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Wanda Iona Williamson Jeppeson, 97, of Newell died June 30, 2025, at Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake.
Funeral services will take place Saturday, July 5, at 10:30 a.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Newell. Burial will be in Newell Cemetery. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials may be directed to the Special Olympics. Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.
Wanda Iona Williamson Jeppeson was born Nov. 10, 1927, at home to Clay and Lora Edna Pond (Thomas) Williamson of Battle Creek. She was baptized and confirmed in First Presbyterian Church of Battle Creek. Wanda transferred her church membership to the Congregational Church of Newell in March 1959.
She attended Battle Creek Consolidated School, graduating in 1945. She then had a year at Iowa State teacher’s college at Cedar Falls. After graduating with a BA from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake with her degree in elementary education, she continued her education in special education, learning disabilities and in human behavior children while teaching. Many endorsements were picked up through the years. She also attended Ames, Drake, Morningside and took courses from Marycrest, Mo., and Fort Dodge.
Wanda taught first grade and elementary music at Cushing; first grade at Battle Creek, Primghar and Aurelia; special education at Nemaha, Early and Schaller; learning disabilities then multi-categorical at Early and Schaller. She also taught fifth and sixth grade spelling and sixth grade reading at Nemaha. She retired from teaching in 1994 with over 30 years.
On Nov. 26, 1948, Wanda was united in marriage to Ellsworth Evans Jeppeson Sr. from Linn Grove at Dundee Presbyterian Church in Omaha, Neb. To this union, five children were born: Florene, Ellsworth Jr., Sylvia, Lynn and Elwyn.
Wanda was a member of the order of Eastern Star (receiving her 50-year pin in June 1999); the order of Buena Vista Rebekah Lodge #258; First Congregational Church; on the education board and stewardship board and taught Sunday School and was a bible schoolteacher for many years. She started teaching the primary Sunday School at Battle Creek with Reverend and Mrs. Kollou at the age of nine years. One year later, she had her own primary class. She was a leader for the Jr. Auxiliary and a member of American Legion Auxiliary Post #196, past Matron of Eastern Star, a past noble guard of the Rebekah Lodge. She belonged to church fellowship, Delta Kappa Gamma and to the Women’s Federated Club, which changed to Newell Community Club. In this organization, she helped in the Babes program for third graders at school.
Wanda would like to be remembered as a very loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She forgot herself and did for others. Having the family all together for cookouts-fishing excursions, wiener roast (even in November) or just around the table for special holidays and birthdays.
Some of her likes were tole painting, fancy work of all kinds, sewing, quilting, reading, dancing, gardening and playing the piano and organ for her own enjoyment. She loved the Lord’s outside and all nature. She made quilts for the family. All new births received a handmade quilt and as they got older, they received a large quilt.
Those surviving Wanda are Florene Cork of Schaller; Ellsworth (Teresa) Jeppeson Jr. of Newell; Sylvia (Lynn) Krogstad of Newell; Elwyn (Char) Jeppeson of Newell; 12 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; great-great grandchildren; two sisters-in-law; extended family and friends.
Wanda was preceded in death by her parents, Clay and Lora Williamson; husband Ellsworth Evans Jeppeson Sr.; son Lynn Clayton; parents-in-law, Daniel and Margaret Jeppeson; sons-in-law, John Nelson and Richard Cork; brothers, Gordon Francis Williamson and Daniel (Mary) Williamson; sister-in-law Catherine Williamson; granddaughter Tasha Jeppeson; and great-granddaughter Charlie Rosanne Pick.
