Leroy Sandstrom Obituary

LeRoy Sandstrom

1935 - 2025

- LeRoy Gustave Sandstrom ("Roy")

January 12, 1935 – April 19, 2025

LeRoy Gustave Sandstrom, beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend returned home into the arms of his daughter and two sons in Heaven Saturday morning, April 19, 2025, at the age of 90.

LeRoy was born on January 12, 1935 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Laura Bowen and Gustave Sandstrom. He grew up spending time with his friends and tinkering with cars and trucks. He graduated from Granite High School. He learned a lot about driving big trucks and even delivered bricks from a flatbed boom truck. Roy's friends would have him "soup up" their hot rods to drag down State Street. Roy told of one of these cars even spitting fire out of the tail pipes! He was a fun friend and talented individual.

Growing up on Adams Street, LeRoy met the love of his life Patricia Gunnerson who happened to live just down the street from him. The two fell in love and were married in the Salt Lake City Temple on June 30, 1955 where they were sealed for eternity. Together, they built their own home and family together in South Salt Lake. They had 7 children together and went on to have 21 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren.

LeRoy could figure out how to fix anything mechanical or electronic. He worked with steel and iron as well. He often built his own tooling. He learned shortwave radio and even later became a HAM radio operator who spoke to people all over the world. LeRoy worked as an auto mechanic, autobody mechanic, and boat mechanic and later built and opened his own garage where he worked on vehicles and boats. He finished his career working for Granite School District at Granger High School where he taught autobody to high school students all over the district.

LeRoy enjoyed getting to know everyone around him and made many acquaintances. Everyone knew "Roy." He loved children and was often seen handing them a piece of candy, giving them the change in his pocket, and even taking them for rides in the trailer behind his riding mower. He was always giving service to those in need. While his young family was on the beach, LeRoy was seen gliding across the waves while straddling an outboard boat engine (screwdriver in hand) fine tuning the carburetor for a stranger. He repaired cars at little or no cost for the fatherless, the widows and the stranger who had broken down on the roadside. His character brought in the homeless and less fortunate for a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. After rendering service to a new acquaintance or stranger, he would say, "After all, aren't you my brother/sister?"

LeRoy served in many callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served on the High Council of the Winder West Stake, a Bishop in the Winder 4th Ward of the Winder Stake for 7 years, Branch President of an Alzheimer Center Branch in the Winder West Stake for 3 years, and most recently served as Branch Missionaries with his wife Patty in the Haven Creek Branch in West Haven. He enjoyed playing as the ward organist and did this for many years. LeRoy was also a very gifted piano player and organist. His soft touch of the keys brought warmth to many.

LeRoy is survived by his wife Patricia (Patty) Sandstrom, his children (Carol), David Sandstrom (Susan), Laura Bascom (Darby), Keith Sandstrom (Carolyn), Tricia Pyke (Gary), 21 grandchildren, and 38 great grandchildren. Preceded in death by his daughter Sharon Jo Sandstrom, son Ronald Sandstrom, "his angel" son Michael Sandstrom, and great-granddaughter Mary Cross.

LeRoy's family would like to thank the staff and branch of the Haven Creek/Peach Tree Assisted Living Center along with the doctor, nurses, and aids with Independence Hospice who made his transition comfortable, especially Amy & Robyn. The family would also like to express their deep gratitude to Laura Bascom for her dedication, sacrifice and unwavering strength in guiding all the affairs of LeRoy's needs.

A viewing will take place on Friday, April 25th, from 6-8pm at Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Services located at 4760 S. State Street in Murray. The funeral service will be held at 12 Noon on Saturday, April 26th, at the Winder 4th Ward chapel located at 951 E. 3825 S. in Salt Lake City. There will be a viewing prior to the funeral service from 10:30-11:30am. The interment will take place on Monday, April 28th at 12 Noon at the Redwood Memorial Estate located at 6500 S. Redwood Rd. in West Jordan.