Obituary of Sandra L Payne

Sandra Lee “Sandy” Wagner, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, passed peacefully on April 19, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa at the age of 82.

She was born on August 28, 1941 in Waterloo, Iowa and graduated from Tripoli High School in Iowa in 1959 Following high school Sandy worked as a telephone operator before attending Baptist Bible College in Johnson City, New York. It was at BBC where she met Bernard Lee “Bernie” Payne from Brookfield, Missouri. They were married on June 2, 1962. She and her husband served the Lord together faithfully for over 50 years as pastor and pastor’s wife in Oswego, New York, Des Moines, Perry, and Newton, Iowa, and then having 19 years of ministry on the beautiful island of Bermuda.  Sandy enjoyed her years teaching Sunday School as well as many Bible Study Fellowship women’s groups.

Sandy will be treasured and remembered as one who loved and served her Savior, Jesus Christ. A wife who faithfully supported her beloved husband for fifty-three years. A mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who continually prayed for her family.  She was so very proud of each of them and she made them each feel special in their own unique way.

Sandy was an incredible woman who encouraged so many with her sweet smile, her kind words, serving actions, and faithful correspondence to friends and family.

Sandy is the mother of three children Jonathan (Kimberly) Payne, David (Shantelle) Payne, and Joanna (Benjamin) Brightman. She is grandmother to seven grandchildren Kristin (Jody) Strupp, Jessica (Ron) Leptien, Moriah (Alex) Clark, Jaxon Payne, Shaalim Payne, Brianna Brightman, and Simone Brightman. Great grandmother to Greyson Clark , Hayden Clark, and Brixton Clark.

She is survived by her sister Lois Wagner, and brothers Mike (Claire) Wagner, Kim (Mary) Wagner. Brother-In-Laws Larry (Kathy) Payne, and Roger (Cindy) Payne as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Sandy was preceded in death by her husband Bernie Payne, granddaughter Brianna Brightman, parents Roger and Verna Wagner, mother and father in-law Lawrence and Wilhelmina-Juliana Payne, brother Gerald, brother in laws Edward Payne, Orville (Kathy) Payne, and sister in law, Evelyn Davis.

The words of Proverbs 31:26-31 best describe the life so well lived by Sandy Payne...

 “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise...”

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 27, 2024, at Grace Church in Des Moines. A Facebook Live broadcast will begin at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 27, 2024 on the Pence Reese Funeral Home and Cremation Services Facebook page.  The family will greet friends from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the church.