by Katie Patrick
Fore! A word traditionally used when a golfer mis-hits his or her golf ball and it has either a chance of hitting or landing near a bystander or to signal to others to watch for the golf ball as it veers off course. We may or may not hear that word a lot today at Hillcrest Country Club in Lincoln as Friday, Aug. 5 is our CSS Memorial Golf Classic and Auction.
This year, our 2022 Tourney will be held in memory of Sandie Gonnerman.
Last November, Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska lost a friend and colleague, Sandie Gonnerman. Sandie was an accountant for CSS for over a quarter-century and was always eager to celebrate coworkers’ accomplishments, work anniversaries, or birthdays. In fact, she was the unofficial CSS party planner. Her door was always open to coworkers wanting to share a laugh, talk about grandkids or golf, or enjoy a seemingly endless supply of chocolate. She often shared her motto: “Life is short. Eat dessert first.”
Sandie was born March 11, 1955, in Carroll, Iowa. She graduated from Kuemper High School and Briar Cliff College in 1977 and earned a master’s degree in accounting from the University of South Dakota. She worked for Postal Finance in Sioux City, Iowa, where she met Rodney. They married Aug. 11, 1979, in Dedham, Iowa, and lived and worked in Sioux City until 1988 when they relocated to Lincoln. Sandie and Rod raised six children: Katherine Anne, Laura Leigh, Cheryl Lynn, Matthew Charles, Daniel Stephen, and Stephanie Mae.
Even if you are not an event participant, you may support the programs of Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska by making a financial gift in memory of our friend Sandie. To do so, please visit our website at www.csshope.org and list “memorial for Sandie Gonnerman” in the designation field. Thank you for your support!
On a personal note, when I started at CSS in 2019, as a staff member I was assigned that day to Hole 8 with Sandie. All CSS staff arrive for either the morning or afternoon shift and are assigned to be present at a hole to greet and welcome the golfers. Sandie and I set up our lawn chairs at Hole 8 at 6:30 a.m. She loved that day. She visited with golfers about their hits and scores, which was super helpful to me because I know very little about golf.
She also shared with me that her interest in golf didn’t start until after she and Rodney were married. He encouraged her to take up a hobby and she chose golf. She played in a local women’s league and was hooked. It became a common activity for her and her husband. I loved learning that about Sandie that day.
It’ll be different without her there with us this year, but in all things we turn to our Lord and pray that her soul be with Him in heaven. We’ll remember the moments we shared with her and think about those early days in her golfing career that she, too, yelled out a few fores!
