Wanda was granted her eternal reward on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 in her home of more than 70 years with her five daughters around her.

She was born June 20, 1929 in New Holstein  to William and Rose (Koehler) Hanke. She was the oldest of 12 children. She graduated from New Holstein High School with the class of 1947 where she won a pin for Gregg's shorthand for 120 words per minute. She was an integral part of planning the class reunions for many years.

In her teenage years she did a lot of baking and helping with the younger kids. Her siblings included two sets of twins. She often took the train to Kiel and Milwaukee to visit with family and friends. She developed a deep love and joy of reading which carried throughout her entire life. She also prided herself on the correct usage of the English language, that being another lifelong love.

She met the love of her life, Eugene J. Schuh at a dance in 1946, they would marry in 1948 and together would have 6 children. Five daughters and a son. They had many ups and downs in their lives but they always persevered through love, humor and sometimes sheer determination. They lost their baby boy at 2 ½ months old due to an enlarged heart.

Wanda worked at Lake to Lake Dairy (Land O Lakes) from 1964 to 1989, she worked in packaging, records and finished her career as a Lab Technician. She started out as temporary help over the Christmas season prior to becoming a regular employee in 1964. With her beautiful penmanship she did most of the signage for the plant. She was also one of the few and most revered tour guides at the plant giving numerous tours to grade school kids, clubs and dignitaries, as she had learned and shared the operations of the plant.

Wanda was one of the last two living charter members of the VFW auxiliary which she was very proud of. She's held many positions throughout her years with the post including the Chaplain. She was instrumental in coordinating the cemetery Veteran flag placement for Memorial Day. She was also very happy that her daughters are now members of the auxiliary.

She was a member of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church and a member of their Christian Mother's Group. A Catholic education was very important to Mom and Dad, they worked hard their entire lives to give their girls a Catholic Education. Wanda was a Holy Rosary graduate and Gene was a Saints Peter and Paul graduate.

Together Mom & Dad traveled to Colorado many times over their married life. Mom was able to travel to the Bahamas with friends after Dad passed away. She did many other fun short trips with family and friends over the years. She especially enjoyed our yearly trip to the cottage on Pearl Lake and our yearly birthday trip. Every fall her five girls would take her on a mini-Birthday get away for a few days. She loved this time when we could give her our undivided attention and just enjoy being together. We traveled as far as Branson, Missouri, Church Hill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, Wisconsin Dells and as close as Two Rivers. It didn't matter where we went as long as we had time together.

She will be so very deeply missed by so many. She's touched our lives with humor, determination, understanding and most of all nonjudgmental love. She was always a shoulder to lean on and had an ear to lend to all. Her Grandchildren will especially miss her as their confidant and their biggest cheerleader in life.

Survivors include her five daughters, Judy (Ed) Lund, Fond du Lac,  Marilyn (Bob) Kienbaum, Kiel, Patt (Steve Noworatzky) Healy Langlay, New Holstein, Carol (Gary) Schwefel, Fond du Lac, Sandy (Mark) Neils, Kiel.

Grandchildren: Melinda (Carlos) Castillo, Christine (Jim) Wulff, Tammy (Tom) Limberg, Eugene (Joelle) Lund. Kay (Tom) Henschel, Al (Heidi) Kienbaum, Kristopher (Kim) Healy, Tom (Holly) Schwefel, Tyler (Courtney) Schwefel, twins Jamie (Cody) Schoepke, Julie (Mike) Philippi, Joe (Nicole) Neils, Jon (Andrea) Neils, Eric (Becky) Neils, Erin (Ryan) Gaedke, 48 Great Grandchildren another due in October, 7 Great Great Grandchildren with another due in April.

Further survived by siblings: Sylvia Petrie, Twins: Eugene Hanke and Eunice Scheberl, Twins: Rosemary Washick and Roseanna Palkovich, Angie (Howie) Scheberl, Lloyd Hanke and David Hanke. Sisters-in-law: Mary Ann Majkrzak and Lucille Schuh.

Preceded in death by her husband, Eugene in 1986, infant son, Eugene William and infant Granddaughter, Rebecca Lund, parents, William and Rose Koehler Hanke;  In-laws; Henry and Clara (Braun) Schuh, sons-in-law, Patrick Healy and Neil Langlay; sisters: Darlene (Dennis) Bauer, Violet Hanke; brother: Merlin "Buddy" Hanke, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Delmar Petrie, Bernice Hanke, Richard Scheberl, Jon Botsford, Art Washick, Ray Palkovich, Clyde Stokes, Donna Hanke, Hank (Angie) Schuh, Edward (Barbara, Helen) Schuh, Gerald Schuh, Geraldine (Floyd) Thelen, Edwin Majkrzak.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00AM on Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, (413 Fremont St.).  She will be laid to rest next to her husband at the church cemetery.  The family will greet relatives and friends on Tuesday evening from 4:00PM until 8:00PM at the Meiselwitz-Vollstedt-DeTroye Funeral Home (815 6th St., Kiel); with a Prayer Service from the Kiel VFW Auxiliary Post #6707 starting at 4:00PM.  The visitation will continue at the church on Wednesday from 9:00AM until 10:45AM when family rites will be held.

"On a day, when you think that there is nothing there that's going right, I'll make it right. "

Ich liebe dich