Wanda C. Baird 1923 - 2006

BAIRD, WIELE, SHEW, HOYLE, RUSIN, DURST, YODER

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 8/23/2006 at 18:46:35

Wanda C. Baird "aka LaLee-Pop", 82, of DeKalb, Ill., went to meet her Savior on Monday, June 19, 2006, at the home of her daughter in Naperville, Ill. She was born on July 31, 1923, in Grandview, Iowa, the daughter of Mike and Hazel (Wiele) Shew. She became the wife of Philip J. Baird on October 21, 1945, in Grandview. Wanda spent many years working at the DeKalb Bank and Northern Illinois University, where she retired after 20 plus years. She had a passion for her family as well as telling stories and making others laugh. She spent many years entertaining people as "LaLee-Pop" the clown. She was a helper to others and was actively a giver of "random acts of kindness." The Leonard Street neighborhood will have an empty spot, as Wanda was a great neighbor to all. Wanda was active in the American Legion Auxiliary and the 8/40 Group. She enjoyed serving veterans and was involved with their project to help children with Cystic Fibrosis at the Jewish Children's Hospital in Denver, Co. You could see Wanda all dressed up in her Red Hat as she socialized with the Red Hatter's Club of DeKalb. She is survived by her daughter, Barbara (Randy) Hoyle of Naperville, Ill.; her granddaughter, Valerie (Jason) Rusin of Montgomery, Ill.; one sister, Norma (Elwood)Yoder of Kalona, Iowa; two sisters-in-law, Eleanor Durst of Muscatine, Iowa, and Mary V. Baird of Davenport, Iowa; two brothers-in-law, Don (Wanda) Baird of Coralville, Iowa, and Lloyd (Joan) Baird of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Philip in 2002; her parents; two brothers-in-law, James Baird and Warren Durst; special friend, Barbara Sullivan; and her grand-dogs, Jelly Bean and Frankie. Funeral Services in DeKalb, Ill., will be held at
7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 23, 2006, at the Anderson Funeral Home, Ltd. Visitation will be held on Friday, June 23rd from 5:00 p.m. until the time of service at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral Services in Wapello, Iowa, will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 25, 2006, at the Dudgeon-McCulley Funeral Home, with the Rev. Darryl Erickson of the Grandview Community Church, Grandview, Iowa, officiating. Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 25th from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow services at Indian Creek Cemetery in Columbus Junction, Iowa. A memorial is being established for Wanda C. Baird in care of the Anderson Funeral Home, Ltd., P.O. Box 605, 2011 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, IL 60115. For further information please call (815) 756-1022.

Dugeon-McCulley Funeral Home Wapello, Iowa