Wanda DeBoer, 80
Wanda Mary (Pecenka) DeBoer, 80, of Brandon, died Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, at Bethany Home in Brandon under hospice care. Visitation with the family present will be held from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct.19 at George Boom Funeral Chapel, Brandon, followed by a liturgical wake at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022 at Risen Savior Catholic Church, Brandon.
Wanda was born Jan. 26, 1942, in Stickney, S.D., to Emil and Alta “Lois” (Hojem) Pecenka. She lived in Stickney until she completed high school. Following high school, Wanda attended Stewart School of Hairstyling in Sioux Falls. Wanda married Donald DeBoer on Sept. 19,1959. They began their marriage in Sioux Falls and were blessed with five children, Darin, Derek, Dodd, Dalynn and Dustin. In 1974, they moved to Brandon. Donald passed away on Sept. 12, 1990. Wanda lived in her Brandon home until she moved to Bethany Meadows Assisted Living in July of 2019.
Wanda was a stay-at-home mom until her youngest son entered school. She was then employed as a cook at the Brandon Valley High School and advanced to Food Services Director for the Brandon Valley School District. After she retired from that position, she worked part-time at the Youth Enrichment Service after school program.
Wanda did volunteer work until she was no longer mobile enough to continue. She was a founding member of Risen Savior Catholic Church and was active in the church, including assisting with the meals on wheels program and with sewing baptismal bibs. Wanda also volunteered for many years at the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store in Sioux Falls.
Wanda spent numerous hours as a scorekeeper and manager for the boys’ fast pitch softball and basketball teams that Don coached. In addition to being the best softball catcher in Brandon, Wanda also coached her daughter’s Y basketball team. Wanda and Don always had a large garden and Wanda was an avid canner. They also participated in a monthly pinochle card club.
Wanda was a member of the Red Hat Society. She was very crafty and was fond of creating miniature houses. She loved clothes, finding a good bargain and sharing her finds with others. Wanda was a seamstress and a beautician for friends and family. Her other pastimes included reading, cards, bingo, puzzles and crosswords. Wanda also enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. She was always happy to watch them play a game or a match. Wanda was a dog lover and she had pet poodles and shelties over the years.
Wanda was strong, loving, kind, funny and hardworking and will be greatly missed by all of those who were blessed to have known and loved her.
Wanda is survived by her children, Darin (Stacy) DeBoer of Brandon, Derek DeBoer of Casper, Wyo., Dodd (Virginia) DeBoer of Sioux Falls, Dalynn (Daryl) Schoenefeld of Watertown, and Dustin (Tina) DeBoer of Sioux Falls; 11 grandchildren, Zachary (Molly) DeBoer of Sioux Falls, Devin DeBoer of Brandon, Conner DeBoer of Sioux Falls, Donovan Schoenefeld of St Paul, Minn., Aidan DeBoer of Sioux Falls, Delaney Schoenefeld of Watertown, Danika Schoenefeld of Watertown, Landon DeBoer of Sioux Falls, Dominic Schoenefeld of Watertown, David DeBoer of Casper, Wyo., and Corinne DeBoer of Sioux Falls; one great-grandchild, Lucy O’Connor DeBoer of Sioux Falls; sisters-in-law, Janice Pecenka of Mitchell, and Dottie Hojem of Phoenix, Aeriz.; and brother-in-law, Lawrence Backes of Rapid, City.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald; her brother, Harold Pecenka; her half-brother, Lee Hojem; and a niece, MaryBeth Hockett.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Society of St. Vincent de Paul, 431 Cliff Ave. Sioux Falls, SD 57103 or Risen Savior Catholic Church, P.O. Box 80, Brandon, SD 57005.
For online condolences, visit georgeboom.com.
