Thursday 28th March 2024

Wanda Joan Smith, 85, of Laurel, IA entered the arms of JESUS on the morning of May 25, 2020 at The Willows assisted living of Marshalltown with family and special staff by her side. The family would like to thank the staff members at The Willows that gave special care during her final days. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 29, 2020, at Anderson Funeral Homes in Marshalltown. Visitation will be 10:00 a.m. until the time of the services at the funeral home. Internment will be at Graceland Cemetery in Laurel. Online condolences may be sent to www.andersonfhs.com

Wanda was born March 23, 1935, to Vernon H. and Wilma (Vieth) Sietmann. She graduated from Laurel High School in 1953 and began her college education at Cornell College in Mt. Vernon for 2 years and was in the Kappa Theta sorority. She was then united in marriage to Raymond L. Smith on July 27, 1955, in Hanau, Germany while Raymond was serving in the US Army. Wanda took a great interest in speaking and writing in German. Wanda put her education on hold to dedicate herself as a wife and stay at home mother to her three children, Brent, Brenda and Brad. In 1988, she graduated with her teaching degree through Buena Vista at the same time her youngest son, Brad, was graduating from High School. This began her new career at East Marshall teaching first grade until her retirement. She was very active with the Laurel United Methodist church including United Methodist Women, adult bible studies, vacation bible school, mission outreach programs, Sunday school teacher and church library. For years she was the face of the opening Sunday School assembly with song charts so all the kids would know the words and alongside her was her sister, Beth, on the piano. She was also the leader of King’s Kids every Wednesday after school. Wanda also had the opportunity to lead a youth group on a mission trip to Kentucky and was part of a mission trip to Africa. Serving the Lord and spreading His Word to children was her passion.
Wanda was incredibly creative and talented in everything she put her mind too; crocheting afghans, sewing, candle making and her stamping collection was incredible (or ridiculous). It was a common occurrence that you would see a light on in the early morning hours because she couldn’t put a good book down. Her family was privileged to enjoy an annual two week vacation (typically out west) each summer that Wanda planned in great detail.

Wanda will be missed by her children; Brent (Debbie Dugan) of Laurel, Brenda (Jeff) Arnold of State Center and Brad (Kathy) of Cedar Rapids; five grandchildren, Eli Smith, Dani (Andrew) Haskenhoff, Tanner Arnold, Sacora Smith and Zachary Smith; three great grandchildren, Camden, Lennon and Brecken Haskenhoff; a sister Beth Keese, brother-in-law, Jack (Kathy) Smith and sister-in-law Deloris (Lynn) Zesch. Wanda is preceded in death by her parents Vernon and Wilma, her husband Raymond, brother-in-law, Larry Keese and nephew Kent Zesch.