Sally Rae Rynott, 84, died at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington Iowa on Monday, November 21, 2022, after a lengthy battle with Lewy Body Dementia.
Sally was born January 14, 1938, in Burlington, to Robert and Frances Rynott. She was always very proud of her Swedish/Danish ancestry. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, sang in the church choir, belonged to Luther League, and remained a life-long Lutheran.
“Sal” graduated from Burlington High School in 1956. She described herself as athletic (a member of the volleyball, basketball, and track teams and she played semi-pro softball for the Burlington Merchants team); musical (performing in a variety of vocal ensembles, as well as playing oboe in band, orchestra, and the Southeast Iowa Symphony); and fun-loving.
Sally graduated from the State University of Iowa with a bachelor's degree in music in 1960. She was an instrumental music instructor in Grinnell Community Schools, Grinnell, Iowa; and School District #110 in Deerfield, Illinois before obtaining a master's degree in science in education from Western Illinois University in 1968. Sally was then Director of Bands and Coordinator of Music Education for School District #205 in Galesburg, Illinois for 17 years before advancing her education with an education specialist degree from Western Illinois University in 1986.
In 1988, Sally was appointed the Music Specialist Consultant for the New Mexico State Department of Education, advancing to become Assistant Director, Professional Licensure and Nonpublic School Accreditation, and finally State Director, management Support and Intervention, before retiring in 2000.
Professional memberships include the National Band Association, National Education Association. Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Delta Kappa, and Phi Beta Mu.
Besides her accomplishments as an educator, Sally had an interest in dogs, owning six Miniature Schnauzers in her life; cars- she raced a TR3, loved driving convertibles, and growing roses. Sally almost received her pilot’s license, however, she did not complete her Cross Country because she was not allowed to take Gus, her Miniature Schnauzer, on the trip.
Throughout Sally’s life, family was of great importance. In 2020 Sally wanted to “go home” and she moved back to Burlington, Iowa where she and her siblings grew up.
Survivors include soulmate Cynthia Leonard; sister Joanne Magdefrau; brother James Rynott; six nephews and nieces; nine grandnephews and nieces; Misty the Miniature Schnauzer, and hundreds of Sally’s Galesburg High School (GHS) Band Kids.
She was preceded in death by her parents, five Miniature Schnauzers.
The funeral service for Sally will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, November 29 at Lunning Chapel. Pastor Ryan Cosgrove will officiate. Interment will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the funeral service.
Donations in Sally’s memory may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association Research, 912 Killian Hill Road SW, Suite 205, Lilburn, GA 30044, or Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice.