Sandra “Sandy” Carey passed away on June 15th, 2026, in the Town of Mukwonago home she shared with her beloved husband of nearly 60 years—Casimir C. Carey Jr.—since 1970. Sandy was born to Rheinhardt and Dorothy Hansen of Yonkers, New York on April 30, 1946—the middle child of five in the family. With parents who were first and second-generation German immigrants, respectively, she spent her formative years surrounded by family friends from the German community in Westchester County and New York City. During the summer of 1956, she traveled to the “old country” by steamship—visiting with relatives for several months who remained at her father’s birthplace, the island of Föhr off Germany’s North Sea coast.

Following graduation from Roosevelt High School in 1964, Sandy completed a business school training program that introduced her to bookkeeping and secretarial skills. She then elected to hone her clerical expertise in the United States Navy, joining the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) as a yeoman in 1965. After attending the U.S. Naval Training Center Bainbridge at Port Deposit, Maryland for skill qualification, she was stationed in Newport, Rhode Island.

Sandy met her husband, Casimir “Casey” Carey—also a sailor in Newport—whom she subsequently married in 1966. The couple moved to Milwaukee in 1967 with a newborn boy, and welcomed a baby girl into the world in 1969. They built a home in Mukwonago together during 1970, which was filled with children’s antics and memorable holidays for the next seventeen years—at which point her teenagers began departing for studies at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. As one who thoroughly enjoyed singing classical music, Sandy auditioned for—and was chosen as a member of—Milwaukee’s Bel Canto Chorus. During her tenure in the chorus, she joyfully performed at numerous events.

Over the course of her career, Sandy was employed in a variety of administrative positions, including at the Village of Mukwonago; Lad Lake, Inc; Badger Bearing; Albert Trostel & Sons; and Fireside Hearth & Home. In her professional life she earned a stalwart reputation as a meticulous employee with unshakeable moral and ethical standards of conduct.

Sandy had a passion for gardening; she took great pride in harvesting vegetables she grew in her back yard each season. She took great measures to beautify her property with attractive flowers and seasonally blooming bushes. The volume of fruit she grew on her front yard pear tree became legendary in her neighborhood. Throughout her childhood and adult life, she enjoyed the company of many pet dogs and an occasional cat.

Sandy’s greatest pride was in her family—including two children and two terrific grandchildren—upon whom she doted and showed endless support for their endeavors. She always placed her family first, eminently committed to helping others succeed in achieving personal and professional goals.

Sandra is survived by her husband, Casimir C. Carey Jr.; son Casimir C. Carey III and wife Sarah Carey of Colorado; daughter Jennifer J. McGinley and husband Richard McGinley of Slinger; sister Jean Gates and husband Bryan Gates of California; granddaughter Alyssa McGinley of La Crosse; and granddaughter Amanda Vorderbruggen and husband Nicholas Vorderbruggen of Sheboygan.

Sandra’s memorial service begins with visitation at 1pm on Saturday, June 27th at Schmidt & Bartelt Funeral Home at 930 Main Street, Mukwonago, WI 53149. The formal portion of the service begins at 2pm. The Carey family invites all attendees to a meal following the service.