and friends. He passed after a seven-month battle with severe complications from pneumonia, which resulted in respiratory failure.
On Nov. 12, 1953, Ken Sand took his place as the fourth child of Paul and Inez (Barnes) Sand. He joined Don, Skip and Cathy and then later welcomed PJ, Mike, Tim, Nick, Barbara and Andy to form the tight-knit family of 10 children. This tribe also provided the workforce for the family business, French Cleaners, which operated in Cd’A for 50 years. Their home was located near the St. Thomas Catholic Church, where their family attended and served. Ken was an altar boy and even shoveled coal for the nuns in the early hours of the morning before school.
Ken attended IHM Academy in Cd’A for 11 years until it closed in 1971, after his junior year. He transferred to CHS for his senior year, where he served as vice president of his class. He managed to be in the first graduating class from the newly completed building. Ken then obtained his A.S. degree at NIC and went on to earn his bachelor's degree in business and finance from Eastern Washington University. He valued education and possessed a keen intelligence.
In 1982, Ken married Marliss (Clarke), and they enjoyed 42 years of marriage, characterized by their deep love for each other and mutual avoidance of conflict. Jordan Paul was added to their family in 1983 and Allison Marjorie was welcomed in 1987. Ken was a devoted, loving husband and kind, patient father. Ken loved babies and was smitten by his four grandchildren, JJ, Olivia, Clarke and Cleo, who were the recipients of his tickling and teasing. Ken was a great host with superb cooking skills (butter was his secret). He had a knack for making sure their home had a beautiful yard and garden. Ken loved Jesus and family above all else and honored that love by being faithful and authentic.
Over his lifetime, Ken enjoyed and mastered many sports, ranging from competition slalom water skiing to softball (up to three teams per summer), golf and bowling. While huckleberry picking is not an official sport, Ken could have won a championship on a few occasions. Ken lived for college basketball and March Madness, always rooting for the Zags to win. He enjoyed creating stained glass masterpieces, his butterfly garden and home improvement projects.
However, Ken’s all-time favorite pastime was boating and spending time on the lake. From a young age, Ken regarded Lake Coeur d’Alene and Priest Lake as his favorite places on the planet. His family had a cabin on Priest Lake and he came to know every bay and island. His first job was delivering groceries to the houses on Lake Cd’A for boat gas money and then he water skied home when his deliveries were complete.
Ken worked for Campbell’s Soup Company as an Account Executive for over 20 years and traveled extensively in Idaho, Montana and Washington, covering his territory. He later supervised “re-set” crews to serve grocery stores around the region. However, the season in his career he treasured most was the time invested at Lighthouse Christian Academy from 2001 to 2007 as the principal and math instructor. He was an excellent teacher, gifted in conveying difficult concepts, and thrived in the academic setting because he valued the impact he had on the students and families.
Ken is survived by his wife, Marliss; his son, Dr. Jordan Sand (Barbara), with JJ and Olivia; and his daughter, Allie Sand, with Clarke and Cleo. His brothers: Don (Nancy) & family, Skip (Larissa) & family; Mike (Kelly) & family; Nick (Holly) & family; numerous nieces, nephews and grand-nieces and nephews.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Inez Sand, sister Cathy Farquhar, brother Tim Sand, sister Barb Tolley, brother PJ Sand and brother Andy Sand.
There will be a celebration of Ken’s life Saturday Oct. 26, 2024, at 1 p.m. at English Funeral Chapel at 1133 N. Fourth St. in Cd'A.
Visit Ken's memorial and sign his online guestbook at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.
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