Sandra A. Thomas Keller

Sandra A. Thomas Keller, 73, of Milan, Illinois, passed Friday, June 5, 2026, at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf, Iowa.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Cremation will take place at Trimble Crematory, Moline, Illinois, under the direction of Cremation Society of the Quad Cities. Memorials may be made to the American Red Cross or American Cancer Society. 

Sandra Anne Thomas was born on November 17, 1952, in Chicago, Illinois to Wilber “Bill” and Doris (Koskiewicz) Thomas, the second of five children. She grew up in Rock Island, Illinois and attended both Western Illinois and the University of Illinois.

Upon graduation, she moved to San Francisco where she joined an open water swim club, went to graduate school, and met her husband. Her favorite open water swims were the one underneath the Golden Gate Bridge and the one from Alcatraz to shore. She met her husband, Kenneth Keller, and they were married on March 8, 1980. The two then moved to South America where they spent the next two and a half years living, working, and traveling, while assigned to Chile with the Peace Corps. Her career was spent in education, and she retired from the Rock Island School district in 2014.

Sandy had a lifelong love of exploring new places and the more off the beaten, the better. She was blessed with wonderful travel companions, and over the course of her lifetime was able to visit countries on six continents.

Up until her illness, her retirement years were great. She spent them traveling, going to the gym, volunteering, taking various art classes and although she showed no talent, she had fun trying. She also enjoyed dinners with family and friends, gardening and walking her very quirky dog, Gomer. Perhaps her greatest joy was raising their two children on the hobby farm where she and Ken still reside.

Sandy is survived by her husband, Ken Keller; daughter, Kacie (Steven) Carpenter; grandson, Logan Carpenter; brother, Larry Thomas; sisters, Janet Lampasona and Patty (James) Carlson; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved son, Adrian; parents, Bill and Doris Thomas; sister, Karen Thomas; and brother-in-law, Tony Lampasona.

Sandra is rememberd as a kind and thoughtful person who found joy in travelling, gardening, paperquilling, and a passion to help those in need. Her remaining wish is that people vote and end this nightmare in which we are all living.

Condolences may be shared at CremationQC.com.