WONDER, Arlene L. (1942-2020)

WONDER

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 1/29/2021 at 14:21:56

Arlene Lois Wonder
(February 13, 1942 – September 15, 2020)

IDA GROVE – Private family services for Arlene Wonder, 78, of Ida Grove were at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Ida Grove. The Rev. Shari O’Bannon officiated. Burial was in Mount Hope Cemetery in Battle Creek. Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home in Ida Grove was in charge of arrangements.
Arlene Lois Wonder was born Feb. 13, 1942, to Guy and Virginia (Wunschel) Carlson. She was the oldest of five children. Arlene attended country school at Blaine No. 9 until the sixth grade; then, she transferred to town school. She graduated from Ida Grove High School in 1960 and started working at the local newspaper, Pioneer Record, in Ida Grove until its closing in 1995. Arlene then worked at VT Industries until she retired in 2009. On Aug. 26, 1961, Arlene married James Wonder in Battle Creek. They made their home north of Battle Creek until 1965. The couple then moved to Ida Grove, where she has resided since. Jim and Arlene had three daughters: Sheryl, Valarie and Ann. Arlene was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Ida Grove. She taught Sunday school and Bible school and served as an elder in the church. She died Sept. 15, 2020, at her Ida Grove home.
Preceding her in death were husband, James (1982); her parents, Guy and Virginia Carlson; her parents-in-law, George and Ferne Wonder; five sisters-in-law: Barbara Schroeder, Janice Bathke, Linda Minor, Carol Wonder and Vickie Carlson; and three nephews: Mike Hendricks, Darren Minor and Kevin Smith. Survivors include three daughters: Sheryl Wonder and Valarie Wonder, both of Ida Grove, and Ann Wonder of Arthur, and a chosen son, Steve Kallas of Ida Grove.
Additional survivors include three sisters-in-law: Marlene (Dick) Lake of Iowa City, Phyllis (Don) Sargent of Spearfish, S.D., and Julie Wonder (John) of Ida Grove; three brothers-in-law: George Wonder of Henrietta, N.Y.; Verne Schroeder of Sioux City and Herb Bathke of Lincoln, Neb.; one aunt and one uncle; several nieces and nephews; cousins; and friends.
Sources: Ida County Courier, Ida Grove, Iowa, Thurs., Sep 17, 2020 and Christensen-VanHouten Funeral Services, Ida Grove, Iowa at http://www.christensenvanhouten.com/