Wanda Louise Dupper

Wanda was many things to many people but most importantly she was a loving wife, a dedicated mother, a caring grandmother and a most faithful servant of God. Wanda Louise Dupper was born September 11, 1933 in Muscatine County, Iowa to two loving parents, Henry and Lydia. Her father was born on the family farm in Ventura, Iowa and her mother Lydia, was born in Russia to German parents who immigrated to the United States from Russia. She was born into a hard working farm family. Wanda began her journey growing up on the family farm where her family worked hard in the fields and did all the tireless chores that farm life entails. Wanda was the third child of 4, all girls. There were many joys in the family as well as sorrow. Tragedy struck when Wanda's youngest sister died of encephalitis following the measles. She was only five years old. Wanda was fun loving and quite talkative when she was a child. Those who know Wanda today will agree she still has those same qualities. However, growing up, I'm not sure her family would have deemed those attributes a blessing. She was also known to follow her sisters and their boyfriends around until the boyfriends would give her a quarter to spend so she would leave them alone…..For the moment. Some years later, as a young teenager, her sister had been asked to a dance and needed someone to accompany the young man that her date brought. This handsome young man was Lou Kempkes. Lou and Wanda fell in love and they married on November 6, 1949. On Jan. 21, 1951 Wanda and Lou welcomed their first child, Michael, and on Nov. 3, 1952, their second child, Diane, was born. In 1956 the Kempkes family moved to Ft. Collins, CO. Shortly after their arrival Wanda started Bible studies and was baptized into the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Lou followed Wanda giving his life to Jesus a couple years later. Also during this time another precious baby girl was born to Wanda and Lou, but in God's infinite wisdom sweet Louise Ann fell asleep in Jesus at 8 months of age after battling a heart condition. Many lifelong friendships were made after joining the church, and the Kempkes family was blessed but there were some hardships as well. Wanda and another church member would make Spudnuts now known as doughnuts, for the kids to sell from door to door and to the local college. When that wasn't enough Wanda started working as a baker for Campion Academy. She had a passion for cooking and baking which made her very popular with the students. They especially liked the giant cinnamon rolls on Sunday mornings. Many times while working at Campion, Wanda and Lou would open their home to feed the students who couldn't afford to go home for school breaks. While at Campion they felt God was calling them to go to Eden Valley Sanitarium where Lou was the book keeper and Wanda was the cook. They were only there for one year but because of finances they headed back to Campion. After just a short time Lou found a job and the family packed up and headed back to their beloved Ft. Collins and that is where they stayed. Wanda did finish her schooling and got her GED then proceeded to go to school for Nursing. She received her LPN license and went to work for Poudre Valley Hospital on the Pediatrics Ward. While it was difficult for her to see the children suffering, she did enjoy working with them very much. Later she was given the opportunity to work for the Beebe Clinic. After working at the Beebe clinic, she took a job at the Orthopedic and Spine Center of the Rockies in 1973, and worked there until her retirement in 1992. While working at the Orthopedic and Spine Center of the Rockies Wanda was known for making cakes for the co-workers on their birthdays. As the Orthopedic center grew making the cakes became a big task, and while still wanting to celebrate she started making pies for their birthdays. When you think of Wanda the words you associate with her are kind, compassionate, generous, and devoted to God and family. She had the best infectious laugh. September 1, 1980, Wanda was stricken with grief from the loss of her husband, Lou. Although her faith was tested, her trust in God never wavered. Even though Wanda had experienced a heartbreaking loss, God still had many joys in store for her. She was able to do some traveling that she and Lou were never able to do. She went to Hawaii and Europe with good friends from church. On November 25, 1984, Wanda received an even bigger blessing. She became a grandmother. What joy baby Kevin was watching as he grew. Even with a growing family, Wanda remained concerned with the well-being of both her children, Mike and Diane as any mother would do. Shortly after the birth of her grandson Kevin, tragedy struck again with the death of Wanda's father on January 5, 1985 due to lung cancer. Although a very sad time, Wanda also felt happy that Henry was no longer suffering. In the years that followed she and her mother would take a growing Kevin and his mother Diane on outings to places like Cave of the Winds and the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. She would also keep herself busy with the church, which made her happy. In 1987, Wanda was saddened by the illness and death of her dear friend Velma Dupper. She was one of the people who came to care for Velma in their time of need. After her death Wanda continued her selflessness by extending it to Harold and giving him encouragement. She had gone through the same thing after all, and she would never miss an opportunity to help someone in need; whether it was encouragement, food or just a listening ear. Over time Wanda and Harold grew to love each other, and to the happiness of their families they were married in January 1988. In all of their married lives Wanda and Harold gave of themselves every way they could. Wanda spent a good deal of time after the passing of her father taking care of her mother Lydia. She had to endure one more loss with Lydia's death November 21, 2003. Because of their love for Jesus and for all people their Christian endeavor included going to serve the people of Brazil on a medical launch and a second mission trip to Nepal. While here at home helping others did not stop. When the people were affected by the Big Thompson Flood, Wanda was quick to provide soup for all those in need. Wanda's love for children took her to the Fort Collins church school several days a week working with the kinder-gardeners. In church she was known as the "sticker lady", but she not only gave stickers to the children in church she also would give them to children in grocery stores, offices or whenever she happened to see a child. Wanda was always concerned for the young people in church so for many years they shared in having the college students over on Friday nights for Bible study and fellowship and of course the food. Wanda was never without work to do for her beloved church and its members. Harold shared that same trait. There was rarely a Sabbath that they didn't have people home for dinner after church. They were both greeters so the visitors would experience one of Wanda's delicious meals. If you look up hospitality in the dictionary, it's fairly certain that Wanda's name would be there. Wanda and Harold were two people who truly complimented each other. Their continued faith and love in Jesus was an example to family, friends and strangers alike. This is a great loss and they will truly be missed. A little rain can strengthen a flower stem. A little love can change a life. Author: Max Lucado, from a love worth giving.