Wanda Jean Shively

Wanda was born February 24, 1933 on the family farm in Clarksville, Arkansas. Her parents were Fred A. Kauffeld and Ophelia Jacobs Kauffeld. She had two older siblings (Lawrence and Freda) and four younger siblings (Anna, Sue, Freddie, and Sylvia).

She attended Sallis elementary and Clarksville Junior high and high schools, graduating in 1950. She went to the College of the Ozarks in Clarksville majoring in mathematics. She was very involved in music during college and was the president of her senior class. At her graduation in 1954, she was called to the stage and told she was voted by the faculty to be the best overall senior student.

Wanda was offered teaching jobs in Arkansas, California, and Alaska (which she selected because it sounded the most adventurous to her). While in Palmer, Alaska, she met and married Joseph V. Shively, who was stationed there in the army. They were married February 12, 1955 and were together for over 67 years. They had seven children, six of whom survived; Victoria Jean, Steven Joseph, Gregory Michael, Tandy Elizabeth, Laurie Ann, and Jeffrey Todd.

After leaving Alaska in 1955, they moved to Steuben County, Indiana to farm. Through an additional 37 ½ years career of teaching, Wanda taught at Ray, Indiana for 2 years, Fremont, Indiana for 5 ½ years, and 30 years at Camden-Frontier school in Michigan, until retirement in 1997. Wanda also received her Master of Science degree from Purdue University in Guidance and Counseling in 1961.

Wanda served as president of her local home economics club, president of the Teachers Association at Camden-Frontier schools, and was an officer of the Steuben County Homemaker Association. She also started the Guidance and Counseling departments at Fremont, Indiana and Camden-Frontier, Michigan schools.

Her best memory of teaching was at the end of her first year of teaching at Alaska. A mother of one of her 6th grade students told her “Whatever it takes to bring out the best in a student you certainly seem to have”.

She was predeceased by her parents, Fred and Ophelia Kauffeld, her siblings Laurence, Freda, Anna, Sylvia, son Greg Shively, grandson Steven Chad Shively, and an infant son at birth. She is survived by her children, Victoria (David) Foster of Fremont, Steven (Deniese) Shively of Fremont, Tandy (Lee) Paarlberg of Greenfield, IN, Laurie (Ron) Sellers of Fremont, Jeff (Anita) Shively of Angola, and 13 grandchildren: Tyler Foster, Michael Foster, Megan (Foster) Dunn, Rae (Shively) Calderwood, Jeremy Shively, Dru Leslie, Eric Paarlberg, Matthew Paarlberg, Tara Paarlberg, Logan Sellers, Ashton (Sellers) Ryan , Rachael (Shively) Bell, Brooklynn Shively, numerous great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 4 pm until 6 pm Friday, November 13, 2026 at Beams Funeral Home, Fremont, Indiana. Additional visitation will be held from 10 am until 11 am Saturday at the Fremont United Methodist Church prior to services.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11 am Saturday, November 14, 2026 at the Fremont United Methodist Church, Fremont, Indiana. Pastor Kerry Clear will officiate the service.

Wanda will be buried at Ray-Covenanter Cemetery in Fremont, Indiana. A luncheon will be provided following the burial at the Fremont American Legion Cassel Post # 257, by the Fremont Merry Mixers.

Memorial gifts may be made to: Greg Shively memorial scholarship or Chad Shively memorial scholarship at Steuben County Community Foundation, 1701 N. Wayne Street, Angola, IN 46703.