Joan Ellen Tozier

Joan Ellen (Sandvick) Tozier, age 75, born April 13, 1950, passed away peacefully on July 6, 2025, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Born and raised in Sioux City, Iowa, Joan was the beloved daughter of Clarence “Sandy” Sandvick and Charlotte “Tootie” (Leetch) Sandvick. A lifelong educator with a deep passion for teaching, she graduated from East High School, earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Northern Iowa, and later completed her Master’s degree at Morningside College.

Joan devoted her life to teaching Spanish, beginning her career at Leeds and West High School, and spending the last 38 years of her career at East High School. She was deeply committed to her students, leading educational trips to Mexico and Spain, and was actively involved in numerous school organizations, including the Spanish Honor Society, the 185th Student Partnership, the Faculty Advisory Committee, and the East High cheerleading program, which she led for many years across all sports.

Beyond her career in education, Joan was a dedicated member of the community. She participated in several organizations, including the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA), Siouxland Progressive Women, the Siouxland Kennel Club, the Raider Spirit Foundation, and was a faithful member of Morningside Lutheran Church.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, her nephew Greg Jorgensen, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Those left honoring her memory include: her sister Carolyn Jorgensen and her daughter Amy O’Connor (Michael) and their sons Joseph and Dylan; her sister Lori Hammond (Troy) and their sons Logan and Colby; and her brother Craig Sandvick and his children Amanda, Searra, Josh, David, Michael, and stepdaughter Emily.

Services will be held at Morningside Lutheran Church at 10:30 am on Thursday, July 24, 2025, with a visitation taking place one hour prior.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in Joan’s memory to be made to one of the following organizations: Noah’s Hope Animal Rescue, Siouxland Humane Society, Morningside Lutheran Church, or the Alzheimer’s Association.

She will be greatly missed by those who knew her and loved her. She was an amazing woman.