Obituary of Wanda H. Sitler

Being the history enthusiast that she was, Wanda would tell you that she was born on what became an historic day:  the day that the Charles Lindbergh baby was kidnapped, which was on March 1, 1932. Wanda was the first born child of I. Leonard and Joyce E. Harris. She was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania where she lived until her father took a job at the naval yards in Norfolk, Virginia when Wanda was in the third grade. She spent the rest of her growing up years with the beach of the Chesapeake Bay as her backyard until she left for college. This was during World War II which was a favorite topic of Wanda’s numerous stories whenever she spoke about her life.

One of Wanda’s great loves was music. She was a pioneer of her time as her instrument of choice was playing the tuba, an instrument that very few women in the 1940s and 50s learned to play. It was while playing in the All City Band that Wanda met her husband, John Sitler, who also was a tuba player. This experience began a lifetime of adventures that they would share together. Wanda and John were married in 1954. They shared 59 years together before John passed away in 2013. Together, Wanda and John raised three children: Janet, David and Joanna. When John became an ordained minister in 1962, Wanda and her family accompanied him as he served in the Army as a chaplain for twenty years and pastored civilian churches both before and after their time in the Army.  

Wanda enjoyed crafts, especially needlepoint, counted cross stitch and crocheting. Many family members and friends have treasured items that she made for them. Another craft that Wanda enjoyed was making Chrismons (monograms of Christ) for Christmas trees both in churches and in her home. She introduced Chrismons to John’s churches and she sent them to John to use with his congregations in Vietnam and Korea. Up until a couple years ago, Wanda was still making them and giving them to friends. 

Wanda’s personal Christian outreach ministries included being a vital active part of spiritual renewal weekends including “The Walk to Emmaus”, “Via de Cristo” and the prison ministry of “Kairos”. In her later years, Wanda’s main Christian service was that of being a Prayer Warrior for her family, friends, church and anyone whose need for prayer was brought to her attention.  

On June 27, 2023 in Colorado Springs, Wanda’s earthly struggles came to an end as she was received into the loving arms of her Good Shepherd.

Wanda is preceded in death by her husband, John E. Sitler; son, David M. Sitler; parents, I. Leonard and Joyce E. Harris; and sister, Norma L. Trice.

Wanda is survived by her daughters, Janet (David) Whitmore and Joanna Dautrich; daughter-in-law, Linda Sitler; grandchildren, Kristi Sitler, David Whitmore, Jr., Brandon (Katie) Dautrich, Jennie (Jonny) Brannum, Grace Gerhardt,  Alyssa (Sam) Moore, and Christopher (Mariana) Whitmore; great-grandchildren, Westin and Lincoln Brannum and Chloe Dautrich; sister-in-law, Miriam Howard; niece, Terry Pagan and other relatives and many friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Stephen Ministry or the Music Ministry at Bethel Lutheran Church, 4925 Farmingdale Drive, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80917, https://www.bethellutheran.net

Memorial and committal services, 1:00PM, Saturday, July 15, 2023, Bethel Lutheran Church, 4925 Farmingdale Drive, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80917.