Wanda Ackerman Cruess, 90, passed away Wednesday, May 1 in Katy, Texas, after a brief illness. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband William F. “Bill” Cruess, to whom she was married for 55 years and with whom she raised three sons.
Born June 19, 1928, in the borough of Whitaker, Pennsylvania, Wanda was the oldest of nine children born to Joe and Rose (Steimer) Ackerman. She graduated from Munhall High School in 1946 and began work as a secretary at the offices of the Westinghouse Electric Company. It was there that she met her future husband, Bill, of Waterbury, Connecticut. Before marrying Bill Wanda enjoyed traveling with a group of close friends, visiting destinations including the American South-West and the island of Bermuda.
Bill and Wanda married in 1955 and in 1963 moved to Houston, Texas. There they spent almost 50 years working together, raising their family, and enjoying the social life of their adopted city. Wanda started her own secretarial service and served in leadership positions of several clubs, including the HESS Ladies Auxiliary and the En Amie club. After their children were raised, Wanda and Bill had the time to do more of something that they greatly enjoyed - dancing. For many years, they could regularly be found on the dance floor of Rudi Lechner’s Restaurant.
After Bill's passing in 2010, Wanda continued to lead an active life with her friends and family. She attended the weddings of two grandchildren and welcomed the birth of three great-grandchildren. She moved to the Oak Park Retirement Community in Katy, Texas, in 2017 and lived her final years in a community of friends who took care of her and in whom she found friendship.
Wanda is survived by her three sons, Michael Cruess and his wife, Patricia, of Georgetown, Texas; Richard Cruess, of Cypress, Texas; and David Cruess and his wife, Melanie, of Sandy Hook, Connecticut. She is also survived by her four grandchildren, Amanda Cruess Mitchell and her husband, Curtis; Gregory Cruess and his wife, Fatima; Zachary Cruess; and Nicholas Cruess. She was also blessed with three great-grandchildren, Catherine, John, and Ana. Also surviving her are her siblings Judy Grosko, Bob Ackerman, Karen Livingston (Jim), and Tom Ackerman (Daryll). Wanda was preceded in death by her beloved husband Bill; her parents Joe and Rose Ackerman; and siblings Joseph Ackerman, Raymond Ackerman, James Ackerman and Joan McKinley.
Arrangements are pending.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Wanda’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Star of Hope.
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