She was born, August 19, 1929, at the family farmhouse on the edge of Lyons, NE, along with her twin sister, Donna, to Theodore (Harry) and Bertha (Felix) Pearson. Also welcoming her were brothers, Bob and Duane. On March 12, 1931, she was baptized into the Christian faith at Lyons Memorial United Methodist Church and confirmed on June 13, 1943.
Wanda always spoke fondly of her happy childhood on the dairy farm and being able to walk into town to go to the pool or ice skate with friends. The kids worked on the farm, in the garden and in the house. The one job Wanda did despise was cleaning the cream separator.
The entire family was musical. At age four, Bertha placed Wanda and Donna next to the piano and taught them how to sing parts. They performed throughout their lives including the annual Lyons Alumni Banquet.
In high school, Wanda was in numerous choral and wind ensemble groups. She played piano, clarinet and oboe. She was the 1947 Homecoming Queen.
Wanda worked throughout high school to earn money to attend the University of Nebraska. She graduated in 1951 with a BS in Human Resource Management.
While living at East Campus, she met Wayne Nielsen at a dance when he returned from Army Service in WWI. Her sister, Donna, met Charles Fairley, a Farm House brother of Wayne’s. The couples spent happy times at East Campus functions, especially dances. Wanda and Wayne were exceptional ballroom dancers.
Wanda and Donna were part of the University Singers Quartet that performed at various functions and banquets on both East and City Campus.
Following graduation, Wanda taught Home Economics at Ashland High School for one year and then worked as a clothing buyer in Omaha. Married on September 20, 1953, Wanda and Wayne raised four children, Karen, Cheryl, Nancy and David.
Wanda was an accomplished cook and baker. She loved farm life, so in the summer there was apple plum butter to make, caning cherries, apples, sweet corn and of course dressing chickens. In the winter, the kids could count on popcorn and hot chocolate after an afternoon of sledding. At Christmas, there would be trays of intricately decorated Swedish Spritz cookies. The grandkids looked forward to homemade chicken noodle soup and rusts; they still make their peanut butter toast the way Grandma taught them. She would run farm errands, take lunch to the field and help with any farm activity when needed. Wanda never missed a child’s activity. If Wayne needed to use the car for a meeting, Wanda would drive children to their activities in a 67 Chevy stock truck. Her wide, double row of cannas, zinnias and the marigolds along the entire length the feedlot fence was admired by all.
Wanda was an active and faithful member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Davey. She sang in the choir and through the Ladies Aid Society supported all church functions. Wanda was a leader of the Waverly Peppy Clovers 4-H Club. She worked many hours at the annual Waverly High School Music Boosters Soup Supper and took a turn as Chair. She was an available babysitter for the grandchildren.
Wanda was a proud member of Husker Nation. She never missed listening to the radio broadcasts for football, volleyball, and baseball. Even when the girls played on the West Coast, she would listen to the entire match.
Wanda and Wayne enjoyed traveling. They did several bus trips with local neighbors to various states and Canada, along with traveling to Australia, New Zealand Sweden and Denmark,
She is survived by her husband, Wayne, of 71 years; three daughters, Karen (Lowell) Schardt of Gretna, NE, Cheryl, (Ward Freeburg) of Dalton, NE, Nancy (Joe) Peschel of Philips, NE, and a son, David (Vicki) of rural Lincoin. Grandchildren are Greg (Leah) Schardt of Papillion, Tamara Schardt (Jared Miller), Ames, IA, Derek Schardt (Carly Wacker), Omaha, Weston Peschel, Brookings, SD, Taylor Nielsen, Jordan Nielsen, and Connor Nielsen, rural Lincoln. Great grandchildren are Landon Holden and Dalton Schardt of Papillion and lsla and Elias Schardt of Omaha; her twin sister, Donna Fairley, Geneva, nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents, in-laws Arthur and Anna Nielsen, brothers and wives, Bob and Cathie (Pearson Leisher), Duane and Gayle Pearson, brother-in-law Charles Fairley, foster sister Dorothy James Pearson, niece Susan
Pearson Climer, nephews Bobby Fairley and Mathew Pearson.
Funeral services will be held at Ropers and Sons Funeral Home WAVERLY CHAPEL, 10851 N 148th St, Waverly, NE 68462, Friday, January 24, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., with a luncheon to follow. Committal service will be at the Danish Cemetery on North Highway 77 following the luncheon.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Friendship Home, Lincoln.