Wanda Mae Yawberg, nee Stickles, died peacefully in her home on October 8, surrounded by her daughters. She was born April 7, 1935, in Perrysburg, the youngest of four children to Merlin and Elsie (Austin). She grew up on Locust Street surrounded by her Stickle cousins. But ultimately, the family moved to a farm outside McClure in 1949. She was preceded in death by her high school sweetheart and husband of 67 years, Richard (Dick) C. Yawberg, and great-granddaughter, Abigail Hawkins. She is survived by three daughters, Jill Bernthisel (Rick Thomas) of Haskins, Jan (Frank) Revill of Grand Rapids, Julie Van De Velde (Mark Hale) of Weston, and wannabe daughter, Cathy Jeffers of Grand Rapids; 10 grandchildren, Tracy (Jerry) Pyles of Fort Myers Florida; Eric (Beth) Fritz of Pfafftown, North Carolina; Jennifer (Richard) Hunter of Sanford, Florida; Brad (Sara) Stott of Deschler; Michael (Laura) Fritz of Grand Rapids; Holly (Trey) Proctor of Weston; Kristen (Justin) Hawkins of Swanton; Ryan (Kiley) Van de Velde of Waterville; Greg (Tiffany Kuhn) Van De Velde of Grand Rapids, and Janelle (Joe) Clauson of Perrysburg. She had 24 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild and many extended family members.
She graduated from Grand Rapids High School in 1953. Her senior year, she raised chickens and sold them to pay for her wedding dress. Dick and Wanda established their roots in the home they built in 1960 in Grand Rapids.
Wanda lived a life filled with family and food. So much food. Whether it was family Tuesday night dinners (four generations for one meal), Wednesday grilled cheese lunches, summer time birthday parties at their pond, Easter, 4th of July or Thanksmas (Thanksgiving and Christmas combined), there was always homemade food. Oyster crackers, pumpkin muffins, beef and noodles, sloppy joes, stuffed cabbages and the list goes on and on. If you left her house hungry, it was your own fault.
Her love for her family showed through 71 years of devotion to being a mom, grandma and great-grandma. Dick and she were present at every sporting event, choir/band concert, recital, graduation, birthday party, wedding, baby shower, etc. Usually, they had cooked up some scheme together to enhance the festivities. Like the time they were selling ice cream from a beach cart at one grandson’s wedding, complete with lei and flamingo sunglasses. Or when she trimmed her own fabulous flower garden to decorate a granddaughter’s wedding reception tent. And their surprise costumes were legendary, always a pair, like Mickey and Minnie Mouse or pilgrims for Thanksgiving complete with hats and buckled shoes. Truthfully, she was the mastermind, but Dick went along with her wild plans.
Before Dick retired from Owens Corning, they travelled to Europe researching the family genealogy in Switzerland and France. They took their grandkids on many trips as well, including New York, Seattle and Atlanta. They were snowbirds in Fort Myers Beach for decades, but Grand Rapids was home and she always wanted to be home.
Funeral services are private. If you so chose, donations can be made to the March of Dimes, in honor of her great-granddaughter, Abigail. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Peinert-Dunn Funeral Home in Waterville.