Wanda Meyer-Richards

Wanda (Halliwill) Meyer-Richards of Wadena passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday, April 15, 2009. A Celebration of her Life will take place on Monday April 20th at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Wadena. The service will be held at 3:00 pm. Visitation will begin at 1:30 p.m. A luncheon will be served following the service.

Wanda Halliwill was born on September 23, 1934 at Wesley Hospital in Wadena, MN. Wanda was the fourth child, of nine, born to Oral and Marion (Mills) Halliwill. She attended country school and graduated from Wadena High School in 1952. After graduation she moved to Minneapolis and then onto Anchorage, Alaska. In 1955, she moved to Seattle, Washington, where she met and then married Donald Meyer on April 7, 1956. In 1967, inspired by her mothers example, Wanda opened a pizza shop, Pizza Dena, in Federal Way, Washington. Pizza Dena was named after her mothers restaurant that was located in Wadena, MN. She went on to become a successful restaurateur, owning four restaurants in all. Wanda returned to Wadena in June of 1990, due to her fathers death, and stayed to help care for her mother. Much to her own surprise, she spent the rest of her life, back home, in Minnesota. In her younger years, Wanda enjoyed taking her family on camping trips. She loved cooking for family and friends, gardening, playing pinochle, and bowling. She especially enjoyed cheering for the kids in the youth bowling program. One of her greatest joys was her grandchildren.

A lifetime of cherished memories will comfort Wandas children, Gary (Paula) Meyer of Rainier, WA, Steven (Kathy) Meyer of Medford, OR, Voni Meyer of Wadena, and Judy (Russell) Johnston of Wadena, MN. She will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by her grandchildren, Taylor, Kyle, Trevor, Katie Lyn, Joshua, Stephanie, Nickolas, Ryan, Logan, and great grandson Jesse. She leaves behind siblings, Joanne Walz of Sebeka, MN, Joyce Ramberg of Coon Rapids, Dean (Linda) Halliwill of Long Lake, MN, Dwight Ike(Sharon) Halliwill of Gull Lake, MN, and Lyn (Dave) Schonebaum of Medina, MN.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Oral and Marion, brothers; Jerome, Jon, and Dan Halliwill, and by her husband Don just two years ago.