Sandra Kolb

Sandra (Sandy) Jenner Kolb, 81, of Gainesville, FL went to be with her Lord and Savior on October 19, 2022

Sandra was born on July 2, 1941, the first of five children born to Kenneth and Elizabeth Jenner in Camillus, NY. She and her siblings (Mike, Walt, Nancy, and John) enjoyed a special bond that included many gatherings and celebrations over the years. In recent years, they enjoyed their weekly zoom calls that started during COVID and continued beyond.

In 1964, she met Stirling William “Bill” Kolb at a gathering place called Miller's in Rochester, NY. Bill would tell Sandy “You had me at Miller's”, a tribute to his fondness and immediate attraction. They were married in Syracuse, NY on August 21, 1965 at Fairmount Community Church. Sandra and Bill had two children, Stirling Thomas and Kristan Elizabeth.

After Sandra graduated from West Genesee High School in 1959, she went on to study Early Childhood Education at Potsdam State University in Potsdam, NY where she earned a bachelor’s degree and pledged Alpha Kappa Phi Sorority. She later earned her master’s degree in Early Education from the University of Florida.

After graduating from college, Sandra began her teaching career and never looked back. Her love for children, education, and the nurturing of young people was a passion that was evident in her disposition and everything she did through her 40 plus years career in the field.

Her teaching career began as a second-grade instructor at Fairport Central School in Rochester, NY. In 1971, she and Bill moved to Jacksonville, FL, where Bill took a job at Jacksonville University and Sandy worked at Jacksonville University Little School where she was chosen Outstanding Early Childhood Teacher.

In 1973 Bill and Sandy moved to Gainesville, FL where she taught at Williams Elementary School. Sandra also taught many years at Stephen Foster Elementary and eventually retired after serving several years at Talbot Elementary in the Alachua County School system.

In between her stints of teaching through the years, Sandra worked in a model school board preschool program in a housing development that eventually became part of the Head Start program. She served as the Education Coordinator and worked with and made an impact on thousands of preschool children and their families. Her strong faith was a blessing to all families and staff she worked with through the years.

As part of the Delta Kappa Gamma International Society, Sandra worked to get needed services for children through special grants. She was also a member of the Association for Childhood Education, the Southeastern Conference planning committee, and a member of National and Florida Associations for the Education of Children Under Six. In Delta Kappa Gamma International Society for Key Women Educators, she held the position of chapter president. She mentored young teachers through student teaching and intern programs. She welcomed University of Florida College of Education Professors into her classrooms for research and she published several articles over the years.

She has been an active member at Trinity United Methodist Church for over 45 years and lead the Women of Faith Bible Study.

After Sandy officially retired, she and Bill spent time traveling and were avid sports fans. They loved following all Gator Sports and attended sporting events throughout the year. Another passion was spending time with her grandchildren and volunteering at their schools. She will be lovingly remembered for the many hours she spent after retirement in the classroom.

Sandra was preceded in death by her husband Bill in 2020 and her daughter Kristan in 2017. She is survived by her son Tom Kolb and wife Donna; grandchildren Sydney, McKayla, Stirling, Kennedy, Adam (Jessie), Brad (Keri), Cason; and great grandchildren Michael Bruce, Emery Joy and Kendrick Anderson. She is also survived by her siblings, Michael Jenner (Ellen), Walter Jenner (Barbara), Nancy Gabriel (Bucky), John Jenner (Kim); 11 nieces and nephews. There were many other close friends considered family too numerous to list that have provided much love and support through the years.

In lieu of flowers the family is asking that donations be sent to Family Promise of Gainesville. You can donate online at https://www.familypromisegvl.org/ or mail checks to PO Box 5189, Gainesville, FL 32627.