Sandra Jean Carmichael. 85 of Waterloo, died at her home on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. She was born February 6, 1941, in Sioux City, Iowa, daughter of Carl and Doris (Brown) Eldhardt. She attended East High School. Sandra would later attend both Mississippi State and Iowa State Universities, while on her way to obtaining a master’s degree in special education.

Celebration of her life will be from 2:00 to 5:00pm Saturday, March 21, 2026, at Locke at Tower Park 4140 Kimball Ave Waterloo, IA 50701.

Sandra started her professional career with The Head Start program in Starkville, Mississippi, while attending MSU. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree from MSU, she was offered a job out of state in Fort Dodge, Iowa working with special needs children. While working a full-time job Sandra went back to school at ISU to further her education yet again. In the early 80s, after four of her five children were raised and starting their own lives, Sandra was offered employment with The Department of Defense Education Activity, working abroad. She had always loved to travel and here was her chance to see Europe and the many countries there. So, again with her youngest daughter in tow, she set out on another adventure that awaited them overseas. After more than a decade overseas, they would return to Cottage Grove, Oregon. After her youngest daughter went off to college, she began to travel across the country and for a time, lived in the one place her heart always longed for… Alaska!

Sandra continued to travel the country looking for adventure with the enthusiasm of a child until she passed away.

Sandra traveled many miles in both the air and over the roads of this world and had thousands of adventures. One of her favorite memories though happened when she was a young girl of 17 or 18. While working in a local diner in Texas, a group of young service members came in, and one of them just happened to be the one and only… Elvis Presley and they were seated in her section. Well, blushing like a schoolgirl, she took his order and served him breakfast. After finishing his breakfast, he smiled at her with that warm Elvis smile, said thank you mam and walk out the door.

She is survived by her two daughters, Sandra Jean Carmichael MD of Rising Fawn, Georgia, Professor Walidah Imarisha of Portland, Oregon, and her son Carl Carmichael USMC of Independence, Iowa; two sisters, Sherry E. Sherman of Waterloo, Iowa and Sue Divis of Sioux City, Iowa; 5 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, 3 nieces and 2 nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Doris Eldhardt, two daughters – Wanda Lee Diaz, and Suzette Cherrie White.