Conreda Luella “Connie” Tande, 89, passed away peacefully on March 1, 2025. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend who touched the lives of many with her warmth, kindness, and unwavering love for family.
Born November 23, 1935 at the family farm in Tipton, KS., Connie was the youngest of nine surviving children: Eleanor, Walter (Dorothy), Eugene (Juanita), Angelene (John Schmitz), Gerald (Marilouise), Leona (Larry Pair), Donald (Mary Ellen), and Wilfred (Lucy). She was preceded in death by infant siblings Mary, Joseph, and Leroy.
Connie graduated from Tipton H.S., moved to Kansas City, MO., and began working at Standard Oil at their corporate offices. She married Carl Hunter in 1955 and they had four children: Janet, Kenneth, Sharon, and Timothy. The family lived in Midland and Garland, TX, before Connie and Carl divorced in 1967.
Connie remained in the Dallas area working for Remmert-Warner at Love Field, where she met Iver Odin Tande, a decorated Airforce Veteran and a chief pilot for Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America. They married December 28, 1968 then moved to Chicago where they built a life together and had a son, Barry. Iver passed suddenly in 1975. Connie remained in Chicago, raising her children and working for Natural Gas Pipeline. In 1989, she relocated to Houston and, in 1997, she moved to Austin and worked for an auditing firm, Taylor and Taylor, then at IBM until her retirement.
Connie was her grandchildren’s #1 fan no matter what sport or performance! She was an avid reader, a die-hard Chicago Bear’s fan, loved crossword puzzles, and keeping in touch through social media.
Connie is preceded in death by her husband, Iver Tande; son, Timothy Hunter; son-in-law, Gary Gray; and her granddaughter, Erica Gilmore. She is survived by her children: Jan Gray, Kenneth (Victoria) Hunter, Sharon Chiles, daughter-in-law, Tina Hunter, and Barry (Angela) Tande. She also leaves behind 9 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren who will carry her love and legacy forward.
A mass and celebration of life will be held for family and close friends in the summer in Tipton, KS.
Connie lived a life full of faith, love, resilience, and dedication to her family. She will be deeply missed, but forever remembered in the hearts of those who knew her.
