Christa Helen (Jacob) Sankey

Christa Helen Sankey was born on the 14th of December, 1933 to Helen (Metcalfe) and Arthur Jacob in Leicester, England.  She attended school and church in Leicester in her formative years. She graduated at age 17 and worked as a teacher’s assistant at a nursery school for a year before moving on to the Royal College of Nursing at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.  She worked as a surgical nurse in London for a while before immigrating to the United States in 1956, a year after her family moved to the U.S.  Christa worked as a surgical nurse at numerous places in the U.S., notably Boston Mass General Hospital, Boston, MA, the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, OH, where she was Chief Surgical nurse and Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital in Los Angeles, CA as well as Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.

When Christa was working in Boston, she met and befriended Nina (Lavina) Sankey.  She and Nina remained friends and this was how she was introduced to Bill Sankey.  Christa and Bill were united in marriage on January 21, 1967, in Winona, MN. They lived and farmed in rural Chandler, MN. They went on to have two children, Mark and Anne. Christa was a member of the Chandler Christian Reformed Church and was active in the Ladies’ Aid.

Christa was a voracious reader, especially of murder mysteries and spy thrillers, and traveled when she could. She enjoyed going to Anne’s Special Olympics events and her grandchildren’s school programs. In 2014, Christa moved to Edgebrook Estates Assisted Living and in December 2018 moved to the Edgebrook Care Center where she lived until passing away on July 31, 2021.

Christa is survived by her children, Mark (Becky) Sankey, Chandler, Anne Sankey, Edgerton; Grandchildren, Kjersten, Lauren, Nicholas and Meghan Sankey; brother Richard (Susan) Jacob, Laguna Niguel, CA; sisters-in-law Mary Jacob of Arlington, TX and Geri Sankey, Chandler; brother-in-Law, Harve (Sandy) Sankey, Elkton, SD; cousin, Julie (Robin) Coles, Langar, England; as well as nieces and nephews. Christa was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bill, her brother Robin, brothers-in-law, David Sankey, Harris Sankey, sisters-in-law Wilhemina Aardema, Cornelia Aardema, Johanna Kooiman, Dorothy Nelson and Lavina Kemp.

Visitation will be on August 5, 2021 at the Chandler Christian Reformed Church from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM followed by a Family Graveside Service at the Chandler Memorial Cemetery.  Lunch following the graveside service will be at the church. 

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