Wanda Lea (Hollowell) Goff passed away Monday, September 25, 2023, at her home in Keats, Kansas at the age of 95.
Wanda was one of ten children born to William and Ada Hollowell. She and her twin brother, Wayne, were born June 12, 1928, in Barnes, Kansas. Over time the family moved to MayDay, Riley, and Keats. Shortly after her high school graduation, Wanda married her sweetheart, Dean Goff, on December 8, 1946. Together they raised their 10 children on a dairy farm two miles east of Keats. They celebrated 68 years of marriage before Dean passed away in February of 2015. Wanda had one love, words were never spoken of another.
She was the best of the best. Taking on the role of homemaker, she raised her family on the dairy farm shared with her in-laws. She never shied away from hard work and providing for her family. After raising her family, Wanda went to work at K-State. She retired after 21 years (at the age of 77) as a baker from Derby Food Services.
She did not need diamonds and jewels, gowns, and fur coats. But when she left home she always looked her best – combed hair, shined shoes, pressed clothes. Yes, she believed in following the rules: no white after Labor Day, coordinating accessories, and making sure things were the right fit.
To many, Wanda was a quiet woman, but in the eyes of her family, she was so much more. She knew right from wrong and taught it by example. She didn’t gossip, she didn’t interfere, she didn’t try and tell you how to run your life, she wasn’t strongly opinionated. She never tried to be something she wasn’t. Often, it’s growing up and raising our own families or living as an adult in today’s world that we can see and acknowledge the sacrifices she made by always caring and putting others first.
Her joys were many, from family gatherings to rides on country back roads, feeding her birds and collecting thimbles. Her true passion was counted cross stitch. She was no stranger to needle and thread, having been a seamstress most of her life, but once she was introduced to floss, pattern and special fabric with holes, there was no turning back. Her day wasn’t right if she didn’t have time stitching and this held true up to her final day. She loved sharing with everyone, and each year would enter several projects in the county fair in her effort to help keep the hobby alive.
Wanda was preceded in death, by her husband, Dean; her sons, Rex and Ben; one son-in-law, Richard Schurle; a granddaughter, Renae Schurle, and one great grandson, Laine Goff. She was preceded also in death by her parents; four sisters, Wilma Hermann, Bonnie Stone, Jeannie Bradshaw and Ila Pultz, and three brothers, William Hollowell, Robert Hollowell and Wayne Hollowell.
She is survived by eight children; Don (Marcia) Goff of Keats, Larry (Kathy) Goff of Manchester, Garry (Chris) Goff of Manhattan, Janet (Jeff) Newell of Manhattan, Nancy (Brad) Carter of Shawnee, Wayne (Jane) Goff of Manhattan, Jane Keister of Manhattan and Clyde (Arlene) Goff of Manhattan; two sisters, Betty Wohler and Winona Hollowell; 24 grandchildren, 45 great grandchildren and six great great grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Thursday, September 28, 2023 at the Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 29, 2023 at the Keats Lydia Chapel. Burial will be in the Riley Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Keats Lydia Chapel and Community Center. Contributions may be left in care of the Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home.
When she meets Jesus we know she’ll hears the words “well done, good and faithful servant”.
