Cleo Lyle Sandberg, 89, passed away with family by his side at the Burnett Medical Continuing Care Center on Saturday, February 29, 2020. He was born September 5, 1930, in Grantsburg, WI, to the late Oswald Sandberg and Rita (Richards) Sandberg. He was a loving husband to his wife of 65 years, Ardyce (Burnikel) Sandberg and father to his 4 children, Cheryl, Cleone, Connie, and Roger.

Cleo graduated from Grantsburg High School in 1948 and continued his education at a 2 year machinist school in Rockford, IL. Cleo became an entrepreneur and owned and operated various machine shops in the Twin Cities area. Cleo worked alongside his son, Roger Sandberg, for many years and would later retire from the industry.

On June 25, 1955, Cleo was united in marriage to Ardyce Burnikel at Bethany Lutheran Church, Siren, WI. Cleo and Ardyce resided in East Bethel, MN where Cleo was a charter member of the volunteer fire department. In East Bethel, MN, they were members of Our Saviors Lutheran Church. A few years later, Cleo and Ardyce made their home with their 4 children in Columbia Heights, MN. Cleo was a member of The Lions Club near his home in Columbia Heights, MN.  Ardyce and Cleo were active members of the St. Mathews Lutheran Church in Columbia Heights, MN. In their later years, they moved to Grantsburg, WI and became members of the Trinity and Bethany Lutheran Church of Grantsburg, WI.

Cleo enjoyed traveling with family and friends across the country and taking the station wagon on fun family camping trips. Celebrations and gatherings were spent at the cabin on Little Wood Lake, where many fish were caught and fires were built to be enjoyed by all. Cleo would spend some weekends at the hunting shack with family and friends enjoying wildlife. Many mornings were spent with his wife reading the paper and gazing out the window at the birds and squirrels at the feeder. Cleo stayed busy finding projects to work on around the house and would often be found tinkering on various tasks.

Cleo is survived by his wife, Ardyce Sandberg; children: Cheryl Chelmo, Cleone (Paul) Schreier, Connie (Ric) Anderson, and Roger (Dawn) Sandberg; grandchildren: Rita, Lynnea (Mike), Lisa (Bronson), Dan (Nicole), Tom (Allison), Ashley (Bobby), Brett (Leah), Mitchell (Brittany), Corey (Kelsey), Jonathan and Joel (Hannah); great-grandchildren: Charlotte, Addison, Nicholas, Elliud and one on-the-way; sister-in-law, Maxine (Les) Lindquist; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Preceding Cleo in death are his parents, Rita and Oswald Sandberg; sisters, Luella and Marilyn; brothers, Wayne and Keith; son-in-law, Johnny Chelmo; sister-in-law, Genevieve Shostedt.

A Celebration of Life will be Held Saturday, March 7, 2020, at 11:00 AM (visitation from 10-11:00 AM) at Trinity Lutheran Church in Falun with Pastor Jay Ticknor officiating. A time of fellowship will follow at the church. Private family interment will be held at Lakeview Mudhen Cemetery.

The Family wishes to extend special thanks to the Burnett Medical Continuing Care Center and to St. Croix Hospice for their caring and compassionate staff.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the family.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home in Grantsburg

Last Update: Mar 03, 2020 8:58 am CST