Jeffrey Nels Sandlin passed away on December 26, 2024. His heart could not overcome a recent illness after enduring many years of medical challenges.
Jeff was born December 30, 1983, in Belleville, Illinois, the only son of Rev. Kenneth and Marcia (Haupt) Sandlin. He spent his early childhood in Cahokia, where he loved to watch the planes take off from the downtown St. Louis airport and to look out the patio door at the St. Louis Gateway Arch. His elementary, middle, and high school years were spent in Hillsboro, IL, where he graduated from high school in 2002. Following high school graduation, he attended Wartburg College in Waverly, IA, for two years, where he majored in communication arts and was particularly involved in Wartburg TV.
On November 29, 2008, Jeff was united in marriage with Meridith Burkgren Morgan at Fredsville Lutheran Church in rural Cedar Falls. They made their home in Waterloo. During their life together, they enjoyed attending musicals, travel including Hawaii and Alaska, and collaborating on technology projects, particularly for their church.
Jeff worked at KWWL for his entire adult life, beginning in November of 2003 as an early morning production assistant and being promoted to his dream job as a director in August of 2004. At the time of his passing, Jeff was the senior director for the KWWL production department. Jeff was particularly proud of winning an individual regional Emmy for newscast directing in 2023.
Jeff was a man of faith, a lifelong Christian and Lutheran who firmly believed in Jesus Christ. He was baptized into Christ on April 22, 1984 (Easter Sunday) at King of Kings Lutheran Church in Cahokia, IL, and he made affirmation of his baptism on May 17, 1998, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Hillsboro, IL. In recent years, Jeff ran the sound system, projection, and video recording equipment for countless Fredsville Lutheran Church worship services as well as weddings and funerals.
The outstanding depth of knowledge, talent, and dedication that Jeff brought to the world will be greatly missed amongst the Fredsville congregation, his colleagues at KWWL, and especially his family and friends.
Jeff was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents. He is survived by his wife, Meridith Sandlin, parents Ken and Marcia Sandlin, in-laws, aunts, uncles, cousins, and numerous friends.
All obituary information has been taken from the funeral home, newspaper or other online resource.
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