Sandra Solien

February 11, 2019

Sandra Elizabeth Sykora Solien (Wojahn), 76, passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully, in Chicago on Feb. 11, 2019. She was in Chicago attending the wedding of her grandson and had celebrated this joyous occasion with her entire family. A memorial service for the family is planned for July 20th at the American Buffalo Resort in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Sandra was born August 21, 1942 in Windom, Minnesota; the eldest of two daughters born to Sigvald and Bernetta (Sykora) Solien. She grew up on their farm on the hill, where she fostered her deep love of animals, especially horses. She attended Windom High School, graduating in 1960. She intended to go to college but life had other plans and she married Wilbur James Wojahn of Windom on October 29, 1960. They moved to Milwaukee to pursue his college education, and while there they had two daughters. A son was born soon after Wilbur’s graduation and their move back to Minnesota. Sandra always loved the west and, with her encouragement, Wilbur pursued a job in Colorado, moving to Fort Collins, Colorado in 1966. Sandra was a woman possessed of a great many interests and talents. She loved reading and music all her life, and was a lifelong learner. While raising her children she was a dedicated volunteer for the Mountain Prairie Girl Scout Council, and was part of the organizing team for GS Day Camp for many years. After raising her family she enrolled in college, earning her Bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University in 1993 and Master’s degree from New Mexico Highlands in Social Work in 1996, specializing in gerontology and hospice. She loved travelling, camping and being in the mountains, spending much time all over the western US with Wilbur and their beloved dog Wags in their RV. She was also an avid student of all things about the west, particularly Native Americans and their crafts. She combined her passions for research, travel and the west when she and Wilbur covered the entire length of the Lewis and Clark trail during the bicentennial of the expedition. She is remembered for her keen intelligence, boundless creativity, and unique sense of humor. Sandra was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years. She is survived by daughter Jaye (Wojahn) Talbott, her husband Lyndon, and their sons Lyndon, Byron, and Tyler Talbott; daughter Jere (Wojahn) Zimmerman, her husband Tom Mitchell, their children, Arthur and Robert Zimmerman, Keli and William Mitchell; son Juhl Wojahn and his wife Lisa Claypool; and her sister Sally (Solien) Edgar, her husband Thomas, and their children Erik and Elizabeth Edgar. The family requests that any memorial donations please be made to the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital or KUNC community radio in care of Goes Funeral Care, 3665 Canal Drive, Suite E, Ft. Collins, CO 80524.