Memorial
Sandra K. Duffy, 84 of Walker, Iowa passed away peacefully on July 18, 2026, at Marietta’s Place, the memory care unit in the Good Neighbor Society in Manchester, Iowa. A visitation will be held Tuesday, July 28, from 9 a.m., until the memorial mass at 10:30 a.m., at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Walker, Iowa. Inurnment will follow at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Walker.
Sandy was born on May 11, 1942, in Waterloo, Iowa, the daughter of James W. and Beulah M. (Averill) LaPole. Sandy married Jerry Tennyson with whom she had 3 children. They later divorced. She later married Dr. John Duffy with whom she lived on their acreage in Walker until his passing. Sandy thoroughly enjoyed her work as a lab technician at Quaker Oats in Cedar Rapids for over 40 years until her retirement in 2005.
Sandy loved caring for family and took care of Jerry’s Grandma, John’s mother, her mother and John in their final years. Her loving nature was evident in the way she cared for others. She loved her grandchildren; her favorite times were when all the family was gathered and watching them play. Sandy loved playing pool and had a beautiful pool table in the basement that was frequently the center of activity when family gathered. She played pool for the Wee Willy’s women’s pool league for over 30 years; their team was many times league champions. Sandy also enjoyed trail riding horses with her best friend Sandra Greear as well as knitting, gardening, and taking road trips.
Sandy is survived by her children, Kim Tennyson, Darin (Jan) Tennyson, and Tina (Bob) Ginger; step-daughter, Celia (Bill) Cameron; grandchildren, Casey (Brittany) Long, Lesley Eiken, Mary (Brad) Trevaskis, Sam (Brittany) Eiken, Garrett Tennyson, Rebecca (Lucas Bates) Tennyson, Drew Lane, Derek (Feliciti) Lane, Isabel (Tanner) Maki and great-grandchildren, Molly, Lincoln, Norah, Emma, Oliver, Hudson, Hayden, Kai, Wade, Lissandra, Tex, Dante, and one on the way; brother, Ron LaPole and sister, Dianna Geiger; nieces, Kelly (Al) Lorenzen and Jamie (Andy) Kampman and many cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Dr. John L. Duffy and brother-in-law, James Geiger.