Hazel Jane Sandberg

Hazel Jane (Hopkins) Sandberg of Bloomington died peacefully at Hospice House on October 11, 2017 following a long and happy life. Born March 15, 1923 to Roy Charles and Erlus L. (Smith) Hopkins of Huntingburg, Jane Sandberg was 94 years old. Preceded in death by her parents, brother, Charles Jack Hopkins, and in 2015, her husband of 63 years, Eugene Edward Sandberg, Jane is survived by daughters, Susan and Sarah Sandberg of Bloomington and granddaughter Katy DeWitt (Tim) of Indianapolis. Jane Sandberg began her teaching career at Indiana State Teachers College on the GI Bill following her enlistment in 1943 and honorable discharge in 1945 from the Navy WAVES during WWII. She met her English teacher husband in their Tests and Measurements class at Indiana State and they married on August 25, 1948. Eugene Sandberg was also a WWII veteran having served as a mechanic in the Army Air Force. Jane was a woman with many talents including a beautiful singing voice and keen, swinging sense of rhythm. Raised in a musical family, she had fond memories of singing harmony with her father and brother and accompanying herself on the ukulele. She was a trained violinist who learned how to play the upright bass with the help of jazz musicians she encountered during her military service. While in basic training at Hunter College in the Bronx with the WAVES, she was proud to be in a select platoon invited to sing with the New York Philharmonic in Carnegie Hall. For several years, Jane enjoyed singing with the Bloomington POPS Orchestra in the POPS Chorus with her daughter, Susan. Jane would often lead the choirs of many Methodist churches where she was an active member. As an adventurous spirit and Girl Scout in her youth, Jane enjoyed leading Girl Scout troops in her community teaching skills in camping, swimming and civic participation. A prolific lifelong reader, Jane was a member of a long-standing book club enjoying lively discussions, companionship and great food that accompanied the chats on books and current events. Following a series of health concerns, Jane wrote an extensive memoir in 2005 recounting colorful memories of her childhood growing up in the Great Depression, college life, military service, her long marriage and family life in small towns in Greene County including Bloomfield, and her happy 15 years as the Librarian at the Bloomfield Carnegie Public Library. She and her husband, Gene, retired together and moved to Bloomington in 1993. Allen Funeral Home and Crematory is handling the arrangements and online condolences, photos and memories may be shared with family and friends at www.allencares.com. In honor of Jane Sandberg’s life, her daughters encourage all to perform random acts of kindness, thank a teacher, and teach your children well.

Tributes

Hazel Jane Sandberg

March 15, 1923 - October 11, 2017