Madison – Robert S. Sandt, age 78, passed away on March 20, 2015 at Faith Living Center after a prolonged battle with lupus and cancer. He was born November 10, 1936 In Bethlehem, PA to the late Forest Edgar and Naomi Mae (Lewis) Sandt as the oldest of four siblings.

He served on active duty in the U.S. Army from March 18, 1954 and retired as a SGM on December 31, 1984 from U.W. AROTC. He had a distinguished military career which included several tours in Germany and two extended combat tours in Vietnam. He was awarded the Legion of Merit and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm as well as the German Schuetzenschnurr. He was very proud of his service. Robert served for a decade as the American Legion Post 348 Finance Officer and First Vice Commander, as Past Commander of VFW Post 9362 and a member of the local Vietnam Veterans Chapter. While stationed in Germany he met his late wife, Caecilie Birong and daughter Gundula Birong. They were married on March 27, 1975 in Germany. He was a loving husband and father, generous and kind. He was a quiet man, of few but deliberate words. He enjoyed gardening, stamp and coin collecting and rooting for the Packers and Badgers. He considered Wisconsin his home. He had worked for thirteen years at Woodman's East and never quite fully retired, working as a merchandiser for several companies.

He is survived by his daughter, Gundula Birong; his siblings and their spouses, Ronnie (Dottie) Sandt, Butch (Carole) Sandt, Kay DeBaise and her son Phil DeBaise; several nephews, their spouses and children; Aunt Leah DeWalt and Uncle Milton Lewis. Anybody who met him thought of him as a wonderful man and he will be deeply missed by those whose lives he has touched, but especially by his daughter. They were each other's touchstones.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to the caretakers at Faith Living Center and Southern Care Hospice Team for their compassionate care and support. Gundula is grateful for the support of family, friends, colleagues and the special people she had met along the way while caring for her father.

A funeral service will be at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, 2015 at RYAN FUNERAL HOME, 5701 Lake Road, DeForest with Chaplain Tom Moe. A Legionnaire Farewell will precede the service. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Thursday from 5 p.m. until the time of services. Burial with military honors will be on Friday, March 27 at 10 a.m. at Highland Memory Gardens.
Ryan Funeral Home

Robert Sandt

November 10, 1936 - March 20, 2015

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