Sandra Lee Mattes-Resch passed away quietly at home on Monday, March 13, 2017 with her husband Bill and her dog Buck by her side.
She was born on April 24, 1950 to the late R.N. and Evelyn (Jansen) Mattes. Sandy was married to William “Bill” Resch on July 23, 1999 at their cottage on Deepwoods Lake. She attended St. John Catholic School for 8 years and then graduated from Antigo High School with the class of 1968. Sandy was a member of the school band and the cheerleading squad.
Sandy was a lifelong resident of Antigo and Langlade County. Raised in Antigo by her music-oriented mother, Sandy was a very gifted musician. Learning to play the piano not only by her mother, but at the renowned Interlochen Arts Academy for more advanced students. However, she had other interests than being a concert pianist.
In 1965, Sandy, then only 15 and a freshman in high school, was chosen to join the American Collegiate Band for the European Music Tour. She took her clarinet, and along with her sister Lynn, left for the 8 week tour. They left Washington DC, then on to Nova Scotia, then to France where they played for the late President Charles de Gaulle. Then to Monaco to play for Princess Grace, and on to Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, England and Scotland where they performed almost daily, and finally back home.
The other instrument she mastered was the accordion (she said was the easiest), again taught by her mom, Evelyn, at her accordion studio in Antigo.
Her best expression of music was dancing. She loved to dance and attended the National Association of Dance Masters in Chicago, and then opened her own school, Sandy’s School of Dance which she operated for 43 years teaching ballet and tap dancing to thousands of students which included an annual recital.
Sandy loved the out of doors. As a young girl she would play ball on her corner ball field, ride her bike to the city swimming pool (a.k.a. the “mud hole”) to swim, ice skate at Kellogg’s Pond and downhill ski. She enjoyed lawn mowing. She’d get on her rider with that beautiful smile from ear to ear and away she would go with an occasional stop at the garden for a handful of fresh peas.
In the evening, on a clear night, she and Bill would sit by the campfire, listen to music and look at the sky trying to catch a falling star and quickly make a wish or watch for satellites zipping across the sky. I will now think that when I see a twinkling star, it will be Sandy winking at me or if I see several twinkling stars, might they be the same stars that graced the stages of her recitals?
In the winter, Sandy loved to read but when not reading she and Bill would get bundled up and hit the trails on their snowmobiles for many afternoon rides. Upon return she would be greeted with a kiss from her little Yorkie, Buddy.
Survivors include her husband, Bill; a son, Kory Knutson of Antigo; a sister, Lynn (Steve) Fermanich of Antigo; a brother, Karl (Jennifer) Mattes of Milwaukee; nieces and nephews; and her dog, Buck.
Sandy was preceded in death by her parents, Rudy and Evelyn Mattes; a sister, Barby (Dave) Wagner; and her dogs Pepper and Buddy.
A memorial service for family and friends and burial at Queen of Peace Cemetery will be held at a later date.
Sandy will “KEEP ON DANCIN” with the angels.