Hayward, Sara Elizabeth passed away in Minneapolis on Aug. 31, 2022 after a nearly five-year journey with two different kinds of cancer, her loving husband Don by her side. Throughout that journey, Sara showed unwavering grace and dignity in the face of the greatest challenge of her life. A multi-faceted woman, Sara was loved, admired and respected by many, and she approached everything she did with passion and dedication. After retiring from a successful career in human resources at 3M, she became an expert gardener, creating a Monet-worthy landscape in her backyard. An excellent skier and intrepid hiker, she loved spending time in the mountains around her home away from home in Sun Valley, Idaho. She loved to travel and turned every adventure into a learning experience for herself and others. Through it all, she remained a proud and passionate Badgers and Packers fan, her emotions rising and falling with the teams' fortunes. Sara grew up in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master's degree from the University of Minnesota. She is preceded in death by her son Paul and sister-in-law Nancy Putz. She is survived by her husband Don Amundson; brother John Putz (Bev); nephew Jeff Putz (Tracey Mara); niece Susie Drury (John); nephew Andrew Putz (Kylie Engle); grandnephew Will Putz and grandnieces Hannah and Annika Drury; stepchildren Will Amundson (Laura Melcher) and Emily Wendt (Jesse); and stepgrandchildren Nels and Anders Amundson and Ellie, Lucy, Brenden and Riley Wendt. Special thanks to Minnesota Oncology, especially Dr. Tim Larson and his colleagues. Private family burial at Lakewood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations to the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum or the Minnesota Orchestra.

Published on September 4, 2022