Wanda Jane Gerdeen

Wanda Jane Larry was born to Esther and Wilson (Bud) Larry in Sparta, Wisconsin. Her sister and best friend Jeannine followed less than two years later. They grew up in Grand Haven, Michigan. Wanda was born with a talent for singing. As a young girl, she dreamed of being an opera singer. She would sneak to the nearby train depot to sing, enjoying the acoustics there. She also had a talent for portrait sketching, which caught the attention of a talent scout from the Chicago Institute of Art, who came to the house to recruit her, but Wanda was too shy to greet him.

Later in life, she painted beautiful landscapes. She also taught herself to play the violin and the piano. A turning point in her life was when she was 16 and accepted Jesus as her Savior, which shaped the rest of her life. After high school, she worked at Gardner Denver in Grand Haven for 7 years, where she met her future husband, James Gerdeen. They married in 1960, and after 65 years of marriage, were parted by his passing in 2025. They had three children: Lori, Sonya, and Timothy. They lived in several States: Ohio, California, Michigan, Minnesota, Colorado, and Missouri. Because James had cabin fever, they changed houses often---and over the years---kept cabins in the Rocky Mountains and in Missouri.

Wanda was known for her beautiful smile, her contagious laughter, and her singing voice. She had many friends. She was very hospitable and followed the homemaking advice of Heloise, decorating according to the season. With her husband’s roles as professor and pastor, she volunteered in the Sunday School, the nursery, and to preschoolers at Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS). For each of these, she led singing and prepared solos for Sunday services. In the last 15 years, she befriended many MU international graduates at International Community Church, her final church home.

Things her children remember are Wanda singing while vacuuming, dusting with an old pair of underwear on her head to protect her hairdo, and driving fast on bumpy roads, giving her the nickname, Wild Wanda at the Wheel. Her grandchildren remember her for happy memories at the holidays, a peaceful, beautiful home, and loyal dedication to God, her husband, and her family—not to forget the late-night snacks of peanuts and ice cream.

She is survived by her two daughters Lori (Bill), Sonya (John), daughter-in-law Wendy (Tim), her sister Jeannine (Don), her sister-in-law Lola (Don) and brother-in-law Joel (Marilyn), grandchildren Peter (Kimber), Joanna (Steven), Harlan, Mary, Innes (Ian), and Connor (Julia); great-grandchildren: Kenzie, Jaben, Caleb, Zoey, Isaiah, and Jacksen. She is preceded in death by her husband James, her son Tim, her mother and her father, her parents-in-law Barbara and Clarence Gerdeen, an older half-sibling named Jimmy or Ginny whom she could not locate, a younger brother born almost full term, her sister-in-law Charlotte, and brother-in-laws Chris and Bob.

Special thanks go to Greta and Lauren, caregivers from Right at Home (R) and the outstanding staff at Westbury Senior Living of Columbia. Memorial gifts may be given to the employees through the Westbury Resident Council Fund. https://app.autobooks.co/pay/westbury-senior-living-res-council