Wanda Irene Russell, 94 of Jefferson, left this earth to call heaven her home on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.  She last resided at Rock Haven Assisted Living Community in Janesville.

Wanda was born on March 9, 1931, in Black River Falls, WI. Her parents were Merlin and Edna (Gilbert) McLaughlin.  She grew up in Millston, WI and graduated from Black River Falls High School in 1949.

 After high school, Wanda moved to Racine for employment and met David Arthur Russell, her future husband.  They were married on January 6, 1951.  They started their family which eventually grew to seven children.  Wanda loved kids and her mission was to be a great wife, mother and homemaker.   Dave worked at the Racine Fire Department until 1974 when Dave and Wanda bought Robisch Hardware Store and moved the family to Jefferson.   In 1976 they bought the Hilltop Motel.  Wanda managed their home and the motel while Dave ran the hardware store.   

Wanda was an amazing cook, who provided wonderful meals for a household of ten, including seven children and her mother-in-law, Mildred.  The house was always full of laughter, kids and one or two dogs.  She and Dave enjoyed 60 years of married life until   Dave’s passing in 2011.

 Wanda did many kinds of volunteer work.  She helped with events at St. Marks Church.   She volunteered at St. Vincent’s resale shop for many years and did other community services.  After selling the motel, Wanda worked at St. Colletta and the Jefferson County Home until she retired.  

Wanda loved to restore furniture. She had the talent of taking an old discarded broken down piece of furniture that had seen better days and turn it into a beautiful “antique”.  

Wanda loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. This blessed her heart the most. She was a frequent babysitter when her grown children had their own families.

Wanda was always a kind and quiet soul with a cheerful attitude: thinking mostly about the benefit of others.  She rarely ever complained, seeming to have no ego nor thought for her own gain.  She said every day is a blessing and worthy of enjoyment.   She lived with gratitude toward God.

Wanda was acquainted with sorrow and mourning as she was preceded in death by her parents, all her siblings including her beloved sister and best friend, Dorothy Fields, her husband Dave, and three children: Debbie who died at birth, Bradley Russell (2002), and Lisa Maier (2023).

Wanda is survived by her children: Craig (Cindy) Russell of Janesville, Scott (Kyong Hui) Russell of Sterling, VA, Roxanne (Peter) Endl of Jefferson, Rhonda (Larry) Mau of Franklin, NC, and Kathleen Patterson of Jefferson; 19 grandchildren and 44 great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00AM on Monday, July 21, 2025, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church of Jefferson with Rev. Christopher Raiford presiding.  Visitation will precede the service beginning at 10:00AM.  She will be laid to rest at Union Cemetery following the memorial service.