Sandra “Sandie” Kay Johnson Frank

Sandra “Sandie” Kay Johnson Frank, 86, of Lincoln, Nebraska, passed away peacefully on October 18, 2026.

Sandie was born on March 15, 1940, in Lincoln to Joseph W. Johnson Sr. and Carlisle “Ki” (Scott) Johnson. She grew up in Lincoln, where she attended Sheridan Elementary, Irving Junior High, and Lincoln Southeast High School. A beautiful, active and athletic young woman, she participated in swimming, synchronized swimming, and cheerleading. Sandie attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in medical technologies and was a cheerleader for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. She later earned a Master of Science degree in Microbiology from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Her curiosity and love of learning stayed with her throughout her life. She later returned to school to pursue an interest in horticulture, although she was unable to complete the degree.

Sandie met the love of her life, James “Jim” Anthony Frank, when they were just five years old at Hillcrest Country Club in Lincoln, NE, where both were involved in the swimming and diving teams. Together they continued in sports throughout their school years, were high school sweethearts, and eventually married and had one daughter, Kristin. They shared a life together filled with many adventures and memories.
One of Sandie’s favorite places was Estes Park, Colorado. She and Jim visited Estes as young adults before their daughter was born. The family then returned there almost every summer throughout Kristin’s childhood. Sandie loved the mountains, hiking, and simply relaxing beside Fall River, which ran behind the motel where they always stayed. She especially enjoyed teaching Kristin to feed peanuts to the chipmunks. At some point, Sandie and Jim purchased a small lot on the side of a mountain just outside Estes Park, dreaming of one day building a cabin there. Although that dream never came to be, the memories of those summers remained
special to Sandie and her family.

Sandie was a very smart, creative and curious person with a deep appreciation for nature and the world around her. She was extremely artistic and enjoyed painting, drawing, pottery, plants, and gardening. She even designed a large stained-glass window for the home she and Jim built in 1978 which is still in place to this day. She had a lifelong love of animals and shared her home with many cats and dogs over the years. Her kindness and love of nature extended to even the smallest creatures, and she was just as likely to stop and admire a caterpillar or insect as she was a beautiful flower. Her creativity and love of animals and gardening became something she passed along to Kristin, who shares those interests and owns a landscaping business.

Following Jim’s passing in 2003, Sandie’s life took a different path due to her long-time
struggles with mental illness, and Kristin became her legal guardian, overseeing her care for the next 23 years. After time in several care communities, Sandie moved to Southlake Village Rehabilitation and Care Center in January 2015, where she spent the remainder of her life. The staff at Southlake became an important part of her life, providing the care, patience, and kindness that helped her find a sense of stability and contentment. In her later years, Sandie became especially warm and friendly, often expressing gratitude, offering compliments, and telling Kristin how proud she was of her. Those words meant more than she may ever have known. The Southlake staff always told Kristin how sweet Sandie was, many of them got to know her very well over the 11 ½ years she resided there.

Even in her later years, Sandie enjoyed her daily routines and simple pleasures. One of her favorites was a short walk to the Village Café inside Southlake Village for the ice cream flavor-of-the-day. She loved ice cream throughout her life, along with chocolate when she was younger. These daily walks (sometimes multiple times a day) helped keep her mobile for many years up until the final few months.
Sandie’s life held plenty of challenges but also beautiful moments. She will be remembered for her creativity, intelligence, curiosity, love of nature and animals, and the memories she shared with those closest to her. Her love of the mountains, flowers, animals, and the simple joys of life will live on in the people and places she touched.
Sandie was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jim; her parents, Joe and Ki Johnson; and her brother, Joseph “Joe” W. Johnson Jr.

She is survived by her daughter, Kristin Hain, and son-in-law, Pat; her grandson, Josh Hain, and his wife Isabell; her nephew, Michael Johnson, and his wife, Tanya; and her nieces, Anne Johnson and Jennifer Frank.

Sandie’s funeral services will be held at Wyuka Funeral Home on Friday, November 13, 2026, at 11:00 am. Memorials in lieu of flowers may be directed to The Capital Humane Society in her name. Visit their website or call 402-441-4488.