EIF-A_Lasting Contributions

LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS
Maquoketa State Bank, Jackson County
Fair, Jackson County Historical Society,
Iowa 4-H Foundation, her church, Jackson
County Senior Citizens Center and Jackson
County Regional Health Center Auxiliary.
Over the years, Wanda also served many
roles as a member of Salem Lutheran
Church in Andrew. She taught Sunday
School and was a Bible School teacher,
hearkening back to her roots in education.
With all those group commitments,
she had to be organized. That’s where her
constant companion — a business-sized
envelope — came in, recalled her longtime
friends Jack and Marilyn Willey.
“She always had an envelope in her
car with a list of everything she had to do
while she was in town,” the Willeys said.
“If she couldn’t find that envelope, she’d
get all flustered.”
‘That’s just Wanda’
Jack Willey, who styled Cornelius’ hair
for decades, said his former client was a
great baker and loved to share her culinary
skills.
“She had some kind of mashed potato
casserole, and if someone was sick or had
surgery or there was a death in the family,
she’d take one to them so all they had to do
was warm it up,” recalled Willey, who also
shared recipes with her.
Food played a large role in Wanda’s
life, including feeding salesmen and others
around her. It came naturally as a homemaker
and businesswoman.
“When the salesmen came for field day
or meetings, she always worried about
what she was going to serve them and if
she had enough,” Willey recalled. “Everything
had to be perfect. That’s just Wanda.
Everyone felt welcome and everyone had
to have enough to eat.”
Longtime friend Judy Tonderum worked
with Wanda through Jackson County 4-H,
the Together We Build Committee and both
were Iowa Master Farm Homemakers.
“She was everybody’s friend,” said
Tonderum, who knew Wanda for about 30
years. “She was just so cordial and warm.
She was the individual that you immediately
feel close to when you see her.”
Carlson also knew her personally.
“I have a lot of memories of Wanda,”
Carlson said. “She was the person who
pushed me to take the neighbor girl out on
a date — the woman I have been married
to for 50 years this coming November. …
It was the best advice I ever received.”
They shared a spirited relationship. “Our
politics couldn’t have been more different,
but Wanda didn’t make that the centerpiece
of a relationship,” Carlson said.
She was a member of the Andrew Petal
Pals Garden Club and served as the superintendent
of the Jackson County Fair Open
Show.
Wanda also showed a passion for
politics. Not only did she support Jerry
in his run for the Iowa House of Representatives,
but she served on the Jackson
County Republican Central Committee
while promoting and supporting the party’s
causes.
Many in her social and work circles
agreed that Cornelius was proud of her
family — from her three children to her
grandchildren and great-grandchildren. n
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