Wanda Stith Hagen, 86
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 12 years, 3 months AGO
Wanda was born Oct. 1, 1926, in Brule, Neb., to Jenny and Raymond Stith. She died Aug. 22, 2013, at her Post Falls home.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Vem Dilk of 30 years; second husband, Marvin Hagen of 20 years and daughter Debby Dilk Fait.
She is survived by her daughters, Vema Lee Dilk of Coeur d’Alene and Lisa Dilk-Schad (Alex) of Seattle; and sons, Michael and Steven Dilk of Phoenix, Ariz.; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many loving nieces and nephews.
Wanda was an internationally known genealogist, recognized for her research and her books (McDowell Publishing Co.) on The Virginia and Kentucky Stiths.
She was loved for her sense of humor and courageous spirit. She will be remembered for her family stories and her dancing which turned heads and stopped others on the floor and her ability to play anything she heard on the piano or organ.
She was an active member of her church all her life. A skilled seamstress, she worked tirelessly in the Altar Guild and Paraments continue to hang in honor of her art in the Scottsdale Lutheran Church she and her husband Marv helped found.
She will be remembered as a high school and college scholar, for working in the Ogallala/Brule Canteen in Nebraska as a teenager, for walking two miles a day almost every day of her life, learning to cross country ski at the age of 50 and later in her life for the speed with which her little feet would carry her in her wheelchair.
In gratitude, the family recognizes dearest friends, Karolyne Smith-Rogers, Dennis Borton, Michael Moore, Judith Baker, Dana Janssen, very Special nephew Max Stith (Maria) of Boise, Ralph and Jo Queen of Phoenix, Alice Hamilton of Post Falls; Bev Gadberry of Coeur d’Alene, and especially Denise for the beautiful yellow rose.
The family also sincerely thanks the staff and all of Wanda’s friends at The Inn at Guardian Angel Homes and Legacy House, especially Tom, Denise, Stacy, Jamie, Shannon, Leah and all of her loving caregivers, including North Idaho Hospice, Yates Funeral Home and her wonderful doctor Blair Linblad.
Burial will be in Phoenix. There will be an ice-cream social to celebrate her life at 2:30 p.m. today, Aug. 30, 2013, at the Inn at Guardian Angel Homes on Mullen in Post Falls.
Donations in Wanda’s name may be made to the Residents Council at the Inn at Guardian Angel Homes, the Linda Stith Scholarship Fund at Boise State University or the Mesa, Ariz., or Hayden genealogy society or the charity of your choice.