Sandra "Sandy" Pearson , 75, of Hawarden, Iowa, formerly of Akron, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, February 14, 2023, at her home surrounded by her family.

Funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 20, 2023, at St. John's Lutheran Church – Preston Township, rural Akron, Iowa.  Reverend Trish Underberg will officiate. Burial will follow at St. John's Lutheran Cemetery – Preston Township, rural Akron.  Visitation with the family present will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 19, 2023, at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Akron.  There will be a Prayer Service at 5:00 p.m. Visitation will resume from 10:00 a.m. until service time on Monday at the church.  Arrangements are with the Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Akron. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com .

Sandra Kay Witt, the daughter of Reinhold "Reinie" and Leona (Frerichs) Witt, was born November 15, 1947 in Hawarden, Iowa.  She grew up on a farm east of Akron, Iowa.  She attended and graduated from Akron High School in 1966.  She continued her education at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, where she also participated on the bowling team.

She was united in marriage to Harold "Shorty" Pearson on February 7, 1970, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Akron. They lived for a short time in Wyoming before moving to an acreage east of Akron on Hwy 3.  In 1980, they moved to the Witt family farm where she was raised. In 2003, they moved to an acreage near Hawarden, Iowa.

Sandy worked various jobs throughout her life, including Zenith, K-Products, Gateway, Shopko, and the Akron Children's Center.  After returning to school to receive her C.N.A. and Med Aide certificates, she went to work for the Akron Care Center where she compassionately cared for others as if they were her own family. She worked there from 2002 until her retirement in 2013.

She was an active member of St. John's Lutheran Church – Preston Township for many years.  She had an abundant love for animals of all kinds, raising livestock and pets through the years with her husband and children. It wasn't uncommon to find her nursing an animal back to health or bottle feeding an orphan. She loved hosting, cooking, and baking for family gatherings. She will be remembered for her pies, chocolate cake, chocolate chip cookies and canned meat.  One of her favorite pastimes was being with family doing things such as camping, fishing, and floating in the pool.  Her greatest joy was her family whom she loved dearly and would do anything for. She even acquired a few bonus sons along the way.

Survivors include her husband of 53 years, Shorty of Hawarden; a daughter, Janel Pearson of Akron, IA; a son, Jason (Sara) Pearson of Hudson, SD, and children, Sumer (her children, Eloise and Jasper), Paige, Grace, and Haylee; a daughter, Jamie Pearson (Bret Banks) and her son Brody of Akron, IA; a daughter, Jenna (Joel) Brown of Le Mars, IA, and children, Olivia and Sophia; a sister, Sharon Monckton of Sioux City, IA; a brother, Allan Witt of Akron, IA; a brother in law, Jerry Pearson of Kaycee, WY; a sister in law, Janice Pearson of Evansville, WY; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Reinie and Leona Witt; her father and mother in law, Roy and Blanche Pearson; and in laws, Darrel Monckton, Don Pearson, Myla Jean (Jim) Coan, and Arlyce (Vic) Carlson.