Wanda L Miller

Springfield, IL-Wanda Lee (Stegemann) Miller, 90, of Springfield, a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully at 9:00 am Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at Concordia Village.

Wanda was born to Carl and Rena Stegemann at her parents’ farm home in rural Bluffs, IL on August 24, 1934. The youngest of three girls, Wanda, along with her sisters Evelyn and Doris, were true farm girls. They did their chores and helped their parents on the farm when not attending school. Wanda’s elementary school was a converted hotel in Exeter, IL. She then became a Bluffs Blue Jay at Bluffs High School, a school she was proud of her whole life. In high school she became proficient in typing and shorthand. At this point she was ready for “big city life”, so upon graduation from high school, she moved to Springfield to apply her secretarial skills in an office job.

She got a job at Memorial Hospital working as a secretary for the assistant administrator of the hospital. She shared a small apartment on Adams Street with two other young ladies working at the hospital, both of whom she helped get jobs there. They walked the mile to work virtually every day – rain, snow or shine. While she was working at Memorial, she took a chance on a blind date with a young man named Gordon Miller. From that blind date came a life-long love.

Gordon and Wanda were married on September 11, 1955 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bluffs, IL. They moved into a home on south 5th Street in Springfield and started a family. A girl first, Kim Renee. Then a boy, Brian Gordon. In 1964, having outgrown the house on Fifth Street, they bought a new home on the bourgeoning west side of Springfield in the new Sherwood subdivision. They would live in that home for almost 60 years.

After having moved to Springfield, Wanda became a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. Gordon joined the church as well during his and Wanda’s dating and they remained members the rest of their lives. Wanda was very active in service to the church and it’s grade school where her children would attend through 8th grade. She was specifically active in Ladies Aid and Altar Guild for many years at Church. At the school, she was active in many parent organizations and activities, including as a den mother for Brian’s Cub Scout pack. She later continued her service through many volunteer hours at Lutheran High School.

But Wanda’s gift of service was most diligently and lovingly applied to her family. While Wanda was slight in stature, she was a tower of strength and energy when it came to supporting her family. A homemaker and mother, Wanda was central to the loving Christian home she and Gordon built together, raising her children, hosting family holiday gatherings and card games with many good friends and taking loving care of her in-laws as they grew older. Well into her eighties, she was still hosting family holiday gatherings for as many as 25 or 30 people. She kept her home spotless – to the degree it became a point of teasing and wonder for the grandchildren – and was still cutting her own grass also well into her eighties! And as Gordon began to have issues with his health, he could not have asked for a better, more tireless caregiver than Wanda. And everything she did was with a smile on her face and a hum on her voice.

Despite her disarming smile and gentle nature, you did not want to underestimate Wanda’s competitive streak. Something she inherited primarily from her father. Whether it was pinochle, dominoes, Monopoly or any other game, Grandma was out to win! Of course it was done graciously with only the slightest, good-natured ribbing of those she defeated. Somehow it was always easier losing to Wanda.

After her kids had grown up and moved out, Wanda and Gordon found some time for travel, making it to all fifty states including a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Alaska. They also enjoyed many drives to visit nearby family or just a drive to check out the family “ranch” in Auburn. Wanda also found great satisfaction in going back into the workforce for a while, working at Thomas C Publishing, shipping books around the world to those needing their specialized medical books.

But most of their time involved in their grandchildren’s lives and activities, attending countless school and sports activities from t-ball, youth basketball, volleyball and soccer games all the way through high school and college volleyball and soccer games, Gordon and Wanda were there. Their presence and support were so pervasive, they became “grandma and grandpa” for dozens of kids who just happened to play on the same teams with their grandkids. And when the activities evolved from school sports and music performances to fashion, glassblowing, curling and careers, the passionate support never diminished.

Wanda spent her final two years living at Concordia Village in Springfield. There she found many friends, old and new, and many happy hours in numerous social activities. Card games, dominoes, bingo, excursions to musical performances and local restaurants and standing “dates” at lunches and dinners filled her days.

Wanda most certainly led a life of beautiful simplicity. A devout Christian woman whose purpose in life was to serve and support her husband, family, friends and her church. For many people of later generations, that likely would have been seen as unfulfilling or not enough. For Wanda, not only was it enough, it was everything. Her love, kindness, and eternal smile will be greatly missed.

Wanda is survived by her daughter Kim (husband Craig) Haynes, her daughter-in-law Janet Miller, both of Springfield, her six grandchildren: Matthew (wife Sonja) Haynes of Wiesbach, Germany, Adam Haynes (fiancée Jessica Jones) of Washington, DC, Carl Haynes of West Bend, WI, Katrina Miller of Bloomington, IL, Amanda (husband Cesar Hernandez) Miller of Nashville, TN and Anna Miller of Kokomo, IN. Wanda is also survived by one great-granddaughter Noah Isabella Hernandez-Miller born just last October 20th. One final great joy of Wanda’s life was to meet and hold Noah just three months ago, before Wanda’s health began to fail. Wanda is also survived by a sister, Evelyn Vortman, Winchester, IL and several nephews, a niece and numerous cousins. Wanda was preceded in death by her parents, husband Gordon, son Brian and one sister, Doris Rich.

Arrangements are in the care of Bisch Funeral Home West 2931 S. Koke Mill Rd. Springfield, IL where the family will greet friends Tuesday, May 6, 2025 from 9:00 am until the time of the funeral service at 10:30 am. Rev. Jonathan Sharp, Associate Pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church will officiate. Burial service will follow at Camp Butler National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish may direct memorial contributions to Trinity Lutheran Church and School 220 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62704 or Springfield Lutheran High School 5200 S. 6th Street Frontage Rd. E, Springfield, IL 62703 or Siteman Cancer Center, MSC 1082-414-2555, 1 Brookings Drive., St. Louis, MO 63130.

Please visit the online “Life Remembered Story” at www.bischfuneralhomewest.com where tributes and condolences may be left for the family.