Wanda Ruth Gerdemann

FARMINGTON — Wanda Ruth Gerdemann, 85, passed away October 20, 2014, at Presbyterian Manor. Cremation has been accorded and private inurnment will be at a later date at the Lippstad-Friedens Cemetery in Warrenton, Missouri. Visitation starts Friday, October 24, at 2 p.m., with a memorial service at 4 p.m. at Taylor Funeral and Cremation Service, Inc., 111 E. Liberty Street, Farmington.

Wanda was born January 19, 1929, in Columbia, the daughter of Arch and Theo Ellen (Ballew) Estes. She graduated from Hickman High School in Columbia, in 1947, and from nurses training at Kansas City General Hospital in 1950, where she received the Isabella E. Brandon Award of Merit as the outstanding student in her class. After graduation, she worked at the Ellis Fischel Cancer Hospital in Columbia, where she met her future husband, Paul Gerdemann, who was also working there while attending the University of Missouri. Paul and Wanda were married on September 1, 1951, in Jefferson City, They have one son, Edward, born in 1953.

Surviving are her husband, Paul, of Farmington. Son, Edward (Judy) of Phoenix, Arizona; sister, Pat (Jim) Lane, of Lake St. Louis; brother, Tom (Nelda) Estes, of Bluffdale, Texas; and two grandchildren: Jonathan Gerdemann, of Los Angeles, California, and Bethany Gerdemann, of Berkeley, California, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Upon Paul’s graduation from the University of Missouri in 1952, they relocated to Rivermines where he was employed as a geologist for the St. Joseph Lead Company while Wanda worked as a registered nurse at Bonne Terre Hospital. In 1955, following Paul’s induction in to the United States Army, they moved to Alexandria, Virginia. Wanda worked at the Alexandria General Hospital while Paul served at Ft. Belvoir. They returned to the Lead Belt in 1956, and then moved to Salem in 1957, where Paul did field exploration for St. Joe. Upon returning to Bonne Terre in 1958, she resumed employment at Bonne Terre Hospital remaining there until the family moved to Farmington in 1963. After moving to Farmington, Wanda worked for the Farmington State Hospital first in nursing services and then as a coordinator at the alcohol rehab unit. She retired in 1976, and she and Paul moved to Viburnum, where Paul continued his career with St. Joe.

After Paul retired in 1986, they split the next nineteen years between Viburnum and Arizona where their son and grandchildren resided. They returned to Farmington in 2004. Wanda was an avid fisherman making numerous trips to Ontario as well as many trips to Bull Shoals and other area lakes and streams. She was a dedicated St. Louis Cardinal baseball fan, hardly ever missing a broadcast, but especially she enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: The Alzheimer’s Association. Photo obituary; Guestbook and Video Tribute to be online at www.taylorfuneral.com