Wanda Ann (Palmer) Davidson (2020)

DAVIDSON, DELONG, DICK, HAINLINE, PALMER

Posted By: Shirley Keating
Date: 11/8/2023 at 18:04:32

Kale Funeral Home
Osceola, Iowa

Wanda Ann Davidson

Wanda Ann Davidson, daughter of Glenn Palmer and Bernice (Hainline) Palmer was born on December 18, 1929, at the family farm in Union County, Iowa and passed from this life Wednesday, March 25, 2020, at Clarke County Hospital in Osceola, Iowa at 90 years of age.

Wanda grew up living on farms in the Thayer and Truro, Iowa areas. One of her most traumatic experiences was watching her farmhouse burn from the distance while in school in 1936. She played 6 person basketball and started as an 8th grader on the Thayer State tournament team. She was all state as a senior playing with her sister Waunita leading their Truro team to the state tournament. Wanda graduated from Truro High School in 1948 and immediately started college that summer. She started teaching in Brush College School north of Murray just a couple of miles from the family farm that fall. When the roads were muddy she had to walk to school.

Wanda taught at rural schools in Peru, Iowa, and south of Murray the next couple of years before beginning at Murray Community Schools in 1952. While there she taught sixth grade retiring after 43 years helping to shape hundreds of young minds. Through the years, Wanda attended summer and night school graduating with her Bachelor’s Degree from Drake University.

Wanda was united in marriage to Kenneth Eugene Davidson on May 24,1950, at the Murray Church of Christ in Murray, Iowa, and this union was blessed with a son, Mark, in September of 1956. They made their home in Murray and were very strong supporters of the Murray community. They loved sports and watched many sporting events including those their son, Mark, participated in as well as many school events. Wanda was an avid Iowa Hawkeye and Cub fan, catching many of their games on TV. They were long time members of the Murray Church of Christ, the Murray Community Booster Club, and the Murray Community School Foundation. Wanda was also a 36 year breast cancer survivor. Ken and Wanda enjoyed spending time with their son Mark, his wife Lori, and their grandchildren Jessalyn and Zachary. They enjoyed many sporting events and dance recitals during their visits.

In her later years, Wanda enjoyed visits from her friend and long time fellow teacher, Karen Burgus, usually bringing doughnuts, her friend June Flaherty bringing her mail, and neighbors Bill and Julia Kerns bringing fresh produce and canned goods from their garden. Wanda also loved her annual trek to Blair to spend the holidays with her family.

Those relatives who preceded Wanda in death were her parents, Glenn and Bernice Palmer, in-laws, Elmer and Maude Davidson, husband Kenneth Davidson, brothers Elwood and Gale Palmer, and brother, Basil Dick. Brother and sister in-laws Delbert and Rose Davidson, Ralph and Irma Davidson, and Anne Davidson.

Wanda leaves to cherish her memory; son, Mark and his wife Lori Davidson and granddaughter Jessalyn of Blair, NE, grandson, Zachary Davidson of Denver, CO, brother, Glen (Marilynn) Palmer of Omaha, NE, sister, Waunita(Dale) Delong of Omaha, NE, sister-in-law, Elizabeth Palmer of Truro, IA, sister-in-law, Dixie Palmer of Weatherford, OK, sister-in-law, Florence Dick of Gilbert, AZ, brother-in-law Richard Davidson of York, Maine, as well as many other relatives and many friends and former students.

A celebration of Wanda’s Life will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Murray Community School foundation.

Due to state and federal guidance on gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the family will not be having a public memorial at this time.

Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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