Samuel "Dave" David Sanders

He was born on May 24, 1941 in Anniston, Alabama to Samuel and Jane (Reed) Sanders. He married Sonja Josephine Gunderson on August 20, 1966 in Albert Lea, Minnesota.

Dave graduated from Anniston High School, and then he attended the University of Alabama. He received his Ph. D. in Metallurgy from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Upon graduation, he worked for Battelle in Columbus, Ohio. In 1973, he became a professor at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Then, in 1976, Dave moved his family to Pekin and became a manager at Caterpillar, Inc.

While at Caterpillar, Inc., Dave worked to open the Mapleton Foundry. On December 8, 1979, he witnessed the first pour at Building D. His career at Caterpillar spanned 25 years, and he eventually rose to the position of Manufacturing Operations Manager. He left Caterpillar, Inc. in 2001 and worked for Intermet, Inc. After Intermet, Inc., Dave was an independent consultant within the metal casting industry.

Dave was a long-time member of American Foundry Society (AFS). In 1999, AFS awarded Dave the Joseph S. Seaman gold medal, one of AFS’s highest awards. He was in the AFS Directors Class of 1997; he was a CMI Director from 2001-2005; and he was a member of the Executive Programs and Papers Division of Cast Iron from 2002-2024. He also received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2001.

In addition to his industry work, Dave was committed to foundry education. He was a long-time supporter of Foundry Education Foundation (FEF) and reached the Provost level of charitable giving. Dave served on the FEF Board of Directors from 1995 through 2006 and became FEF President in 2001. During his time on the Board of Directors, he served on multiple committees and continued to serve on the FEF Investment Committee. After that, he served for over 10 years as a non-board committee member.

An avid reader, Dave enjoyed downhill skiing, sailing, fishing, and working on his cars. He also enjoyed doing metal castings and traveling with his work. His greatest enjoyment was spending quality time with family and friends.

Dave was an active and longtime member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Pekin.

Dave was preceded in death by his parents; twin brother, Gordon “Mike” Sanders and one sister, Marilyn Beil.

Dave is survived by his wife, Sonja, of 58 years; Grant D. Sanders, his son, and Grant’s wife Catherine K.S. Chang, of Apple Valley, Minnesota; Sara Sanders, his daughter, of Iowa City, Iowa; and five grandchildren, Annie Sanders of Apple Valley, Minnesota, Adeline Kenlin, Kjirstin Kenlin, Josephine Kenlin and Soren Kenlin, all of Iowa City, Iowa.

A Celebration of his Life Service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 19, 2024 at Our Savior Lutheran Church. Pastor Stephen Barnes and S.A.M. Tim Leitner will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday evening, December 18, 2024, at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. An additional visitation will be held from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Thursday morning at the church prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Our Savior Lutheran Church, 2223 Sheridan Road, Pekin, Illinois 61554, Foundry Education Foundation; 6095 North Penny Lane, Schaumburg, Illinois 60173 (with “Sanders” in the memo line or by website at https://fefinc.org/donate.html- check the box In Memorial and type in “Sanders”); or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, P.O. Box 5014 Hagerstown, Maryland 21741.