December 3, 1925-February 15, 2021
With a heavy heart we announce the passing of our beloved Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother and Great -Great Grandmother Wanda M. Vandenack of Chowchilla California on February 15, 2021 at the age of 95. She passed peacefully surrounded by family members.
Wanda was born on December 3, 1925 in Arkansas City, Kansas to Manzer A. Beatty and Ethel A. Howland Beatty. Wanda was a descendant of John Howland who came over on the Mayflower and was a signatory to the Mayflower Compact. Wanda was the fifth of 6 children whom all preceded her in death. Wanda grew up and went through school in Sentinel Oklahoma where she met Lonnie Vandenack and later married while he was working in the shipyards in Oakland California during World War II. Lonnie joined the Army later that year. Lonnie’s stint in the service took them to bases in Idaho and Utah before returning to Oklahoma in 1944. There, involved in farming they had 3 children, Linda, Ace, and Dan. The family moved to Chowchilla California in 1951 where the family was involved in farming, dairy and beef operations. While she was a devout wife and loving mother, she started her own leather shop business known as “Cow Country Leather”. Wanda and Lonnie moved to Raymond California in 1964 where they raised horses and a commercial hog operation, they were members of the American Quarter Horse Association. Lonnie also worked at the Raymond Knowles Granite Quarry. She was a member of the Southern Baptist Church where she served as treasurer for 10 years, faith was an especially important part of her life. Wanda worked for DeWitt’s Drug Store in Chowchilla from 1972 to 1978 then at the Raymond Post Office for 14 years and served as Postmaster for the last 9 years and retired in 1992. She had the privilege and honor of being a part of the Olympic torch relay when the United States Postal Service was a sponsor of the Summer games which were held in Barcelona Spain in 1992. After retirement Wanda and Lonnie moved to Corvallis Montana to retire on a small cattle ranch. Upon the passing of Lonnie in 1997 Wanda returned to Chowchilla to be near family and friends until her death.
Wanda was preceded in death by her husband Lonnie Vandenack and daughter Linda as well as her parents and siblings.
She is survived by her daughters’ children: Lori Funk and spouse Donald of Elkader Iowa, Martha Hope of West Union Iowa, Marty Hope of West Union Iowa, Daniel Hope and spouse Jenna of West Union Iowa and Chad Hope and spouse Susan of Decorah Iowa, and great grandchildren, Brianna, Dillon, Charlyn, and Makenzy. She is also survived by her son Ace Vandenack and spouse Pamela of Myers Flat California and grandchildren Todd Vandenack and spouse Sally of Miranda California, Aaron Vandenack of Wawona California, Patrick Zirbel and spouse Jennifer of Bourbonnais Illinois, Melissa Zirbel of Essex Illinois, and great grandchildren Justin, Michelle , Kevin, Noel, Jakob, Jeshuah, Christian, Ethan, Savannah, and Isabella. She is also survived by her son Dan Vandenack and spouse Ruth of Chowchilla California and grandchildren Dana Celedon and Spouse Carlos of Chowchilla California, Richard Vandenack and spouse Tracy of Tollhouse California and Tricia Roberts and spouse Thomas of Chowchilla California and Greatgrandchildren Justin, Gavin, Devin, Kayla, Derek, Morgan, Logan, Haley, Taylor, Austin, Katarina, Annalyssa, Westley and Tyler and Great-great-grandchildren Jordan, Viviana, Vincent, Max, Hank, Ellery, Carli, Mia, Sadie, Carolyn, and Preston.
