Connie Sanders, 64

Dr. Connie Jo Sanders, 64, of Anchorage, Alaska, died on Feb. 5, 2026, after a short battle with metastatic breast cancer. She was born on Feb. 14, 1961, in Bozeman, to Horace and Patricia Sanders. Her family moved to Anchorage when she was ten, and she remained part of the Anchorage community throughout her life.

While Connie was a veterinarian with a distinguished work and volunteer history, she was proudest of her family and friends. 

She is survived by her husband of 32 years, Bob Loeffler, and two children, Rebekah Loeffler, and Henry Loeffler and his wife, Saleha Belgaumi. She is also survived by her mother, Patricia Sanders, her sister, Heidi Foster, her brother, Greg Sanders and his wife, Nancy, and several nieces and nephews. 

She had a wonderful circle of friends, many of whom she remained close to since high school. Others she acquired during her active life in Anchorage. Connie traveled widely with her husband and friends and had visited Africa, Central and South America, and the Grand Canyon, among other places.

Connie graduated from Bartlett High School in 1979. She graduated from Washington State University in 1983 and earned a degree in Veterinary Medicine from Oregon State University in 1987. She worked at several veterinary practices around Anchorage and became the veterinarian and then manager of Anchorage Animal Control. 

She retired from Animal Control in 2000 when her second child was born and spent her time as a mother and community volunteer. As a volunteer she was a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), on the board of the Anchorage Waldorf School, and the treasurer for several Alaskan political campaigns. After her children left home, she worked with friends at a local business. She retired in February 2025. 

She will be greatly missed.