Wanda Maurine Howe

Our beloved mom, Wanda M. Howe, departed this life on earth at 3:20 a.m. on Sunday, February 16, 2020 surrounded by her family.  Even though we are mourning, she will be so happy to be reunited in the loving arms of her husband Mac Moser Howe, her parents, other relatives and friends who went before her.

Wanda was born August 25, 1928 at her family farmhouse near Casey, IL; she was the first girl in the family.  Her middle name comes from the doctor who delivered her.  Her parents didn’t have a middle name and the doctor suggested Maurine.  He had a daughter named Maurine, thus she became Wanda Maurine Murphy.  Wanda was raised south of Casey, IL and attended a one room school house until high school.  While attending Casey High School, she walked 3 ½ miles one way to catch a school bus along with other neighbor kids.  She graduated Casey High School, Class of 1946.  After graduation she moved to East St. Louis with an aunt and uncle to get a job.  While there, her soon to be husband Mac wrote her a letter asking her to return to Casey.  She did and the two married June 22, 1947. 

Wanda was a stay at home mother to three daughters and also helped her husband run their business, Mac Howe Trucking.  Wanda excelled at being a wife and mother always tending to her family’s needs.  She made many of the clothes for her family and was always in the kitchen cooking something homemade.  Her specialty was lasagna, yeast products and delicious desserts.  She was also known for her blue ribbon winning divinity. She was well known for making homemade dog biscuits for her two doxie granddogs after moving to Centralia.  Wanda was affectionately known as Mrs. Squirrel to her husband.  She and her husband always planted a large garden and she would can and freeze vegetables, make several kinds of  pickles and at the end of the garden, sandwich spread. 

Wanda was an immaculate housekeeper and even though it’s probably never been mentioned in an obituary, it has now!  Her house, car and contents were always neat and orderly.  No matter the age Wanda would refer to everyone as "kid".  Wanda moved to Centralia in her later years to be closer to two of her daughters.  Even though she liked Centralia, Centralia was never home, Casey was always her home as she lived there for 72 years. Wanda often helped her son in law Greg with auctions.  She was active her whole life until the past few years.  She enjoyed mowing her own yard even when she was older.  Her neighbor once called and told us she was mowing on a 100 degree day.  We told the neighbor there was nothing we could do as she was a handful but please call us if you see her on the roof!

Wanda leaves behind her three girls, Cheryl Marsha Gamble of Ocala, FL; Charlotte Ann Howe and husband Greg Kleeman of Centralia, IL and Charlene Dawn Howe of Shattuc, IL; sister, Norma “Dot” Mauk of Surprise, AZ; grandson, Andrew Tutewiler and wife Julie (Whitling) Tutewiler of Casey, IL; granddaughter, Farrah Tutewiler of Indianapolis, IN; great grandchildren, Ellie Tutewiler of Charleston, IL and Avery Tutewiler of Casey, IL; special nurse and her family, Nikki Funk of Centralia, IL and many nephews and nieces.  She was preceded in death by her husband of 34 years, Mac Moser Howe; parents, Ray and Blanche (Glosser) Murphy; brothers and sisters in law, Edwin and Mary Murphy and Leland and Velma Murphy; son in law, Edwin Gamble; her father and mother in law, Bill and Faye (Moser) Howe, brothers in law, Robert Mauk and Richard Howe and special friend since childhood, Lois Swick.

Funeral services will be conducted at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 20, 2020 at Markwell Funeral Home with Mimi Hawkins officiating.  Burial will follow in Casey Cumberland Cemetery, Casey, IL.  Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on Thursday prior to the service at Markwell Funeral Home, 200 N. Central Ave., Casey, IL.

Memorials can be made in Wanda’s name to Casey In Action, PO Box 163, Casey, IL 62420.  Donations can be mailed or left at Markwell Funeral Home, 200 N. Central Ave., Casey, IL 62420 or Sutherland Garnier Funeral Home, 235 N. Sycamore, Centralia, IL 62801.  (The family requests no live plants please.)

To view the full obituary, send a condolence message, light a candle or post photos, visit www.markwellfuneralhome.com. Markwell Funeral Home of Casey, IL is in charge of the arrangements.

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