Obituaries : Wanda Lee Blake

Wanda Lee Blake, 87, of Marion died Sunday, January 23, 2022 at St. Luke's Hospital following a brief illness. Services: 1 p.m., Friday, January 28, 2022 at Teahen Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids. Friends may visit with the family on Thursday, January 27, 2022 from 3 to 5:30 p.m., and after 12 p.m. on Friday before the service. Due to concerns over the novel coronavirus, it is suggested that family members and friends wear a mask to any funeral event.

Wanda is survived by her daughter, Pamela Straub of Marion; son, Bruce (Delores) Straub of Shellsburg; grandchildren, Jennifer Harris (Hupe) of Fullerton, CA, Jared Hupe and Jodi Hupe of Marion, and Jessica (Rogelio) Morales of Tiffin; sisters, Freida North, Avis Serovy and Nell Driscoll; great grandchildren, Sophia, Jazlynn, Dominic, Gavin, Marley, Makayla, Hannah and Denzel; and several nieces, nephews, step grandchildren and step great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, Thomas; parents, Merrivile J. and Edith Lovell Rich; granddaughter, Sheely Straub; and siblings, Ray, Marion, Harry, Ida Bell, LaVonne and Maxine.

Wanda was born on April 13, 1934 in Center Point, daughter of Merrivile J. and Edith Lovell Rich, and graduated from Franklin High School, Cedar Rapids. She married Paul Straub in 1955; they later divorced. On October 23, 1976 Wanda married Thomas Blake at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. She worked as a bookkeeper for the James W. Bell Company, retiring in 1999 and then worked part time in customer service for Von Maur until 2014.

Wanda loved traveling. She was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs and it brought her so much joy to see them win the World Series in 2016. Wanda, an Iowa Hall of Fame Bowler, was inducted into the Iowa State USBC WBA on April 5, 2008. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her family, and was a proud grandmother and great grandmother.

Memorials may be directed to the family.