Wanda Viola Shuldes, age 93, passed away on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. A memorial service will be held at Bridge Community Church on Friday, July 11, 2025 at 2PM with visitation to be held for an hour prior to the service. Burial will be held at Graceland Cemetery following the service. Reverend Clayton Balsley will be officiating.
Wanda Viola Shuldes went home to her Lord on June 11, 2025. She was born December 18, 1931, in Richland County, Illinois to Carl and Nola Bloomquist. She attended elementary school in a Richland County 1 room schoolhouse, and graduated from Olney High School. After high school she attended the University of Illinois in Champaign where she met the love of her life, Dale Shuldes. Wanda graduated with a Home Economics and Sociology degree.
Dale and Wanda were married July 4, 1953, at the University Baptist Church in Champaign, Illinois. In 1957, Dale and Wanda moved to Albert Lea, MN. Wanda was active in her children’s lives. She assisted in their classrooms, was a Cub Scouts Den Mother, and volunteered for many activities including AAU swimming and parent groups for various sports and other activities. This active interest carried over to their grandchildren, attending drum corp competitions, swim meets, band concerts and dance recitals.
First Baptist Church was very important to Wanda. She was an active member teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir and being involved in church circles and participating in Bible studies and mission trips. Other involvements included Tuesday Literary Club, Faculty Wives Bridge Club, and serving as an Election Judge.
Wanda and Dale loved to travel, which began when their boys were young. Much of their time was spent in a station wagon towing a pop-up camper and traveling from campground to campground. After visiting many of the National Parks in the West, including hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and tenting overnight, they spent many summers in the Boundary Waters. Eventually Wanda and Dale visited all 50 states as well as Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Honduras. Shortly after Dale passed away in 2013, Wanda moved to an apartment at Thorne Crest Senior Living. In 2021 she moved to Vista Prairie at Copperleaf in Willmar, MN. There she was known as an avid walker while enjoying exercise class, bus trips to Sibley State Park where she would hike to Mt Tom, sing alongs, jigsaw puzzles, and church on Sundays with son Carl and his family.
She is survived by sons David Shuldes (Tina Noble) of Boise, ID, Carl (Lynn) Shuldes of Willmar, MN, and Glen (Kris) Shuldes of Shoreview, MN. Also surviving are 8 grandchildren - Mike (Anne) Shuldes, Kelsea Shuldes, Eden Shuldes, Carter Shuldes, Ellie Shuldes, Garrett Shuldes, Megan (Stephen) Jensen, and Ben Shuldes; and two great grandchildren - Emma and Claire Jensen. She is preceded in death by her husband Dale, her parents and siblings.
Memorial gifts may be given to Bridge Community Church, Youth For Christ - Albert Lea, or the cause of your choice.
The service will be livestreamed on Bayview Freeborn Funeral Home's Facebook page using the following link:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1AeHkQn2yE/
Bridge Community Church
Bridge Community Church
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