Donald Sands, Sr.

Donald D. Sands Sr., 82, of Davenport, passed away on Saturday, July 10, 2021 at Genesis Medical Center – East Campus, Davenport.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home, Bettendorf.  Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service.  Burial will follow at Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery.  Memorials may be directed to Camp Wyoming.

Donald was born on July 14, 1938 in Swan Creek, Illinois the son of Charles Claire and Blanche Albina (McDonald) Sands.  Following high school, Donald earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Monmouth College in 1960.  He continued his education at the University of Mississippi “Ole Miss” and later achieved his master’s degree in 1972 from Truman State University.  On September 1, 1963, he married Beverly J. Nebel at First United Church of Christ in Burlington, Iowa.  Donald taught chemistry at Burlington High School for three years prior to moving to Bettendorf in 1964. He taught honors chemistry for 37 years at Bettendorf High School until his retirement in 2000.   Donald enjoyed camping with his family across the United States, from Florida to Wyoming. In retirement, Don and Beverly enjoyed traveling in their RV to Florida, California, Arizona, and Texas, as well as volunteering at Camp Wyoming.  They were active members of various national RV Clubs and Bettendorf Presbyterian Church.

Those left to honor his memory are his wife, Beverly Sands of Davenport; children, Donald (Daileen) Sands II of Davenport, Jennifer (James) Houghton of Bettendorf, and Eric Sands of Calamus, Iowa; five grandchildren, JK Houghton, Jacob Houghton, Julia Houghton, Magnus Sands, and Kaiser Sands; and a sister, Clarice V. Radmacher of Davenport.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a son, James, in infancy.