Lorretta C. Sandman

Lorretta Sandman, 84, of Davenport, passed away Thursday, September 3, 2026, at her home. Funeral services celebrating her life will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport. Burial will follow in Pine Hill Cemetery, Davenport. Visitation will be from 9-10 a.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Lorretta Cleo Schmell was born on November 4th, 1941, to Harry Clarence and Lena Madeline (Gibbs) Schmell in Corydon, IA, and received her education from Allerton High School, in Allerton, IA.

Lorretta worked as a waitress for many years prior to meeting the love of her life William Herman “Bill” Sandman. Lorretta and Bill were married on September 14th, 1964. United in this union they had two sons, William “Will” and Ray Sandman, where they spent 40 years together. Building two automotive gas station businesses together, raising their boys, taking them to all sports games, building a life filled with love, laughter, trips to Acapulco, Mexico and many cherished memories.

She also worked at Younker's for many years, where she retired at the age of 76 years old.

Lorretta was also a cancer survivor of breast, colon, and skin cancers.

Lorretta's hobbies included going and watching Bill race his stock car, and horseback riding. She loved her horse “Black-Jack”, watching Days of Our Lives, Chicago Fire, and Yellowstone, dancing, shopping, and listening to the music of Elvis and Conway Twitty.

Survivors include her children, Will (Cindee) Sandman and Ray Sandman of Davenport; grandchildren Bailey (Cody) Cummins of LeClaire and Ryan Sandman of Davenport; great grandchildren Brooklyn and Cooper Cummins; siblings Everett (Dee) Schmell of Blue Grass, Jane Mullins of Moravia, IA, Jim (Vickie) Schmell of Centerville, IA, Frances (Tony) Paul of Mystic,

IA; several nieces, nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews; and her beloved mini-Aussie “Cleo”, who was by her side when she passed.

She was preceded in death by her husband Bill, parents, brothers Gerald, Roland, Ralph, and Roy Schmell, sister Marianna Picolet, nephew Russell Schmell, and niece Cindy Schmell.