Wandalene O'Connor

Wandalene Marie O'Connor, 87, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 26, 2022, surrounded by family at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington, Iowa. Memorial service: 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 7, 2023, at the Stewart Baxter Funeral and Memorial Services in Mount Vernon. Pastor Jim Coyle will officiate. Burial will take place at a later date. Visitation: 11:00 a.m. ' 2:00 p.m. Saturday January 7, 2023, at the funeral home. Stewart Baxter Funeral and Memorial Services of Mount Vernon is caring for Wandalene's family. Wandalene was born February 7, 1935, in Tipton, Iowa, the second born to Joseph and Marietta Baxa Stepanek. She married Orran Max 'Buck' Ford on October 26, 1949, in Cedar Rapids. Together they lovingly raised eight children until his passing in 1975. She married Joseph O'Connor on March 14, 1977, and they were happily married until his passing in 2004. Wandalene always worked to provide for her family, and she was proud to work for Aramark managing cafeterias until she retired at the age of 72. She was a member of The Neighborhood Church in Cedar Rapids where she heartily served church events and gatherings. She was a self-taught cake decorator, and she shared her gift widely making wedding, birthday, anniversary, baptism, and graduation cakes for her, ever expanding family. She will be remembered for making the best pies, cakes, and banana bread. Wandalene will be missed for her cheeky sense of humor, her one of a kind laugh and the mischievous twinkle in her eye. She loved being with her family. She battled dementia and Alzheimer's for the last decade of her life, and during that time her family mourned the loss of the mother and grandmother as they knew her. They are grateful her pain and frustration is over, and she has been restored to wholeness. Wanda is survived by her children, Beverly LeGrand of Marion, Patricia Knotts of Marion, Deanna Ford of Covington, Robert (Sue) Ford of Marion, Marsha (Bob) Rowe of Cedar Rapids, Brenda (Mike) Ford of Cedar Rapids, Jacqueline (Mark) Stewart of Mediapolis and Wayne (Kim) Werderman of Lisbon; brother Donny (Caroline) Stepanek of Marion; grandchildren, Christy (John) Michael of Marion, Randy (Patty Jo) LeGrand of Coggon, Steve Jr. (Trudie) Batcheller of Cedar Rapids, Richard Batcheller of Cedar Rapids, Paula (Rick) Emmerson of Cedar Rapids, Steve Dighton Jr. of Cedar Rapids, Craig (Katie) Ford of Marion, Bobby Jr. (Joan) Ford of Walford, Laurie Pence of Cedar Rapids, Jami (Jeff) Lewis of Cedar Rapids, Dakota Sprague of Cedar Rapids, Dennis Jr. (Heidi) Carmer of Ely, Michael Carmer of Cedar Rapids, Shawn (Chelsea) Carmer of Lisbon, Jennifer (Clint) Larson of Oakville, Megan (Josh) Rife of Mount Vernon, Ashley (Kassidy) Kruse of Lisbon, Kylie (Charlie) Werderman of Cedar Rapids, Bryce (Kylie) Werderman of Lisbon; 50 great-grandchildren; 22, and counting, great-great grandchildren; numerous cousins; nieces; nephews; and special friends at Bickford of Burlington. She leaves behind her beloved companion dog, Haley. She is preceded in death by her husbands, Buck and Joe; parents, Joe and Marietta Stepanek; step-father, Albert Stepanek; sister and brother-in-law, Joan and Rex Simpson; sister-in-law, Bev Stepanek; son-in-law, James LeGrand; son-in-law, Scott Knotts; son-in-law' Jerry Meyers; grandchild, Stacy Sprague; great grandchild, Shane Batcheller; great-grandchild Levi Holten; and nephew, Rick Strait. 'I love you with all my heart, all my liver, and if I had you on my back, I wouldn't throw you in the river.'