Sibylla Sands

Sibylla Paull Sands of Cashmere passed away peacefully early in the morning on December 5, 2021. Sibylla was born in Germany in the village of Gruene (near Langenfeld), to Karl and Hedwig (nee' Balke) Heppenheimer on June 19, 1927; she was 94. Two years earlier, almost to the day, Marvin Eugene Sands of East Wenatchee passed away peacefully early in the morning on December 7, 2019. Marvin was born near Ft. Lupton, Colorado, to Morris Hope and Mary O'Laughlin Sands on September 24, 1926; he was 93. Marvin worked in many different fields during his lifetime. He was a deckhand for Foss Launch and Tug Company of Tacoma; he joined the Navy, which launched a career in electronics and communication. Post Navy, he worked for AT&T and was sent to Kaiserslautern, Germany, helping set up a line of communications from Holland to Turkey for NATO; upon returning stateside, he worked for NASA during the Apollo missions. He also became a Journeyman Carpenter and owned his own business for several years. During Marvin's Tacoma and Navy years, he married Teresa Beattie and had two sons, Steve and Greg, before they separated and divorced. Sibylla was born into the family circus-quite literally-and enjoyed traveling all over pre-WWII Germany with her extended family, performing balancing acts on the tight wire, in the ring on the bare back of a horse, and other physical feats. They would perform for the Russians, Germans, and Americans during the war for self-preservation. She always said her favorite troops to perform for were the Americans. Post-war, Sibylla and her sister traveled as far as Turkey with their sister act before she married her first husband, John Paull, and moved to Kaiserslautern, Germany. It was in Kaiserslautern when Marvin and Sibylla first met. At that time, Sibylla and her husband, John, were renting rooms from Marvin. John and Marvin worked for the same company and had become good friends. Sadly, John suffered a fatal heart attack in 1963. Due to their close friendship, the company asked Marvin to escort John's remains and his widow to the family in New York. Marvin must have been impressed with Sibylla because they were married less than a year later. Marvin and Sibylla lived in many places and had many adventures in their lifetime together. While in Italy, Marvin's teenage sons came to live with them. After several job changes and moves, they settled down in the greater Vancouver, Washington area. They always kept an open door for people in need. One such person was Marvin's ex-wife, Teresa. Teresa's children would stay with them off and on for most of their young lives, developing close bonds with them. Before retiring, they managed several apartment buildings in Vancouver and a beach house in Newport. Marvin and Sibylla were married 56 years. Preceding Marvin in death are his parents, Morris and Mary, his first wife Teresa, his son Gregory, and his sisters Patricia, Ada, and Carol Lee. Preceding Sibylla in death is her parents, Karl and Hedwig, and her brother Karl. Marvin is survived by his son Steve (Linda) Sands, his brother Harvey Sands, and his sister Jeannie Morehouse. Sibylla is survived by her sister, Sabina Vogel. While Marvin and Sibylla together did not have children of their own, the children of Marvin's ex-wife became like children for both--children dear to their heart: Janeva Moses, Stuart Strachan, and Gavin Beattie. Numerous grand-, great-grand, and great-great-grandchildren will miss getting to know Grandpa Marvin and Grandma Sibylla. We will keep their memories alive by sharing their incredible stories with future generations. The family wishes to thank Home Care & Hospice Services for Marvin's exceptional care and support during his last few weeks. They are a compassionate group of positive, helpful people up to and beyond Marvin's passing. We also want to give a grateful shout-out to the staff at Cashmere Post Acute. Sibylla's care while living there was compassionate and patient - truly outstanding. (From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who loved my Grandma during the times when I couldn't be there. - Jessica) A Celebration of Life for Marvin and Sibylla will occur in the spring, location TBD, followed by a family graveside service in Brush Prairie, WA.

Sibylla Sands

June 19, 1927 - December 5, 2021