Sandra “Sandy” Ann Zickmund, daughter of the late Joseph Sr. and Mafalda (Blancotta) Tillotta, was born July 13, 1947, in Hartford, Connecticut. She passed away on August 20, 2024, in Springfield, Missouri, while surrounded by family. She was 77 years, 1 month, and 7 days of age.
Sandy graduated from Rensselaer, Indiana, in the class of 1967. She married her soul mate, Tom Zickmund, on June 10, 1967, in Rensselaer. They spent 57 wonderful years of marriage together. In her career, she was an outstanding horse trainer and horse breeder. There was not a horse that Sandy couldn’t deal with. She was able to deeply connect with horses and her love for these magnificent animals shone through in every aspect of her job. She was brave enough to tackle any task.
Sandy’s love of horses was only surpassed by her love, devotion, and dedication to her family. She enjoyed her children and grandchildren and she cherished the moments with family. Sunday meal gatherings were a wonderful time. She was of Italian heritage and she made the very best pasta sauce. This was a secret recipe, but she made sure that it would not be forgotten as she passed this on to the next generation of her family. Sandy was fearless but also had an unmatched kindness and was always there during the tough times as a shoulder to cry on.
Sandy had a zest for life and was always the life of the party. She enjoyed all the activities the community had to offer, and she relished the County Fair as this was an event that she always looked forward to. Another of her favorite activities was dancing and she was incredibly gifted. She was also a seamstress and made much the clothing and outfits that her family wore. Sandy was an amazing painter and created some beautiful works of art. She was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Mountain Grove and it is a great comfort to know that Sandy is resting in the arms of her Lord and Savior.
Besides her parents, Sandy was preceded in death by one sister, Rose Flynn, and one brother, Ronnie Tillotta.
She is survived by her husband, Tom Zickmund; five children, Dawn Minton, and her husband, Michael, of Rensselaer, Indiana, Sonya Haskins, and her husband, Brad, of Frankfort, Indiana, Thomas Zickmund, and his wife, Alisha, of Rensselaer, Indiana, Ryan Zickmund and his wife, Kendra, of Rogersville, Missouri, and Nicole Edgington and her husband, Mark, of Springfield, Missouri; twelve grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and many other family and friends that will miss her very much.
