Wanda Echols Veum

Wanda Echols Veum

Wanda Echols Veum, age 79, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 19, 2007 at St. Elizabeth Hospital. She was surrounded by her family at the time of death. Wanda was born in Oklahoma City on October, 26, 1928, daughter of James and Cleo (Butchee) Echols. She spent her childhood in southwestern Oklahoma. Her parents were teachers and at times not paid due to the Depression. Her father farmed and grew food for the family. Her mother sewed clothes, canned food, and taught her home-making skills to other families in need. Wanda and her brother James felt well provided for and learned life long lessons of hard work and the importance of loving extended family. Upon Wanda’s graduation from the University of Oklahoma in 1950, she entered an internship program in medical technology at the University of Kansas and then returned to Oklahoma. While working in a research laboratory at Children’s Hospital, she met her husband James Veum, who was doing his pediatric residency at the hospital. They married on December 31, 1955, and lived in Milwaukee while Jim completed his training. In July 1956, they moved to Appleton where they have spent their lives, working, raising a family, and becoming deeply involved in their community. Wanda worked as a medical technologist since 1956, part-time and then full-time at the Medical Arts Clinic, now Affinity Health System, until the time of her retirement in 2003. Wanda and family were members of First English Lutheran Church, where Wanda served in a variety of roles and was greatly rooted. As Wanda raised her five children, she opened her home to their friends and gladly included others. Wanda acted as mother for three AFS students, each for a year at a time – Sissel Svahn (Sweden), Sandra Finlayson (Kenya), and Tony Carvahlo (Portugal). Wanda is survived by her husband James and five children – Judith Stone (David), Portland, OR, Melissa Spindler (James), Lakeland, FL, Rebecca Baumler (Paul), Wauwatosa, WI, David (Vicky), Appleton, WI, Erik (Susan), Eagan, MN, her brother James (Carol) Echols, Ft. Collins, CO and fourteen grandchildren. Visitation will be on Friday, November 23, from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm at Wichmann Funeral Home, Appleton. The funeral service is at First English Lutheran Church, Appleton at 11:00 am, Saturday, Nov 24. Friends may also call at the church from 10:00 am until time of the service. Burial will be in East Koshkonong Lutheran Church cemetery near Cambridge, WI at 1:00 pm, Sunday, November 25. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to First English Lutheran Church.