- Date Of Birth: January 3, 1922
- Date Of Death: April 2, 2011
- State: Michigan
VAN SWEDEN, Wanda I., Of Marshall. Formerly of Three Rivers Celebration of the life of Wanda Ilene VanSweden, April 6, 2011. Wanda Ilene VanSweden passed peacefully from this world on April 2, 2011, in her 89th year, with a sound mind and loving heart and her family at her side. She was born in Kalamazoo on January 3, 1922 to Leatha Ilene Palmer and Roy Felton Bird.
She grew up from an early age with her mother and step-father, William ‘Bill’ McVicker. She had five half-siblings Jack McVicker, Her father, Roy married Margaret McNally and together they had four children, Tom Bird who is deceased, Roy “George”Bird , Harry Bird and Edna Bird Engberts. She always treasured her time as a young girl with her brother Jack and cousins Marguerite “Muggs” and Dick Ellinger when they spent summer vacation in Waterveliet with “Aunt Mert” and “Uncle John” who had no children of their own so were equally pleased to share their summer with the four kids.
Their special treat was Holloway suckers from Uncle John that lasted for days. There, instead of playing dolls with Muggs, she would go fishing on the river with Dick. She and Dick always seemed to have poison ivy most of the summer from rambling around on the river banks. She attended Comstock High School where she met and married Denman Smith, now deceased. Together they had three children, Norman, Norma Hamman and David who survive. Later in life she married Marinus “Mike” VanSweden, now deceased.
She was very proud of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren Grandchildren Christopher, Steven and Kari children of Norm and Geri Smith. Kevin, Kent and Kellie children of Norma and Dwight Hamman. David, Timothy and Kimberly children of David and Diane Smith. Great grandchildren, Jennifer and Elizabeth Smith, children of Christopher and Eva Maceroni Smith. Joshua and Luke, children of Kellie and John Bremer, Brennan, son of Kimberly and Travis Barnard, Ashley and Anna, daughters of Timothy and Melony Smith, Danielle and Alison daughters of Steven and Robin Smith, Karianna Jory, daughter of Steven and Michelle Smith, Samantha and Sarah daughters of Kevin and Molly Hamman, Mason son of Kent and Sallee Hamman, Jacob, Chelsea, Karlee and Mackenzi children of Kari Smith and Walter Ruedisale.
She also has two great-great-grandchildren Avery Jean Stadt daughter of Jennifer Smith and Louis Stadt Caiden Alexander Jory, son of Karianna Smith and Joshua Jory. Wanda was employed at Western Michigan University food service for many years, enjoyed serving samples at Sam’s club and more recently volunteered at the Portage Senior Center and as a greeter at the Kalamazoo Airport. Wanda and Mike were very active in raising award winning beagles and traveling around the Midwest for the field trial circuit where they made new friends everywhere they went. Wanda resided in recent years at Hearthside senior apartments in Portage and was very active in the social life of that community especially enjoying the pot-lucks and coffee’s where she could be with her friends and neighbors.
