Obituary of Wanda Buck

Wanda Rowena Graham Buck was born on November 24, 1928, in Des Moines, IA to Dr. George Warren and Nellie (Claver) Graham. Her childhood years were spent in the Collins, IA area. Wanda was baptized in The Christian Church in Collins when she was eight years old. She graduated from Marshalltown, IA high school, where her family had moved just before her senior year. Wanda attended nurses’ training at Iowa Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing in Des Moines, IA. She then transferred to Finley Hospital Nursing School in Dubuque, graduating in 1950. While in Des Moines, she met Peder Erling Buck and they were married on December 29, 1951 in Pete’s home church in Viborg, SD. She and Pete spent their first nine years together in the communities of Miles and Clarksville, where Wanda worked in surrounding larger communities as an R.N. Their three children, Bruce Anthony, John James, and Joellen Marie, were born during this time. In the summer of 1960, the family moved to Hartley, IA, where Wanda worked at the Hartley Community Hospital, both full time, and later part time, as a R.N. and an assistant physical therapist. She retired in 1976. Pete and Wanda celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in December of 2011, prior to Pete’s death on March 6, 2012. Because of her love for her husband and his passion for his Danish heritage, she “became” a Dane, and spent their many years of marriage cooking traditional Danish dishes, decorating in Danish décor, and traveling to Danish communities, including Tyler, MN to attend the annual Danish Folk School celebration, which she continued following his passing. Wanda enjoyed writing (attending writing group at the library), doing all kinds of handiwork (receiving many blue ribbons on projects taken to the Clay County Fair), teaching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren her craft skills, watching their school related events, and of course, bragging about them. She was an active member of the Trinity United Church of Christ, dedicating her time to Dorcas, quilting, and various other church activities. She was a long-time member of the confederated women’s club, Y’eltrah, card clubs, and various other community events and organizations. She knew the most probable answers to traditional crossword puzzle questions and enjoyed playing solitaire on the computer. Preceding her in death were her husband Peder, her parents, and a stillborn brother. Her memory will live on in her three children: Bruce (Deb) of Raleigh, NC, John of Marion, IA, and Joellen (Ed) of Hartley, IA, an exchange student, Ellinor (Kjeld) Hellmuth of Copenhagen, Denmark; six grandchildren (plus two Danish grandchildren) and their families: Rachel Wilson, Brenda Harders, Joshua Buck, Mary Harders, Veronica Bowers, and Elizabeth Harders; and other relatives and friends. Celebration of Life Wanda R. Buck Born ~ November 24, 1928 Died ~ February 5, 2015 Age ~ 86 years 2 months 12 days Funeral Service 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 11, 2015 Trinity United Church of Christ Hartley, Iowa Officiating ~ Rev. Jeff Filkins Organist ~ Julie Back Soloist ~ Rev. Jeff Filkins "How Great Thou Art" "On Eagle's Wings" Congregational Singing Processional ~ "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" Recessional ~ "Just As I Am" Pallbearers Rachel Wilson Chris Wilson Brenda Harders Mary Harders Beth Harders Dave Buckley Honorary Pallbearers Veronica Bowers Chad Bowers Joshua Buck Danielle Stiles Harley Bowers Tyrus Bowers Hayden Buck Lydia Harders Mia Harders Morfitt Camryn Wilson Sydney Wilson Ushers Roger Vander Veen ~ Norb Groff Burial Pleasant View Cemetery Hartley, Iowa <iframe id="tukios_player_512x330" allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="330" scrolling="no" src="https://www.tributeslides.com/videos/embedded_video/DKFQF2SLTHLJQ4KW" width="512"></iframe>