Sandra Marie Polak, 71, of Hinton, passed away July 28, 2026, after a short battle with cancer. She had struggled for several years with chronic pain.

A Memorial Service will be held August 12, 2026, at 11:00 am at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Visitation with the family will begin at 10:00 am.

Sandra Polak, the former Sandra Capers, was born February 2, 1955, to Oscar and Helen (Lemek) Capers in Sioux City. She attended St. Joseph, Franklin elementary, Woodrow Wilson, Central and North High schools. She married Steven Polak on September 22, 1973.

Sandy held several jobs over the years starting at a young age. She worked at the Golden Chick, IBP, Taco John’s, Caseys, Food 4 Less, Home Interiors and Gifts and the Hinton School, both in the kitchen and driving special ed students. At one time she rented a building and sold antiques.

Sandy bought and sold hand stitched vintage quilts and pillow cases and other antiques on ebay for several years until her pain became too intense. She forged many friendships across the country through her sales because of her caring personality. She was considered by many as an expert on the dating of vintage fabrics. She had a quilt that dated to the civil war era until an individual convinced her to sell it. In 2015, she hosted her own quilt show at the Hinton Community Center, displaying over 400 quilts. On eBay Sandy was known as the Quilt Keeper.

Sandy enjoyed camping and she and Steve owned several different campers over the years. She enjoyed having a Cutty’s of Okoboji membership, especially when Katie was young.

Sandy was a past president of both the Sioux City Police Association Auxiliary and the Iowa Police Officers Association Auxiliary.

Sandy was a compassionate and caring person but a fierce competitor when it came to playing 500 no trump with her parents, siblings and Steve. She coached T-ball and played coed softball at Penn Corp Park.

Sandy had the thrill and privilege of speaking personally with Terry Redlin during the dedication of his museum in Watertown, South Dakota, in June 1997. A photograph and story of her was featured in the Watertown newspaper, although they misidentified her as being from South Sioux City. She always chuckled about that.

Sandy and Steve moved from Sioux City to an acreage near Hinton when Lakeport Commons developers approached. Their former residence on Old Lakeport Road was where Best Buy now sits.

Sandy was a very good cook, learning from her mother. She tried to pass those skills on to Steve so he could cook for her when movement became too difficult for her.

Sandy is survived by her husband, Steve of almost 53 years, sons Steven II (Julie) Polak of Kansas City and Kris Polak of Hinton, daughter Katie (Ben) Nordstrom of Sioux City, granddaughter, Brittney Polak of Kansas City, sister Pat (Daryl) Fortin of Le Claire, IA, brothers Dennis, Charles and Robert all of Las Vegas, NV, and her pups Mollie and Maddie.

Sandy was preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Helen Capers, her parents-in-law, George and Maxine Polak, her sister Diane Dandurand, brother Donald Capers and several pets over the years.

The family would like to thank the staff of Mitchell House for their compassionate care of Sandy and all family members.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to the Siouxland Humane Society and Sioux City Animal Adoption and Rescue Center.