Sandra Ann Rowe

Sandra Ann Rowe(1969-2024) passed away April 4, 2024, at Kadlec Medical Center in Richland WA, due to heart problems after back surgery.

Sandra was born in Walla Walla on March 27, 1969, to David and Darlene Turner of Joseph, Or. She was the third attempt at a boy, so her nickname quickly became Sam.

Growing up as the youngest of three children just north of Joseph, she enjoyed learning to ride horses. She later became quite an accomplished horsewoman and enjoyed her many hours at the rodeo grounds.

Sandra attended schools K-12 in Joseph OR.

She was a member of Rainbow for Girls, serving as a worthy advisor and grand representative. She was also a member of 4H and FFA, which her dad referred to as “father feeds animals.”

The year of 1986 was a special year for Sandi as she was a member of the Honorary court with her cousins Sherri and Kerri Tucker for Chief Joseph Days Rodeo, and in 1988, she was a princess for the Pendleton Round-Up. In 1991, Sandi helped create the Tuckerettes, who kicked off the opening for the Chief Joseph Days Rodeo and was in charge of the grand entry at the rodeo until 2009.

She competed in and lettered in sports, volleyball, and track, and she especially enjoyed basketball. Sandi graduated from Joseph High School in 1987 and enrolled at WWCC(87-89) later that fall. Sandi would always say she majored in rodeo because her years on the rodeo team were full of cherished memories and lifelong friendships she made there.

Sandi worked 31 years for Community Bank before joining Craft3 Lending, where she worked until her death.

Sandi met Kyle Kolbaba, a WWCC rodeo teammate, and they were married on August 26, 1989. The marriage produced two amazing boys, Kolton David(1992) and Derek William(1996). The couple later divorced. Sandi’s boys were everything to her, and she traveled many miles and countless hours to wrestling, baseball, football, drama, theatre, and junior rodeos so her boys could excel at anything they chose to do.

In January 2005, Sandi made the big decision to move herself and her two sons from Joseph to Walla Walla, where she was soon introduced to Nathen Rowe. They were married on June 4, 2005, at her parents’ home at Wallowa Lake and enjoyed 18 years of marriage before her death.

In Walla Walla, Sandi joined the Exchange club in 2015, receiving the Rookie of the Year award in 2016, All American Volunteer of the Year in 2017, and served as president from 2018-2019. During this time, Sandi also became a Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days Board member, serving for 6years. Sandi was especially proud of the showcase event fundraiser, where she always did a fantastic job of enlisting the community to support the Fairgrounds.

Sandi is survived by her husband, Nathen, (son)Kolton, (Son)Derek and Aymie (granddaughter)Callahan, (Mother)Darlene, (sister)Cindy and John Bailey, (sister)Candi and Craig Willis.

Memorial Services will be held at Noon on April 13, 2024, at the Joseph Community Center, 102 E 1st Street, Joseph, Oregon 97846. Interment will follow at the Prairie Creek Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to a reception and continued celebration of Sandi’s life back at the Joseph Community Center following the interment services.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Walla Walla Frontier Days Foundation or the Chief Joseph Days through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder St, Walla Walla WA 99362.